Some reactions from 2009 Sager-Brown Volunteer in Mission Team members -- sent to team leader Gary Wedgewood

I have so many feelings about my trip to Sager Brown it has taken me a while to gather and sort them.  I am overwhelmed with the history of Sager Brown,  I can't stop thinking about how in the beginning the school was for orphans.   A place,  probably one of very few places, where black children could get an education.  When I am there I see the children,  I hear their laughter, I can imagine them playing on the grounds and along the bayou.  Then it was reborn after a long dormant period into service a second time.  Working in the Depot I tried to imagine the people who would receive the kits that were being check and packed for shipment.I could hear the laugher of school children receiving new school supplies,  see the grateful smiles of mothers receiving a layette kit with beautiful new baby clothes,  feel the joy of having personal hygiene supplies, things I take for granted everyday soap, toothbrush, a towel,  see young ladies in the dresses they had made with supplies in the sewing kits.  Sager Brown was born to service and the tradition carries on.  I am so honored to have played a part during my week of working there.

There were so many things about the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot staff, volunteers, location that "do one's soul good" that the list would be soooo long!  There are 4 kits to work on with 8 tables of about 4-6 volunteers at each table.  Okay, so at the beginning I decide I will float from table to table just to get to know more people.  After first morning, "maybe I'll just stick here for the afternoon, it's fun and I love the people here".  The following morning I determinedly make a change.  Well, what a hoot they were!  Soooo, stuck there for the afternoon.  With more resolve, the next morning I again change tables, nothing new, same old fun and camaraderie.  Unfortunately, the end of our week had come and I didn't get to the 4th kit.  Guess I'll have to go back!

Having gone to Sager Brown last year, I wondered if my second trip would “measure up”. It is one of those places that stayed in my mind after I left.  As I think back on it, I am still amazed at the profound feeling of things being right with this mission agency of the United Methodist Church.  It represents our connectional church at work. From the gracious hospitality and welcoming Christian spirit of the staff and long-time volunteers, to the fellowship with volunteers from Columbia District of the Tennessee Conference and other parts of the country, and the emotional departure of a truck packed full of kits, I loved it all. There is no way to express to someone who has not been just how you will come to feel about a place that is more than buildings and a piece of ground located along a lazy bayou. Sager Brown represents love and generous caring by thousands of individuals, and when you think about what it takes to prepare a shipment of kits from start to finish, it’s pretty overwhelming. God was in our midst. This year’s experience at UMCOR Sager Brown more than measured up.

Gary, as I said before, This was a very spiritual retreat and an awaking even for me. It was like walking around with God holding hands with you. His presence was felt so much. I enjoyed meeting everyone and getting to know them. I tried to explain all of the event to my wife and well there were not words to explain it. I told her it was something that you really had to experience to understand. I know before I went I could not believe what I was in for. Like I told you the other day at the hospital, It is had to understand how you can be dog tired, and happy, and spiritually and crying all at the same time. This is something I will never forget. I met so many wonderful people for different parts of the country and I am still amazed at how well everyone worked together to get the job done.And really with no training. It is really hard to explain. God surely had a hand in it. I just wish I could tell everyone how much I enjoyed being with them. Another thing was I was surprised to find out that at 73, I was really one of the younger ones there. So age had nothing to do with doing what had to be done. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to go and do something that I had wanted to do for so long. And Gary, I want to thank you for your leadership and for all you did to make this a very nice trip.