Yuma teens to spend summer as missionaries in Belize
Four local teens plan to spend part of their summer vacation by taking the word of God deep into the humid jungles of Central America.
The young missionaries from Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church plan to travel to the country of Belize, where they will help organize vacation Bible school programs for poor children in two villages.
Adult leaders from the church say they know young lives are going to be transformed - on both sides of this international experience.
"I hope they can discover Christ in a deep way in the children of Belize," said Senior Pastor Josh Acton. "This is not going to be a vacation. These kids are going to be really giving of themselves and sometimes feel uncomfortable, but they are still going to serve. I think that says a lot about these kids. They are just very giving, servant-hearted kids."
The mission trip will likely span July 28 through Aug. 7, but organizers are delaying purchase of airline tickets for two reasons. They first want to make sure swine flu won't be an issue. Funding the trip has also become an issue, encouraging the kids to continue working hard with fundraisers and to seek donations from the community.
"The danger of not being able to go...we'll find a way for the kids to go," Acton said.
The cost is $1,500 for each of the four young missionaries, plus the same for each of the four adults traveling as chaperones. "That money can be a hardship for a family, especially if more than one person in a family is going."
To raise money the young missionaries have sold rolled tacos and sought out sponsors for a recent clean-up event.
"Right now we are trying to get people to sponsor the kids for the trip," the senior pastor said. "One thing I tell people is you can give by going with us. Youth from other churches or other Christian leaders may certainly join us. Or people can go by giving."
Donations can be mailed to Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church, P.O. Box 650, Yuma, AZ 85364. For more information go to ChristTheRedeemerYuma.org or call 343-9551.
The teen missionaries range in age from 13-18. They are Rhett Robles, Austin Marshall, Julia White and Isaac Acton.
The teens are members of the youth group at Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church. The youth group offers a strong focus on service to others, which inspired the trip to Belize.
"The purpose of our youth group is to serve the Lord by serving others," Acton said. "I think when young people's attention is focused on 'What can I give' instead of 'What can I get?' their lives just go better. It's true for adults, too. I think when they are in the act of giving service they are working with God and his purposes, rather than their own agendas. They become instruments of God's care for the world."
Acton has been leading mission trips to Belize for 10 years. His association with the country, which touches Mexico's south-eastern tip, stems from his friendship with a fellow pastor who served as the church's bishop in Belize. This upcoming trip marks Acton's first with the Yuma church.
In addition to people, Acton also arrives in Belize each trip bearing much-needed school supplies.
"We mission to 400-500 kids down there," the pastor said. "The whole village comes out, whether they belong to the church or not. We're pretty well known there. They look forward to us coming."
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Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.
