16 Teenagers to Mexico!!

In conversation with one of the customer service reps at my favourite lab to visit, we determined that there might be some merit to the childhood method of counting down or counting days. There is simply something fun about declaring “this many sleeps!” rather than how many days remaining. Proof of that, from the words of a child, is found in my 3 ½ year old niece whom upon arrival at Grandma’s must declare how many sleeps she is there for. “Grandma, I am here for two sleeps!!” or one of my favourites and one you know was clarified in the van before arriving at grandma’s house, “Grandma, I am not here for any sleeps”. So in honour of this methodology of count down,

3 more sleeps!!!

Yep. In just three sleeps I am going to catch a ride to the airport where I will meet up with 16 teenagers and two other leaders (and for a departure prayer and I am sure a few teary goodbyes at least a handful of parents or relations as well) to check in, move through customs, and wait to board our flight to Phoenix where we will be picked up by a representative from Praying Pelican Missions and drive down to Hermosillo, Mexico.

It is hard to believe that it was already ten years ago that I was sitting in their shoes- in high school and preparing to go on a mission trip with a group of my friends from church. I love that over the course of those ten years I have gotten to the point where I now get to supervise what will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience, a chance to witness the glories and wonders that epitomize the grace, love, and mercy that is our Father.

One of my favourite passages in the Bible can be found in the words of Matthew 25:31-46. Captioned ‘The Sheep and the Goats’, for me, the words in these verses are one of the most direct call to action of Christ to His followers

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A31-46&version=NIV)

I am so unbelievably excited to witness the acting out of Christ’s directions in the actions, in the words, and in the hearts of these teenagers; for the opportunity to be present as a group of teenagers, one of the age groups most often associated with a lack of awareness of others, step out and together act as the body of Christ. To watch as they do for others as Christ has commanded us not only as Christians, but I believe as mankind- believers and unbelievers alike. To reach out and help those in need, those hurting, those crying out simply to find someone who cares.


Now, because I am Laura, and short and sweet is a lesson I have never really comprehended, the story behind where I am at as a youth leader =)

I’ve been volunteering as a youth leader at the church for the last four years. If you were on my Facebook last summer, you might remember a ton of posts relating to youth and loving my job, and those stemmed from a short stint I did as a summer youth intern at the church, planning and running summer youth events. Over those four years, youth has gone from something I did originally as a favour for one of my best friends to something I now can’t even imagine my life without.

I won’t lie, at the very beginning, the very first time, when my dear friend Mike asked me to drive for a youth event and I quite literally laughed at him for suggesting it- I don’t like teenagers, they are way too much drama for me- or something along those lines, he said, just do it this once, just for me. Next thing I knew I was signed up to help out every two weeks and the following year after his tragic passing, as badly as I wanted to quit something that I so associated with him, I figured I’d keep at it for just one more year, kinda in his honour I suppose, for the kids who would miss his undeniably energetic presence, so I volunteered to help attempt to fill the void at youth and lead on a weekly basis.

Needless to say, it didn’t take long to realize that I wasn’t just doing it for him. I was doing it for me. I was doing it for the youth. I was doing it for God. I realized that when I was in youth I had a couple of leaders who left such significant impacts on my life (and I can only hope they realize it) that I wanted to have the chance to do that for the youth. Suddenly, they were filling a void in my life, and to be honest, they still do.

I know that sounds cheesy, but I am ok with that. I suppose it is the kind of statement that only some people can ever comprehend. When I meet new people and they learn that I spend nearly every Friday night (Tuesdays in the summer), and at least a couple weekends a year, hanging out with anywhere from 5-60 12-18 year olds, they think I am nuts. I’m ok with that too. Considering doing so has brought me innumerable younger ‘brothers and sisters’, people who think I am funny and entertaining and who look forward to my hugs. Teens who love to talk about what is going on in their lives and who, during small group, at Sunday lunch (which I really would love to do again) and in personal conversations, open up about their joys and pains in life... I love it.

So where am I as a youth leader? I am grateful. Grateful to Mike, for putting me in an awkward spot of not being able to say no to a personal favour. Grateful to the other leaders who might roll their eyes but still seem to enjoy having me around despite all my (self diagnosed) a.d.d. Grateful to the youth who rock (most of the time at least). And am so indescribably grateful for this chance to head off to Mexico with an amazingly, fantastically, unbelievably, wonderful group of teenagers. A group of teenagers who in less than 15 minutes created a mission statement for our trip that collectively speaks wonders as to their maturity and faith in our Maker.

“Our team will make a difference by spreading the word of God through love, hope, and blessings, as we grow in Jesus Christ”

Naturally we’d love your prayers while we are in Mexico. For travels, for health, for cohesion, for effectiveness, for the ability to speak beyond the language barrier, for effective ministry on behalf of Christ, for lives to be touched on both sides, for growth in relationships with Christ, and for whatever else you can think of that I can’t at this moment.

Dios te bendiga! (God Bless You!)