PDA Mission Trip #33 (New Bern, NC) Day 4

It doesn’t seem possible, but today was our final full day of work! Even though we are all tired because we’ve rushed to complete as much as possible today, everyone is taking a few minutes to share their final thoughts on Mission Trip #33! 

Fletcher Tukes: 

I made a commitment to the Lord 18 years ago to help people, and I knew once I made that commitment that I would never be able to walk away. I know I can’t say, “No” to the Lord. I’ll go until I can’t go any more. I told Mary Beth that I didn’t think she realized that what she started would turn into what it has become today. It is a great thing! Thank you to everyone for another good trip. We will be coming back on April 27, 2025. I hope we can add a couple more people to our group. We could really use a few more people! 

Elisa McClelland: 

I love going on our mission trips because it helps me to discover who I am meant to be. I am a servant of the Lord. I am a daughter of God. I am a sister to my fellow humans. This fall’s mission trip has solidified those Christian ideas into realities by working to help people like our sister Miss T. Discovering how I can help people in the simplest of ways helps me to know and be the person God wants me to be. 

Jerry Brown: 

Overall, since starting to travel with other GPC members and friends to help families recover from weather-related disasters, I have had the good fortune to serve other churches in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. This has amounted to approximately 30 occasions since 2006. All of them were essentially fulfilling for me, and my late wife Maxine, who accompanied me and other church members on about 24 of these occasions. GPC offered clean-up and fix-up of homes and churches, while working with local leaders in all these communities, alongside their own volunteers. I value all that the GPC volunteers have done in these circumstances in doing God’s work. 

Yvonne D. Miller: 

Another great week of preparing meals for the hard-working folks who were a part of the PDA Mission team. Blessed to be assisted in the kitchen by Barb Thorne and Rev. Mary Beth Lawrence. Could not have asked for a better group of people to serve those who have suffered. 

Barb Thorne: 

This has been a wonderful opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ. I assisted Yvonne in the kitchen preparing meals, shopping, and serving the Mission team as they served residents of New Bern. 

Lucille Baur: 

I have been privileged to be a part of most, but not all of our 33 GPC Mission Trips. If you haven’t had the experience, it might be difficult to understand why anyone would take a week off to willingly work in often challenging conditions. But somehow God brings us together, gives us the strength and skills to get our jobs done, and we end up being renewed in the Spirit and much more thankful for what we often take for granted in our regular lives. I love these trips and the bonds I’ve made with everyone else who graciously dons a blue PDA shirt and tries their best to make this world a little better place…one LVP floor, one new door, one new set of kitchen cabinets, one newly painted room, one improved electrical system, one ramp, a couple of new bathroom fixtures, and several newly trimmed windows…at a time! 

Dave Fosdick: 

It was great to see Mary Beth and the rest of the GPC crew that did the first PDA trip to New Orleans in 2006. I also enjoyed working with other GPC members as we helped our homeowner rebuild his home. 

Maxine Aldridge: 

It was a bittersweet evening thinking back on the PDA trips, from New Orleans to New Bern, that we made with Mary Beth. We will miss her but what a legacy she has left us. She has led us in God’s service and taught us to be aware of those in need and how to help them. For humorous adventures and heartbreaking stories, I have made life-long friends. I am a different person because of missions. 

Bob Aldridge: 

Among the many blessings that Maxine has brought to me, the wonderful experience of going on missions with the GPC PDA mission group for the last eight years has been among the highest. The wonderful fellowship and the opportunity to serve those who have suffered from various disasters has been a great gift. 

Dave Francis: 

I’ve had another great week working with many fantastic folks. Jerry, Edco, and I worked on installing a front door and storm door at one house, while also repairing another exterior door at the same house. As a side note, it doesn’t seem quite right to me that I am paying someone to install two exterior doors next week at my own house, because I didn’t feel like doing that work myself…. yet I’m here doing that same exact type of work! It helps to have Fletcher’s guidance! 

David Salak: 

This is my 4th PDA trip, and I enjoy working with the Gaithersburg Presbyterians in New Bern and using my skills to help folks who need some extra help to improve their living conditions. 

Edco Bailey: 

This week, Dave from Ohio and me from Maryland worked on two houses. Somedays it felt like the houses worked on us. We made much progress. Today ended with a handshake of a homeowner who was once a prisoner, then a client of the County relief organization, and now also a short-term employee of the relief organization. Experiences such as these feel like attending the work of Jesus responding to the needs of the needy. I am grateful to PDA for the opportunity to serve in such a manner. This is my 20th mission in 12 years. Thanks. 

Alice Alexander:

I had a great time learning new carpentry skills and playing with electronic construction toys! If I see another plug that needs to be replaced or a window framed, I’m running in the opposite direction (until the next PDA trip)! Great teachers, old and new friends, fun, hard work, laughter, fellowship, and food! What more could you ask for? Well, maybe a tad less heat and humidity! 

Laura Wilson: 

One of the special aspects of the trip this year was the overall camaraderie. Not only has it been fun getting acquainted with new folks who joined us, but also by continuing to build friendly relationships with PDA participants from past trips. Sharing in challenging teamwork as well as in jovial downtime, knits bonds while we serve as the hands and feet of God. 

Pat Keziah: 

This has been a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and strengthen old friendships while helping people recover from terrible storms and floods. 

Bruce Andrews: 

Another great week of work, sweat, and companionship. (It wasn’t supposed to be this hot). But we persevered and completed everything we hoped to do (a lot of electrical installations). 

Stuart Morrison: 

It’s been a very busy visit. We found a home with a lot of electrical problems. With a lot of help from the homeowner, we were able to find and fix all of them. I give a little and receive many times more. 

Wendell Nelson: 

I grew up in D.C. and Fletcher Tukes lived in my neighborhood. He talked with me and took me places. My Dad worked for the railroad would be gone four days of the week, but we would do things together when he was home with us. I went to church at 48th and Sheriff’s Road in D.C. and I even sang in the choir. This is my first mission trip and coming here has been wonderful. This is something totally new for me and I just love it!