Mission Trip to South Texas

The kids and I spent last week on a mission trip with a group from our church. This was the fourth year that we went on this trip to the South Texas Valley. About 30 people went on the trip and the group conducted four childrens' Bible schools, one youth Bible school, and also did some construction projects. The kids and I worked with the childrens' Bible schools. In some ways this was the most challenging trip we've been on so far, but it was also the most rewarding.

After driving 10 hours to South Texas (almost to the Mexico border), we worked on decorating for our morning VBS at a small church in San Benito.

Erin, Kenna, and Carol working on a footprinted road:

The next morning VBS started and each day Kenna, Cullen, and Camden, along with some other kids, got to help out with the puppet performance:



The other three Bible schools were at outdoor locations. We helped out at two of them on different days. The kids favorite job was serving sno-cones:

It was really, really hot, but recreation was still a fun time:

My main job on the trip was working with crafts. The favorite craft was painting t-shirts. Before leaving home we had ironed our VBS theme ("Follow Jesus") on the shirts and also had die cut footprints from contact paper which we put on the shirts. The kids got to paint inside the footprint outline and when we pulled the contact paper off, they had beautiful feet on their shirts.

Several of the kids wore their new shirts the next day. Some of the kids got up on stage to help lead the singing:


It was a very busy and exhausting week, but we did find a little time for playing at the pool:

Of course, all that we did was about the precious children - telling them about Jesus, His love for them, and inviting them to join us in following Him.

The highlight of my week was watching the change in one little girl in particular. Her name is Lisa and she came to one of our outdoor locations downcast and obviously troubled. She shared a little with me and with my friend Lisa about how she gets made fun of at school because she's small and "looks like a boy"; my heart just broke for her. After the salvation message was presented Lisa got to talk more with little Lisa, who prayed to receive Christ as her savior! It was so moving to watch them pray together and I couldn't resist taking a picture.

The change in this girl was so evident by the sweet smile on her face. She now knows that God loves her and thinks she's beautiful. What a difference knowing Jesus makes!