Teen Mission

Last year Laura went on a local missions trip.  This year she was excited to go again.  Jasmine joined her, and the girls had a blast while serving.

The premise behind Teen Mission is simple. A group of local churches band together.  During the day for four days the teens from local youth groups volunteer, doing planned service projects in the community.  Last year Laura helped build a ramp for a handicapped man in a wheelchair. This year she helped paint a house.  Jasmine helped with some gardening and trimming hedges. Each evening the teens attend a service where they hear the Word of God. The teens sleep at one of the churches.  On the last day the group goes to a water park. 

This year my teenage daughters came home excited.  Not only were they excited about the Lord, but they actually felt like they did something.  It is faith I'm action, serving others.  My girls have been to church camps.  They always have a great time and learn a lot, but this is better.  Third isn't vacation time. This is work, and it's not easy.  And yet, after they serve, God does some amazing things in their hearts.  The week is not about what God will do for them, but what they can do for Jesus.  The week becomes being the Hands and Feet of the Lord.  The services are powerful because of this.

It's fun too.  The teens joke and laugh and have a good time. The girls make new friends.  The adult volunteers really go out of their way to mentor these young people for Christ.  

My teens are already talking about next year.  They both got up in front of the church and talked about how the experiences of the week had touched their hearts as they touched the lives of others.