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2008
Our 2008 Sr. High Mission Trip is July 20 -27 to San Antonio. Click here for a registration form and trip details.
For more information about this trip, contact Evan Jones.
2007
The 2007 Sr. High Mission Trip to Juarez, Mexico was May 27 – June 2. We had about 40 youth and 10 adults on the trip. We built 5 home for 5 familes who were extremely grateful. The youth provided their own devotions every night in their work groups and did an amazing job we that. We worked really hard Monday-Thursday, In the afternoons we went to a church service on Tuesday, on Wednesday we went to the Market, and on Thursday we finished the houses, blessed them, and then provided a Pinata Party for the kids. On Friday we drove back home, and stopped in West Texas to go sandhill surfing and eat pizza. The youth had a great time getting to know each other better, and growing in Chirst.
To view pictures from this trip visit our 2007 Photos page.
2006
In 2006, we returned to Juarez to build five more homes.
Here are some comments from some of the participants:
Monday morning started off
with soft rain dripping down on the roof of the compound. It was an experience
that none of us had expected or ever experienced in
Juarez
. After breakfast, our little dip of rain
turned into a downpour that created ponds of water for the playing of little
children and perfect conditions for mudding in our rental vans. After waiting
out the rain in the vans at the worksite and drawing pictures on the fogged up
windows, we decided to begin building our houses in the midst of a few
sprinkles. Although we were a little wet, we were grateful for the soft ground
to dig our trench. The morning flew by, and by lunch we had completed the
trench and moved 200 blocks into the home. We all ate some authentic Mexican
burritos and got our first taste of the famous
Juarez
iced tea for the week.
-- Mark (11th grade)
My group was awesome and
worked extremely hard to build our house. . . . I really enjoyed and had fun
with my group and the children of
Juarez
. They were so amazing with their
happiness and spirit. I was able to play with them a lot and they were so
amazing. I played a lot of hand-clapping games and it was cool to be able to
play them in another language. We did an amazing thing by completing 5
houses in 2&1/2 days!! I will never forget the loving spirits of all the
children I played with this trip – especially Maria, Ivan, Fernando, Minerva,
and Pedro. They were so grateful and worked even when they didn’t have to. The
piñata party was also fun to watch and experience. . . . Overall, I had an
awesome and unforgettable experience I will take with me always! It was lots of
fun and I can’t wait till next year!
-- Katie (11th grade)
This was my second mission
trip to
Juarez
and it was amazing. This was also my
first year to be able to work my hardest because last year I was in a full arm
cast on my right arm. The car ride down was tons of fun but it seemed to go on
forever. The first night down there I only got a couple hours of sleep because
when we lost power, the AC went out. . . . As each day went on, our group grew
closer together and built stronger relationships. We also began to grow lasting
relationships with the children of
Juarez
. The children are so extremely sweet and
life changing. They are always happy and grateful for our presence. They
always want our attention. This week there were a lot more children at my
worksite than there were last year. We even had a few children that worked side
by side with us even though they did not have good shoes or any gloves. One
reason that I loved going on this mission trip was that it allowed me to use
every ounce of strength and energy that I have toward a cause that is God-filled
and gives hope for a better life to the people of
Juarez
. Wednesday was the day of our hardest
work. Even though it was hard work, I never wanted to stop because I knew that
they really needed the house and I was determined for them to get it. This
trip, as always, was an eye-opening experience that will be with me for the rest
of my life. . . .. We worked together so well and accomplished so much.
We each had our different specialties and when all combined together, we were
the perfect team. This was an amazing experience and I can’t wait till next
year.
-- Leigh (11th grade)
On Monday I felt sorry, pity
really, for these people that lived in such conditions. How wrong I was!
Throughout the week I learned so much from them. I learned how happy they are,
how appreciative they are of such simple things. I learned these joyous people
deserve respect, not pity.
-- Michelle (adult)
Third year back to
Mexico
and it was amazing!
. . . Thursday we blessed all five homes which was very touching! We left
Mexico
after the breaking of
the “Superman” piñata! That was fun! Friday we went sand surfing! I got a
face full of sand going head first! After that new experience we ate lunch and
headed home! Yay!! J It was so
much fun! I can’t
wait till next year!
-- Kirsten (11th grade)
The mission trip to
Juarez
was so fun this year (2006)! . . .Our
family was loving and were extremely thankful! There were some sentimental
times and some really funny moments. . . . Sand surfing was extremely fun and we
should go back every year! Being buried in the sand really exfoliates your
skin. The van ride was extremely fun and we should definitely drive again!
This experience has been life changing and I want to keep coming back for years
to come!
-- Megan (10th grade)
This
is my first time going on a mission trip to
Juarez
or any mission trip. I was so nervous
and excited to come down here. On our first day it was awesome. The young men
and young ladies were awesome. I’ve never seen young adults work so hard and
get along so good. The family is very nice and very grateful for us to be
here. The dad’s name is Isidro, wife is Mireya, and their two little children
Jonathan (9 year old) and Angel (7 months old). The family is very close. I
really appreciate everyone working so hard to make this family’s life better. I
thank God for giving me this opportunity to get involved with these wonderful
families and Suncreek UMC. . . . Thank you for having such big hearts. You
guys are my heroes. . . . I know this experience will be treasured in our
hearts forever. Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Que Dios los Bendigas. Love always.
-- Norma (adult)
Today is our last day here in
Juarez
. We are about to head out to have our
small celebration with families and to bless their house. . . .As the days
went on here and me getting to know people, I knew I wanted to allow myself a
new experience. An experience for me to get to know people and for them to get
to know me. What really helped me to open up was the devotionals. I knew that
God would want me to open up and meet new people because he would do the same.
I guess building relationships with people is a big part of life. You just have
to give everyone a chance despite past differences. I’ve met so many wonderful
people that I know I’ll have a special bond with, no matter what. I’m sad to be
going home tomorrow, but very overjoyed with taking home memories! These are
memories that I will keep and remember about my time her here in
Juarez
. It’s funny how we were supposed to be
involved with building the house and with the families. Well, our team
did all of that and more. We were close and even stuck together after the
worksites. We became one. . . . God bless.
-- Rebecca (12th grade)
This was my third time to go
to
Juarez
and I have absolutely loved all of the
trips. This trip has been so great. This year more than ever everyone was so
open to every single member in our youth group. I feel like I talked to every
single person that was there this week. The adults – Norma, Stacy, and Deidre
were all so nice to me (my mommy too) and I felt like they weren’t just my
counselors but my friends too. Becky and Norma and Stacy all came from Wesley
Rankin and even though I haven’t ever known them before, right now at the end of
the trip I don’t want to say goodbye. Stacy helped me out with medicine, Norma
was like a mom to me on the worksites, and Becky grew to be a great friend of
mine. . . . The poverty you see in
Juarez
still sends me shivers every year even
though after 3 years I should know what I’ll be seeing. However, the thing that
gets me most is how despite all the poverty, all of the children in
Mexico
are happier than any
children in
Dallas
. I truly see the face of God
in the children in
Juarez
. This trip was so much fun and so
meaningful. I made great relationships and memories that I will never forget.
This trip to
Juarez
is something that guides me on my outlook
and life all throughout the year and it is a blessing I will forever treasure.
I love
Juarez
so much. Proyecto Abrigo feels like
another home to me.
-- Meredith (11th grade)
This year in
Juarez
was amazing. It was also my 3rd year and it never gets old. This is my favorite mission trip that I look
forward to every year and it never lets me down. We had the best maestros this
year too. Louis was the funny man who always kept us going. Although the
family was not out as much this year it made our team bond much more. We were
with two Wesley Rankin staff members, Norma and Becky, and we bonded very much at the
worksite. I could not have asked for a better team. I will remember this trip
forever.
-- Matt (12th grade)
To view more pictures from the 2006 trip visit our Photos page.
2005
During the June 2005 Juarez trip, our 60
person team (52 youth, 8 adults) was
able to construct 5 concrete block homes.
We
built homes for a family with an ailing grandmother who had been affected by the
cold winters. For the first time, we built three homes that were connected for
one family that had several family units all living together. Another family
had a little boy with multiple handicaps.
We
shared nightly worship with other youth groups, including a group
from Minnesota. On Tuesday night, we attended a worship service at a local
church. Janet Hunt delivered the message.
We brought several bags of donated toys and clothes for persons in need. Jan and
Rachel Baldwin made a beautiful banner with the Methodist cross and flame that
we presented to Reverend Jose Luis, Director of Proyeo Abrigo, as a
gift.
We
enjoyed opportunities to meet persons in the neighborhoods where we were
working. Some of our youth were unable to do much of the heavy labor, due
to recent injuries or surgeries. They took sacks and starting picking up
trash in the neighborhood. After the first day, the children of the
neighborhood met them at the vans each morning ready and eager to help them pick
up trash.
To view pictures from the 2005 trip visit our Photos page.
2004
The 2004 Sr. High
Mission Trip was to Juarez, Mexico. Our 33 youth and 14 adult team worked to build
four homes.
Mission trips can be life transforming. You
can experience amazing joy by sharing God’s love, making a visible difference in
people’s lives, immersing yourself in a new culture, and returning home with a
clear sense of what is really important.
To view pictures from our
2004 trip, please visit our 2004 Photos page. |
