ASBURY FIRST MONDAY READER | JULY 21, 2025

CONTENTS: A MISSION TRIP TO FORT MYERS – A REFLECTION by ELLIE CADY

PRIDE – "NO MATTER WHO YOU LOVE..."

But as soon as we arrived, that relaxing picture quickly shifted. Within just a few hours of landing in Fort Myers, we learned that our work wouldn’t be in response to a recent storm as we had thought, but to Hurricane Ian—a hurricane that had hit more than two years ago. And yet, the damage was still everywhere. Homes torn apart, people displaced and living in shelters barely passing as livable, and a sense that the community was still very much in recovery. The storm may have passed, but the work was far from over. 

After a two hour drive from the airport to the retreat center and a really delicious meal, we set up our chairs in a circle and had our first worship of the week. We sang songs many of us knew from summer camps and met the other church’s youth group that we would be working alongside for the week. Exhausted from our 4 a.m. wake-up, we headed straight to our bunks and crashed for the night.

We were able to complete the entire house in a day and a half, and move onto our next task through the Fort Myers community center. My group was split into three, with some boys working on flooring and others painting different rooms in a house. As we walked through the neighborhoods, it was incredible to see just how much damage was still present in these homes, but also how much work has been done already. Meeting the sisters whose home we were helping to restore was a powerful moment. They were so kind and thankful, and seeing how much it meant to them made all of our effort feel worthwhile. In just one day we left the house with a newly painted bedroom and bathroom, and fresh finished floors in the community center next door. By Wednesday, our group had finished two different projects and made a lasting difference in these people’s lives. 

we had seen god throughout the week. Then, many of us stayed up throughout the night playing games and dying laughing until our 3am flight back home to Rochester the next morning. 

As with any mission trip, I felt God’s presence and love throughout the week in so many different moments. I saw God in our contractor, Elliot, who risked his life kayaking through the storm to rescue people in his neighborhood. I felt God in the sisterhood formed among the eight girls on this trip, during our nightly debriefs and sharing circles. I felt God in our work van, when “Country Roads” came on and the whole group sang along. I felt God in the story our homeowner shared about losing everything and living in a trailer an hour away for over a year. I saw God when our youth group and the other church’s group became fast friends, laughing and taking pictures together. I felt God in the nightly dance parties and sing-alongs, and in the tears we shed during our final worship service. I saw God in the way our chef so thoughtfully accommodated food allergies. I felt God in new friendships and old ones, in the laughter that echoed through our cabin every night, and in the amazing leadership of our chaperones - and especially our incredible youth leader, Mike.

A mission trip is a truly special week. Every single one I’ve been on has left a lasting impact, and this one was no different. It’s the kind of experience I believe every person should have at least once in their life. I’m so grateful I got to do God’s work alongside the people who make me feel the happiest and laugh the most. To anyone considering a mission trip in the future - DO IT! You’ll be so glad you did, and you just might meet some of the best friends you’ll ever have.

What we accomplished in just a few days made a real difference, not only in the lives of those we served, but in each of us who showed up to work. It is a real reminder that when we come together with open hearts and a willingness to serve, we truly can bring hope and healing to communities in need.

Head over to the Democrat and Chronicle for a photo gallery featuring our very own Jim Carter, juggling with pride, and proudly displaying his message of love on behalf of the United Methodist Church. The T-shirt, designed by member at large, Ian Carlos Urriola, states "No matter who you love, this United Methodist Loves You," a simple but defiantly open-hearted idea.  

If you'd like your own, T-shirts can be ordered online by clicking here.

Asbury First affirms that no one – irrespective of age, racial identity, gender or gender identity, or sexual orientation – is incompatible with the church's ministry and teaching. LGBTQ+ persons are a Good expression of God’s diverse creation and we advocate for the affirmation of all of God’s children in the Church and the world. We now celebrate the potential for full participation of all LGBTQ+ people throughout the life and leadership of the Church.