BEGINNING SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, UMYF WILL BEGIN REGULAR YOUTH TIME FROM 4:30-7:30 P.M.

SR. HIGH MISSION TRIP MOMENT
This year the Sr. High Mission Trip went to Prude Ranch. We worked with visually impaired children who live in the surrounding area. It was a very rewarding and unforgettable experience, from horse back riding to the dance on the last night. The last two days the girls got together to have a “make-up party”. There were three visually impaired girls and they loved it. We did their hair and make-up and listened to music. They really enjoyed it. Just to see their faces light up made the whole trip worth it.

Sarah Hower

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The Mission Trip this year was a blast! From visiting the Nature Center to the McDonald’s Observatory. This was a truly wonderful experience. I worked with John Kountz and our visually impaired buddy, Dustin. He was very excitable and so full of energy. It was a gift to see camp through his eyes. I can’t wait until next year!

John Kirgis

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This mission trip was close to my heart as the Sr. High went with my mom to help her work a weeklong camp with many visually impaired and blind youth. This was the 12th year that she has put this camp on and the second time at Prude Ranch in the Davis Mountains. I have helped with it most of those years. I’ve seen it with 15 kids and tons of helpers to having nearly 30 kids and 15 helpers. There have been years where we have taken these youth from one side of Ft. Worth to the other to teach them transportation skills as well as communication; making them all that more ready for the “real world.” This year we had youth from the ages of 14 to 18 and 19-year-old helpers and campers. The Sr. High youth, I am sure, were not sure what they had signed themselves up for and I am not sure that Tina and Joy, as well as my Mom, really understood what they would be doing.

After the first day when all was said and done I looked around the room during devotion and you could tell that our Youth had truly started a Mission from God. From chasing down a kid that just wanted to touch everything to one that was a little more held back and reserved; they made friendships with their “buddies” that would have normally taken days and weeks but they did it in a day and half. To all that donated money and prayer to the Mission Trip, you would all be proud of the youth you sent to help us. They jumped right in and did God’s work through their prayers, their presence, and their service. They were truly on a mission from God and realized that no matter what obstacle he put in front of them that if these youth with vision problems or no vision at all can live life to the fullest then so can they. Many realized that they have in the past made a problem into a much larger one, one that was not very important and life stopping. They all realized that God has a plan for them no matter how “cloudy” it may seem, sooner or later the clouds will part and His light will shine through.

It was an eye opening experience for them, as well as for me, to see this many people ready to do anything that was asked of them for other youth they barely knew. I thank you all from the deepest part of my heart for your prayers and gifts.

Hakuna Matata & No Worries, Jarrett Louder

JR. HIGH MISSION TRIP MOMENT
I have so many good memories of this past Jr. High Mission Trip. This was my 3rd trip to Travis Park UMC in San Antonio. There is so much Methodist history connected with this church that was constructed in 1845, but that will have to be another story.

The part of the trip I want to share with Sierra Vista is the day we spent working at the Food Bank in San Antonio. We loaded our bus shortly after breakfast and went directly to the Food Bank. We didn’t know what to expect about how long and hard we would be working. When we arrived at the Food Bank, a supervisor took us to the warehouse where we were instructed on how to clean and disinfect large ice chests. Our Youth were divided into groups of 2-3 and began to work cleaning a never-ending number of ice chests. I was amazed!

Our next assignment was to sort boxes of donated food, by categories, into large containers. No problem! However, the food had to inspected for expiration date as well as for damaged or open containers which might have bugs. Our group worked non-stop until the large containers were full, not knowing what the final results of the food sorting would be. Then, we were instructed to fill banana boxes with food that would last a family for an entire week. Our Youth filled the boxes as if they would be receiving them. Even after the top was put on the box they crammed smaller items through the holes of the box! They worked hard to fill the needs of people they never met. Wow!

We stopped for lunch and everyone had a sandwich. After lunch we were given a tour of the Food Bank building. Are we through, not yet! Without a single complaint, we went back to the warehouse and started the process all over again!

Our Youth worked just as hard (maybe harder) that afternoon, without the supervision of the Food Bank Supervisor who got off work at 2:00 pm. You would have been very proud of our Youth. They conducted themselves like a seasoned work group with a mission!

Dale Middleton

JR. HIGH MISSION TRIP MOMENT
When I went on the Jr. High Mission trip to San Antonio, I learned how quickly anyone could become homeless. It really opened my eyes and made me realize how grateful I am for the wonderful life I have and for my amazing family. The one thing that I will never forget is the look on the children’s faces when we walked into the Daycare Center. It was like “Wow! They came here for us, just to spend time with us.” It was heartwarming knowing that we really made a difference to them.

Thank you for making our mission trip to San Antonio possible. Without you we could not have made a difference.

God Bless, Shea Owens. 

JR. HIGH MISSION TRIP UPDATE
A wonderful experience was had by all 15 youth and sponsors on the SAVE Mission Trip. We spend time talking or playing games with homeless individuals while they waited to shower, eat or see a nurse or employment agency. It was a unique experience in that we all have a home to shower in or know where our next meal is coming from. We also spent a day at the San Antonio Food Bank unpacking & repackaging 4-5 pallets of non-perishable food. We prepared hundreds of “banana boxes” for families. These boxes are set up to feed a family for a week. (I’m not sure we would think we could manage to live a whole week on what we packed!) We also spent a day at a Wesley Community Center, with 21 children, leading games and projects. This is a Methodist sponsored program for children who are in the free lunch program during the school year. Centers are open to them from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm daily to feed them lunch and take care of them until their parents get off work.  

Our 11 youth worked diligently the entire time we were on the trip. They were gracious to everyone they encountered and to each other. Please ask them about their experiences. They want to tell you. Thank you for your pledges. Please send them in  - we still (of course) need money.  

I love you all,  JOY