One of the great outcomes of a youth mission trip is the cast of characters met while serving. Some interesting people are thrown into the mix — both those who are being served and those with whom you serve. Our camps provide such a rich relational soup — meeting residents who need your service and youth and youth leaders who serve along side of you…. Don’t miss the opportunity to mine for the high grade “ore” of relationships while serving.

I’m particularly grateful for one character met while serving in Haiti. We were visiting a hospital for children with TB when I almost walked past a dimly lit room at the back of the building. I looked inside the room to discover an elderly woman in a rocking chair with a baby in each arm — smiling at first the babies then at me. She explained that she and her husband had been missionaries in Haiti for years and upon retirement had moved home. After many years, her husband had died and she found herself in a nursing home with little to do but rock in a chair. Coming to her senses, she determined to return to Haiti where she could “rock with a purpose”. This is one huge and inspiring story coming from one person who connected to Jesus while serving and it changed her life forever. Serving Jesus changes everything!