By: Kellie Herdade
As I sit preparing for this year’s mission trip, I realize that many people question; “why a mission trip and why out of the country?”
I have been doing mission trips with youth since 2005, and every year is sacred. Middle and high school youth have very active lives and minds. The majority of their thinking does not revolve around those less fortunate but more about their friends and their futures. When youth commit to spending a week of their summer serving others, it is something to pay attention to! Every mission trip I have ever prepared for involves the youth meeting monthly to build community before going. We make a covenant together to ensure everyone feels safe and that we have boundaries. We talk about the community we will serve and what norms might be different. We also talk a lot about how it would feel if they were in the same situation as those we serve, and how best to care for them.
I love watching kids learn new skills, but what I love most is watching them build relationships with each other! I love watching them step out of their comfort zones to engage in conversation. I have learned that it takes a small village to raise kids up, and that is one of the reasons we do Prayer and Fare each year. Yes, some youth need financial support, and some families sending two kids can surely benefit from the donation. The bigger impact is knowing that there is someone out there who is willing to help build their faith, and someone who believes in what they are doing. All youth are required to participate in Prayer and Fare as part of the trip so that they can see the support that comes from those in our church. When you support the same youth year after year, a relationship or bond forms, and I have seen this have a huge impact on youth! When youth are asked who they think prays for them, they will often name someone who has sponsored them through Prayer and Fare. I know that believing someone is praying for me makes all the difference in the world some days!
Father Bill tells the story of how someone sponsored each youth for $50 and then sent a picture of the postcards they received that covered their counter. This is a two-way blessing—even if the handwriting is hard to read, they are thinking of you and appreciate that they have one more adult in their corner.
As long as youth will go, I will do mission trips! I believe that Jesus sanctioned us all to serve, and I believe showing youth where they are needed in the world is a profound lesson. So, when you see the signs up in the atrium starting THIS Sunday (March 16), jump in and be that adult who makes a difference in one of our youth’s faith life. Can’t make it in person? Look out for details of how to give online next week or contact me here.