Middle School Mystery Mission Trip to OKC
Middle School Mystery Mission Trip Group
I had the tremendous privilege to lead our middle school students on a mystery mission trip to OKC in June. The trip is exciting for them on so many levels—for one, they don't know where they're going and two, for many, this is their first trip with the youth group. They get an idea of what it means to serve together, to play together, and to get to know one another.
We started off in Turner Falls for a hike and play time before heading to OKC. We spent our first night hanging out at Wheeler Park and riding the ferris wheel there. We also threw footballs, played soccer, and played corn hall. It was a beautiful night and we enjoyed getting to just be together.
The next morning, we went to our first service project, Cleats 4 Kids. This was an incredible story of two people realizing that many kids simply can't play sports because they can't afford the equipment. The students heard how Cleats 4 Kids started and saw the fruit of the work as it has expanded greatly across the state of Oklahoma. I think many of them realized that when God puts something on your heart, you should go for it.
We then spent lunch at a very nice park in OKC in the middle of a wealthy neighborhood before heading to the Regional Food Bank. Our discussion touched on the needs of those who seem to have an abundance and Jesus' command to live a life of sacrifice and generosity. We also talked about how many are finding themselves struggling to make ends meet and how the Acts 2 story points us to share as much as we can with one another. We also had a little fun that night playing mini-golf in Bricktown followed by visiting a really cute local ice cream shop.
Friday morning, we headed to serve at Skyline Ministries which a UMC pastor started! Most of us helped bag groceries for folks and some helped out in the garden where they grow tons of fresh produce! We then spent the afternoon at Riversport, where we tubed and did whitewater rafting. We ended that night at a drive-in movie and ate entirely too much popcorn and candy. We headed back to Denton with one stop at Tucker Tower for lunch.
I was extremely proud of our students for the way they continually stepped out of their comfort zones and challenged themselves in so many ways. There was a lot of togetherness and it's a joy to see the students get to know one another. I'm thankful for our volunteers, Emily Blake and Kent Carpenter who were key in making everything go so smoothly. If you see one of our middle school students, ask them about the trip! I bet they'd love to tell you about it! If you are interested in volunteering with our youth, I'd love to tell you about those opportunities!