Our 2026 Mission Trip to Omaha was a week filled with faith, service, laughter, and unforgettable memories. Throughout the week, our youth and adult leaders had the opportunity to serve our neighbors, build meaningful relationships, and experience God’s love in action. We invite you to explore the highlights below and see how God worked through our mission trip crew as they became His hands and feet in the community.
Youth Mission Trip
Our First Day of Serving
Today was our first day of serving, and what an incredible day it was!
We started the morning at Table Grace Ministries Café, where we helped prepare food, clean, and serve customers with smiles and caring hearts.
This afternoon, we volunteered at The Furniture Project, where we cleaned donated furniture, shopped for household items for families in need, and even assembled furniture to help create welcoming homes for others.
Today reminded us that serving doesn’t always happen in big, flashy ways. Sometimes it’s preparing a meal, cleaning a table, building a piece of furniture, or simply lending a helping hand. Every act of kindness is an opportunity to share God’s love.
Our hearts are full, our hands are tired, and we are so thankful for the chance to be Christ’s hands and feet here in Omaha.
Thank you for continuing to keep our crew in your prayers. We can’t wait to see what God has in store for the rest of the week!
Service Day 2
Another incredible day of serving and growing together!
This morning we volunteered at Whispering Roots, where we deseeded chili peppers, portioned homemade soup into containers to be frozen for future meals, and bagged fresh blackberries. Whispering Roots is dedicated to providing nutritious meals, educational programs, and growing healthy, fresh food for Omaha residents—and we were grateful to be a small part of their mission.
In the afternoon, we served at Food Bank for the Heartland, helping an organization that provides emergency and supplemental food to neighbors across Nebraska and western Iowa. It was inspiring to see the impact they make every day for families in need.
We continue to be amazed by the opportunities God has given us to serve, learn, and connect with this community. Our hearts are full, our hands are a little tired, and we can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Thank you for continuing to pray for our team as we serve.
Service Day 3
Another wonderful day of serving, learning, and growing together!
This morning we served at Heart Ministry Center. Heart Ministry Center is a program that guides people with dignity by providing food, healthcare, and a way forward to people severely affected by poverty in the Omaha area. We had the opportunity to help community members select food from the pantry and take it to their cars. It was a meaningful experience to serve our neighbors in such a hands-on way.
This afternoon we toured Boystown. A National Historic Landmark since 1985, the Village of Boys Town is now the only National Historic Landmark District in Nebraska. Today, 250 boys and girls live in the Village, receiving care and guidance for a wide range of behavioral, emotional, and academic issues. In this community of hope, boys and girls change their lives and prepare to go out into the world as confident, well-charactered people. It was inspiring to learn about the life-changing work taking place there.
We ended the night by leading worship, which was the perfect way to wrap up another incredible day. As part of worship, Blake helped Connie give each participant a bracelet with a cross on it as a reminder that **God walks with us, so we can walk with others.** It was a simple but meaningful way to carry tonight’s message with us.
And because every mission trip needs a little fun too…Congratulations to Kai, who officially set the **2026 Omaha Serve Boldly Mission Trip taco record** by eating **10 tacos!** We have a feeling that record may stand for a while!
Our group of youth has done such an amazing job this week. They have served with willing hearts, represented St. Philip’s so well, and truly been the hands and feet of Christ. Connie, Maddie, and Chad are so proud of each and every one of them.
Thank you for continuing to keep our team in your prayers!
Service Day 4
Service Day 4 is in the books, and what a wonderful day it was!
This morning we served at Catholic Charities Outreach – St. Juan Diego Food Pantry. Saint Juan Diego – patron saint of indigenous people – dedicated his life to prayer and the practice of virtue and boundless love of God and his neighbors. The Saint Juan Diego Center has served the community for over 40 years. It’s an anchor and gateway to all, serving and helping immigrants on a path to success. We got to assist in their food pantry.
Since this was our last full day in Omaha, we had the entire afternoon to explore together, so we headed to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium—and wow, it did not disappoint! We made lots of memories as we wandered through one of the nation’s best zoos.
After the zoo, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Alpine Inn, a historic family-owned restaurant famous for its classic comfort food and nightly visits from local wildlife like raccoons. It was such a fun and unique Omaha experience!
We ended the evening with a foot washing during worship. It was a powerful reminder of Jesus’ example of humble service and love for one another. It was a meaningful way to close our last full day together, and we left feeling truly blessed.
Tomorrow we head home with full hearts, grateful for every opportunity we’ve had to serve, grow, laugh, and see God at work throughout this week.
The **2026 Mission Trip Crew** made it home safely!
On our way home, we made a couple of fun stops to wrap up an incredible week together. We walked across the 3,000-foot pedestrian bridge spanning the Missouri River between Nebraska and Iowa, then made one last stop at the SPAM Museum, where we shared lots of laughs and made a few more memories before heading home.
We are so happy to be back and are incredibly grateful to everyone who welcomed us home at church tonight. Your smiles, hugs, and encouragement meant so much!
Thank you to everyone who supported this trip through your prayers, donations, and encouragement. Because of you, our youth had the opportunity to serve, grow in their faith, build lasting friendships, and be the hands and feet of Jesus.
If you see one of our mission trip participants around church, be sure to ask them about their experience—we would love to share the stories of how God was at work throughout the week!
