Wednesday Recap: Service and Connection in Nashville

Wednesday was a special day for the First Lutheran high school youth on their service trip to Nashville with the Nebraska Synod. The entire group had the chance to stick together and tackle meaningful projects, creating memories that left a significant mark on everyone involved.

The day kicked off with hands-on efforts at Shelby Park in the Shelby Bottoms, where the group teamed up with Friends of Shelby. Their mission? To restore and maintain the park’s natural beauty. They rolled up their sleeves to pull invasive plants, spruce up garden spaces and gather trash scattered throughout the area. It was a morning full of teamwork and a shared commitment to caring for creation.

After a morning of hard work in the park, the group shifted gears for the afternoon at The Bridge, a food ministry with a heartfelt history. Founded in 2004, The Bridge began by serving just seven people under the Jefferson Street Bridge and has since grown into a lifeline for over 7,000 people each week facing food insecurity. Here, the youth helped wash trucks, clean tables and chairs and pack lunches. Together, they prepared more than 1,000 sack lunches in just an hour and a half!

Sophia reflected on the experience, saying, “I saw God when we were at The Bridge because a lady there told us the story of how it all started. The founder, Candy Caramel Christmas, was actually having a really hard time in life, and it was almost like God knew and brought joy back into her life with the idea to start The Bridge.”

Maxx also witnessed something deeply moving, adding, “A moment where I saw God today was when she was talking about this kid that always waited until Friday at school because that was one of the only meals he would get during the week.”

With their service projects wrapped up, the group enjoyed a lighter note in the evening. They learned some line dancing moves, filling the room with laughter and rhythm as they stepped out of their comfort zones – and maybe onto a few toes! Sophia recounted, “We went to go line dancing and were taught different moves. Then we finished the day with devotions and went to bed.”

The day ended with devotions, a moment of reflection and gratitude for the experiences shared and the ways they saw God at work – not only through their service but also in each other. The impact of their efforts at Shelby Park and The Bridge will linger in the lives of those they served, just as the stories of transformation touched the hearts of each of our youth.