A Glimpse of What ASP Truly is
I joined AIA last year because my brother had joined the year prior after getting a stellar recommendation from one of the members of this mission trip. Throughout the meetings in the months leading up to the mission trip, I didn’t feel confident about ASP at all. I didn’t know what to expect and I didn’t know anyone there.
The first telltale sign that this trip would end up the way it did was the weekend retreat to a camp in Wisconsin. There, I connected with multiple people who had experienced ASP before me. Not only did I bond with them, I got a glimpse of what ASP truly is: a relationship ministry with a little construction on the side.
When I finally embarked on the 10-day-long venture, I was nervous. After I pretty much slept for the majority of the trip on the way down to the first stop, I started getting familiar with everyone in my group, the teal team. After the night when we got amazing food and went to Buc-ee’s, I was sure the trip was going to be incredibly fun.
That weekend was meaningful, but the work week loomed ahead. Working on our first homeowner's house was genuinely interesting and honestly entertaining. Whether I was cutting posts or sanding down the railings that we had measured, cut, and drilled in, I was having a good time. What sealed off that project was the priceless reaction of the two incredible homeowners. It was indescribable and only going on the ASP trip could truly represent that. Our first homeowners continued to treat us to dinner with the best tacos and homemade chips you could imagine.
Our second homeowner was just as good. Our entire team connected with the two cats and the kid that we had a massive water gun fight with when we couldn’t do work, Dylan. I can still perfectly recall and visualize that short, half-hour-long water fight simply due to my connection with the homeowner and her kid.
These relationships that I gained are inexpressible and incredibly meaningful. Words can’t put into context how unique the trip is with this group of people and these leaders. My first ASP trip will leave an ever-present impact on my life.
Written by Ethan Scipione
