From Westbrook to Wyoming: Sharing Jesus This Summer

As we have rolled into the start of summer, the youth have been gearing up for a busy summer. We have a mission trip to teach VBS in Riverton, Wyoming, at the end of June, VBS in the middle of July, and summer camp at the beginning of August. We are all super excited about the fun events and hope to have more students participate in them!

On June 1st, we had our final mission trip meeting, where we met our full team and talked about our plans. We’re traveling with 32 people, 12 from Westbrook and 20 from Grace Church. We covered travel details, our schedule, and what to expect. We’ll leave Westbrook at 8 a.m. on June 21st, stopping overnight in Keystone, South Dakota, before arriving in Riverton, Wyoming, on June 22nd. Once we arrive, we’ll kick things off with a worship night and meet other people. Then gather with just our churches to pray and set expectations for the week.  

Going on this mission trip again is super exciting for me. After experiencing it last year, I feel much more prepared, and I'm excited to see familiar faces. Last year was my first mission trip, and I remember feeling anxious and unsure of what to expect. The first couple of days were tough, I remember seeing the kids at the VBS sites and feeling heartbroken. Many of the kids are incredibly independent, often caring for themselves. It was a big shift in perspective for me. I remember asking Nate how I could help these children, and he said something that’s stuck with me: “You weren’t sent on this mission to change these kids’ situations, you’re here to lead VBS and help them hear about Jesus and His power.”  

In Luke 10:2, Jesus tells his disciples 2 “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” This verse can help remind us that we are called to go and preach the gospel to the lost. Yet, there aren’t many who are willing or humble enough to take the time to go help other people. Jesus wants us to have humility and go into these scary situations and trust that God will protect us.  

As we leave in the next week, I ask for prayer for the newcomers and any spiritual warfare or anxiety they may experience. But also, for returning people to feel the burning passion to go and spread the good news of Jesus. Bless the hearts of all the people we will encounter and soften their hearts to hear God’s word.