Holocaust – Smithsonians

Today was an awesome day!  We started out all bundled up so we could walk to the Metro in 18 degrees with a 2 degree wind chill!  We went to the Holocaust Museum and stayed for 3 hours.  It would be best summed up with statements from the students:

“It was stunning to see how evil, cruel and heartless people could be.”

“I’m still wrestling in my heart with what I saw, seeing the faces of the pictures of the people brought more perspective to the Holocaust.”

“The kids in German schools were taught that they were superior and that is was ok to be evil to other races.  We wonder how they could believe that and let it happen.  And it made me wonder, what are we today as young people believing that others will look back on and say “how could they have believed that and let that happen?”

“It was upsetting how they used the weak, the elderly and the handicapped to conduct human experimentation and justifying it as imperfect people being a drain on resources.”

“We studied this in 8^th grade for ½ a semester but seeing the actual pictures, videos and accounts of survivors gave a picture of just how evil that was”

“For the Jewish people, one day they’re working and the next day everything they own is taken away and they’re starving, worked to death and treated like animals.  It’s amazing how fast people can become manipulated into doing terrible things to others. We need to be watchful of those things going on around us”.

“The horrific acts that where committed when people were put through the gas chambers was overwhelming and disgusting.”

“When people were tattooed with a number to degrade them and brand them like cattle, it didn’t have the end effect that the Nazi’s wanted because survivors were proud years later as it was a sign of victory and survival.”

“It was wonderful to see the white wall of people who risked and gave their lives to save and rescue others”.

“As Americans we like to think we helped them but we turned away the St. Louis boat of Jews escaping the Nazis.

“I used to not like history and thought it was a waste of time but I realized after going through the museum how important it is for us know what happened so we don’t do it again”.

Then we split into 2 groups to go the Air and Space Smithsonian or the American History Smithsonian.  Some went on to the National Archives and got to see the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence.

We came back to the hotel and shared about our day and ate pizza and chocolate.  It’s been a great trip!  Thank you for letting your kids participate and thank you for your prayers.  I could feel them!

We’ll be coming home tomorrow!  Parents, check your last info email for the flight times!

Ginger Lambert

First they came for the Socialists and I did not speak out—because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Neimoller, Protestant Pastor, Public Foe of Adolf Hitler

Inauguration and Cupcakes… oh my!

Inauguration Day –

The day started off with Lieutenant Smith briefing the team on security measures…  we were expecting bigger crowds at the inauguration but fortunately we didn’t get caught in the fray.   We watched our jumbotron at the base of the Washington Monument.  The screen and sound worked for about 30 minutes then never gave a consistent clear screen and the sound was so broken, there were no complete sentences.  It got so frustrating that hundreds of people began leaving.  A few of our students began asking to leave as it was so cold and you couldn’t understand what was going on or what was being said.  We did see that the President was being sworn in but could not really hear it!  It was disappointing.

But wait!  There was redemption – Georgetown Cupcakes!  After the inauguration we walked to Georgetown, ate lunch and lucky for us there was hardly a line at 33^rd and M Street!  (don’t tell Mr. Smith I said that)

We came back to the hotel, rested for an hour, then debriefed the Prayer walking, the war memorials and the inauguration!

Debrief:  Here are some thoughts the students shared:

Studying for prayer walking the embassies, it was astounding to learn that even though some nations profess to be Christian, there is still oppression towards evangelical Christians – Christians being persecuted by other professing Christians – that was mind boggling! For many this prayer walking exercise was the first time they had really engaged in it, realizing it really works and it is a valuable tool.

As leaders we believe their eyes were opened to the value of prayer walking and praying for others that they would see on the metro or in the moment, feeling like God was giving them a burden for them with specific prayers.  That is exciting!  Some of the students mentioned God was really changing their perspective on ‘being aware of their surroundings and being used by him through prayer’. One student mentioned that they felt convicted about always trying to find the ‘funny thing’ to laugh at or people to laugh at and maybe God wants him to pray for them, not make fun of them.

Many were moved by the monuments, the meaning behind them and the symbolism used in creating the monuments.  Seeing the names on the Vietnam wall and hearing the history was very impactful.  The names weren’t just names, they were people that mattered and had families.

The Lincoln memorial was an incredible experience. For the first time, hardly anyone was in the memorial and we got a short guided tour by a Park Ranger. It was so interesting!  We read Lincoln’s second inaugural address.  During the debrief Mr. Miller pointed out that Lincoln was really addressing people that didn’t agree with him and was trying to convince them they needed to stay together as a nation.  Whether we agree or don’t agree with our leaders, God put them in place and we need to pray for them… Which brings us to 2 Timothy 2:  praying for those in authority over us so we can live in peace.

Today was the last day to have Thomas and Matthew with us and students and leaders alike commented on what a blessing they have been to the whole group!  As alumni, they make Summit proud.

We had a beautiful white linen dinner at the rooftop restaurant at the hotel with a panoramic view of the city.  Afterward we changed into our warm clothes and rode the Metro to the station that has the longest escalator in the northern hemisphere!!  The kids were really excited and we took lots of pictures, rode up and back down and had a fun time.  Don’t believe the kids if they tell you I missed getting off the Metro at our stop and got reprimanded over the loudspeaker for running!

Tomorrow our goal is the Holocaust Museum, a tour of the Capitol and hopefully the Smithsonian.  Please pray for us as we finish out our trip that our hearts will be ready for the day and that we won’t miss any opportunities that God has for us to pray for others and glorify Him!

 

Mrs. G

 

 

 

 

Prayer Walking … Day Three

We were invited to join Oakton United Methodist Church for their morning service and then treated to an amazing Virginian meal; Virginia ham, corn and grits, green beans, mashed potatoes (or rather creamed potatoes in the North) salad, cornbread and a variety of desserts!  It was delicious.  A big thank you and ‘God Bless You’ to Willi and Jack Dalaba for your generous hospitality and providing the incredible meal!

We returned back to the home base and headed just up the road from the hotel to the Iwo Jima memorial.  It was incredible!

Getting our walking shoes on and warm layers for later, we headed out to Embassy Row! The students had already been divided into prayer walking teams and had researched the nations on their list.  In their search they were to  find out:

If the country was ranked in the World Watch List for persecution of Christians

What are the religious beliefs?

How is the Christian church doing in that nation?

Some groups would pray as they walked by.  Some groups would stand in front and take a picture and pray a prayer silently.  One group had to go down the street away from the embassies to pray  (have a Starbuck, share about the experience, share their knowledge about the  countries and then pray for them – can you tell that was my group?)

(You’ll hear more about it tomorrow – it was so late when we came back in we could not debrief tonight)

After dinner at Union Station, we all decided go back out and visit the war memorials; WWII, Vietnam, Korean and ending up at the Lincoln Memorial.

(Again, not much  to write because we haven’t debriefed.)

This is an amazing group of young people.  Please pray for us as we go out in the predicted severe cold tomorrow for the inauguration and witness history but also to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, ready to pray 1 Timothy 2: 1-7 prayers.

Praying for everyone the Holy Spirit directs us to pray for – asking God to bless them and draw them to himself.

Praying for all who are in authority so we can live peaceful and quiet lives.

Praying that we would be godly.

Praying that salvation would come to those that are without the hope that only Christ brings

Praying that we can be messengers of the good news!

Please join us in prayer as we finish out our time in D .C. learning  to partner with God’s heart for the nations!

Until tomorrow

Mrs. g

Arlington Cemetery – Life Changing

As a class, we’ve been looking forward to this day! We had the honor of laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier!  What an honor it is for our school to be able to pay respect to the many men and women who have given their lives for freedom – not just for you and I in the United States- but countless times going to other countries and giving their lives for the freedom of others.  You can’t participate in the ceremony or watch the changing of the guards and not be impacted in some way!  Our four students; Ricky Campbell, Sean Aleman, Emerald Courtney and Moriah Olson represented their class, their school and their families well.

We are privileged again this year to have Colonel Randy Mauldin and his wife Beth, join us for a couple of days.  Colonel Mauldin spoke to us about what it takes once you make an oath – you’ve said you will obey no matter what is asked of you.  It’s a huge commitment that is made not just by you but your whole family.  He shared how it is to be a Christian in the military and how their faith has sustained them for 26 years of serving our nation. It always blesses me to see Colonel Mauldin arrange his schedule, take time out of a very demanding life and come and encourage our students to allow God to be in their lives, to challenge their lives and to change their lives so they in turn, can change the lives of others for the kingdom of God.

As we left the cemetery we visited the Kennedy eternal flame memorial.

We also have Lieutenant Matthew Smith (another Summit alumni) joining us for a couple of days, encouraging our students and challenging them to take moments like these impact trips and embrace all that God is putting before them.

We had a late lunch and a little shopping time at Pentagon City Mall (mainly getting the extra scarves and hats needed to brave the cold)

After dinner we had the honor of having Beth share!   She is such a great storyteller. Just listening to her share about ‘funny’ cross culture experiences you have to know that her own classroom students love her. (Math Teacher)  Listening to them both share about how many times they moved, how they would prepare themselves, then their children for a ‘new school, home, military base’ was amazing.  Again, what Randy had shared earlier came in to play… they had made a commitment and over and over changes and sacrifices were asked of them. Over and over, they obeyed and even though there would be extremely difficult time, God showed himself faithful and blessed them with new experiences, continually building their faith and trust in Him.

Tonight’ debrief (This is where everyone comments on something that impacted them during the day)

(As the students began sharing I was sad I had not brought my computer with me to take notes.)

Of course for many the Changing of the Guards and the Wreath Laying Ceremony made a huge impact.

A couple of students got really vulnerable and shared how it really convicted them about what they do with their time.  How we squander our time when we really can take this time we are given now and make every moment count for God.

What Thomas had shared the night before really encouraged some of them that they can make a difference against the darkness that wages war against Christian values in our country.

For others, just seeing the thousands of white grave markers in Arlington Cemetery were overwhelming. It really brought home the statement – Freedom isn’t Free.

All of the leaders echo Mr. Miller’s statement to the students – We are so proud of you and impressed with you!

There is so much more – Pray for our students – a day like today can truly impact them forever.  Pray they allow their hearts to continue to be stretch and challenged by the Holy Spirit to become young women and men of Integrity that will but Sacrifice before Self (just like our Savior) and will live lives of excellence – bringing glory to God in all they do.

Tomorrow we go to church at Oakton United Methodist Church. It’s about 15 minutes from our hotel then have a meal with them.

We’ll go from there and Prayer walk Embassy Row then walk the Memorials. (if time allows, we’ll also go to the Holocaust Museum)

Thank you for your prayers.  Please pray for Lexi Gant, a sore throat in really cold weather is not fun!

 

Mrs. G