Pacific Union Recorder

Four groups of academy students from Southeastern California conference went on mission trips in November, according to Rick Silvestri, associate youth ministries director.

Three groups went to New Orleans to assist with Hurricane Katrina cleanup; the fourth group drove to Holbrook Adventist Indian Mission School in Arizona to build a garage.

At Thanksgiving break during the previous five years, Silvestri explained, the conference youth ministries department has organized a mission trip to Mexico. Participation had grown to as high as 250 students and sponsors. Because of safety concerns, the planning team looked for an alternative location for the 2009 trip. Unable to find one that could accommodate such a large group, the team organized a trip to Holbrook, while four schools found locations for their students in Louisiana or Mississippi.

Approximately 50 percent of the travel funding and some project funding for those who went to the Gulf Coast came from the conference's Katrina relief fund, according to Thomas Staples, conference treasurer.

"There is something special about going on a mission trip just before Thanksgiving," Silvestri said. "The contrast between serving those in need and then seeing the abundance on our Thanksgiving table heightens our sense of gratitude for God's blessing in our lives."

Arizona

Thirty people from San Diego Academy and the Loma Linda Indonesian and San Diego South Bay churches went on the Holbrook trip. They settled in on Thursday, Nov. 19, after a drive of more than 500 miles. Friday morning they joined the school's students and faculty for brunch, then went to work on a four-car garage for the school's faculty to use. The foundation had been poured the week before, so it was ready to be framed up.

"Since many of the students had never been on a mission trip before, it was exciting to see them learn how to pound a nail without bending it over," Silvestri said.

On Sabbath, the group participated in the worship service at the campus church. That afternoon they explored and hiked in the Petrified Forest National Park, 18 miles from the school.

"Sunday and Monday were long work days," said Silvestri. "Some of our students also did painting projects, helped assemble Thanksgiving baskets, and spread gravel. After breakfast on Tuesday the groups loaded up and headed home."

Mississippi

Seventy-five students from Loma Linda Academy and Redlands Adventist Academy traveled to Mississippi to help provide relief to victims of Hurricane Katrina. With the help of local individuals and organizations, student work teams learned about the crushing devastation that still lingers four years later; about the hospitality and resilience of people who have lost nearly everything yet continue on; and about working hard in construction, cleaning up and helping a survivor finally move into her new apartment.

The students put finishing touches on the home of a woman named Doris, pouring concrete and completing ramps and siding. Claudine Malimban, a sophomore at LLA, recalled: "A memory that had the most effect on me was when I saw our group carrying Doris in her wheelchair up the stairs to see her house because the cement was still wet. I walked into the house and saw her looking around. That really touched me."

Another project was Theo's house. Theo had lost almost everything, including his wife, as a result of Katrina. Jordan Harris, a sophomore at RAA, was impressed with Theo's Southern hospitality: "We built a lean-to, cleared brush out of a back yard, and built a cement walkway. Theo and his sister were filled with joy and thankfulness."

Students recounted learning new attitudes toward life, such as the importance of appreciating the things they have and not complaining. As LLA junior Vernée Norman put it, "I learned from [a woman we met] that things weren't important and that we should treasure things that last, like relationships, especially our relationship with God."

Louisiana: La Sierra Academy

"We usually go to Mexico, but this year, we chose to help with Hurricane Katrina cleanup, where help is still desperately needed," shared Steve McClain, La Sierra Academy science teacher and coordinator for the school's annual mission trip.

For six days, 58 students and 13 adult supervisors helped clean a flood-damaged 20-unit apartment complex adjacent to the canals. The apartments had been given to the local Baptist church to create transition housing. The bottom floor, flooded and mildewed, needed materials hauled out. The second floor hadn't been damaged, but the occupants had left and never returned, leaving behind personal effects. Although looters had trashed the rooms, there were still poignant reminders that humans had lived there and left in haste.

"When I walked into the abandoned apartments, I was moved by the personal belongings left behind," shared senior Gabriela Bolivar. "I was moved specifically by the pictures. These people left not only their belongings behind, but the evidence of memories and happier times."

"Before coming here to New Orleans, the hurricane was only a statistic to me," said sophomore Sarah Lancaster. "But I got to meet the people and realize there is a human side to this disaster."

"Our group's stated mission, our purpose, was to assist in cleanup," affirmed McClain. "But we want most of all to create a mission mind-set in our students. And if we don't create that service-oriented mission mind-set now, they'll think of disasters on the other side of the world, or even in the States, as someone else's problem. But our students worked hard, found their personal source of strength, and in so doing, came back to LSA changed."

Louisiana: Escondido Adventist Academy

"I knew this was an experience in which I would witness God to others. Little did I know that I would be the one who would be witnessed to, and by the people I least expected," said Amanda Navarrete. She is an Escondido Adventist Academy student who went to New Orleans with 51 other students and nine adults.

"For the first day, I went through the motions. Tape up walls. Paint. Tape up more walls. We were painting the New Orleans Seventh-day Adventist K-8 school. The day seemed endless, and I questioned why God led me there.

"My turnaround came on Sunday, the third day on the mission trip. We were sent to downtown New Orleans with $5 to spend on lunch. But the lunch wouldn't be for us. It'd be for a homeless person that we asked to lunch. We were to hang out with them and talk."

Navarrete continued, "My friend Karissa and I finally got a man to agree to get some lunch. When we gave him the sandwich, he immediately started to share with others. He explained, 'If I share with others, I'm doing something good. And if I do something good, that will come back at me. It's a cycle.' This blew me away.

"After we said our goodbyes, as we were walking, a man called out, 'U.S. veteran, homeless. Please help.' Enter witnesses number two and three. These two men had been on the streets for a while and were extremely grateful for the sandwich and our company. After telling about their tragedies, they started talking about God and how we need to put all our trust in Him. They strengthened my faith so much more than I would have thought possible. I saw God working through them. I saw the other side."

For information on future mission trips and to see a video of the Holbrook trip, go to www.seccyouth.com and under the Ministries tab click Power Mission Trip.

Doug Herrmann, Rick Silvestri, Judith Nelson, and Amanda Navarrete contributed to this article.