What kind of mission work have your students been involved in? How have you seen it impact them?

[Austin]

As a High School teacher I accompanied a group of students to Jamaica. As they ministered to children living at the school for the deaf, they played soccer with them, made wordless book bracelets with them, and sang a gospel song to them in sign language. Our students toured their facilities and found out that many of these children were abandoned by their families because they could not care for a disabled child. The boys that we ministered to were joyful and thankful. One day we ministered in song to the residents of the local nursing home. Once again these people had been abandoned by their families so the government run facility would take care of them. The meager dwellings, medical equipment, and conditions were eye opening for our group of High School students. They were playing guitars and singing to the residents, praying with them, and handing out candy in each small dwelling on the compound. A somber and tearful ride back to our villa was a time of reflection on how blessed they each were for the families and homes that they had in the states. I believe they came back humbled and more thankful than ever in their lives.

The physical work came when they had to hand mix concrete in the Jamaican jungle as we helped one of the local pastors build a concrete wall around his small wood hut that was being consumed by termites. The concrete trucks could not navigate the dangerous road which made the job of helping the pastor and his family a very important part of the trip. We took some time for a zip-line tour of the Jamaican jungle, a catamaran ride in the crystal blue ocean, and a hike up some beautiful water falls. The stark difference between the tropical paradise of the tourist attractions and the dismal lives of some of the year round residents was shocking to these young people. They don’t realize that we have a similar dichotomy in some parts of our own country. There are mission and ministry opportunities in every town across America.