[LOVE OTHERS] SAYING "YES": MY ADVENTURES IN YOUTH MINISTRY
YOUTH SUMMER MISSION TRIP
“...THE EXHAUSTION WAS EXHILARATING. GOD WAS GLORIOUS AND EVER-PRESENT.”
NEVER BE THE SAME BY CAIDEN MCDOWELL
H
ello. My name is Caiden McDowell and I had the measurements off and compounding the problem. As the privilege of going on the 2018 Youth a solution, I tied a rope to the support beam and pulled it Mission Trip to Broken Bow, Oklahoma. My back so that it was straight, which was a lot harder than it family and I attend church in our hometown of Zachary, sounds. In the end, we came together as a team and got it however, my Grandparents have been members of FUMC all done, and the sense of satisfaction was palpable. for many years. When my Grandmother called and offered me the opportunity to go, I must admit that I was pretty I was amazed at how I saw God through every single nervous at the thought of spending a week in a strange person there, working hard, doing things that maybe they place, with a bunch of people I didn’t know but from the weren’t used to doing, yet never giving up on the mission, moment I got on the van, I on themselves, or each other. I knew it was going to be a watched everyone, confronted I’ve never been one that struggled with obstacles and fatigue, great week. I’ve never been with shyness, but I was amazed at refuse to give up and instead one that struggled with shyness, but I was amazed at how everyone was instantly my friend respond with patience, grace how everyone was instantly and I was accepted into the and love. I know we couldn’t my friend and I was accepted have done that without God’s youth family. into the youth “family.” spirit. I felt closest to God when we were at worship, able In Broken Bow, the days were long, and the work was to focus 100% on Him, surrounded by His presence. challenging. For our group, it seemed that everything that could go wrong, did. We were tasked with building I feel as though my life will never be the same. I have an awning for the bathroom so that the churchgoers had gained mentors and, hopefully, life-long friends. I wouldn’t shelter from the elements. First, as we tried to set posts, trade being able to go on this trip for anything. The sweat we kept hitting an underground concrete holding tank; so was sweet. The exhaustion was exhilarating. God was we dug and dug and dug some more. Finally, we went glorious and ever-present. I loved every second of it! out far enough to avoid the tank, but this forced us to get longer support boards, which halted all work for a while. Once we got all of the beams up and were laying the rafters, we noticed that as we laid more rafters, the support beam was bending out more and more, making
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930north | www.firstmethodist.org | Fall 2018
ABOVE LEFT: Caiden securing rafters. RIGHT: Kale Wetekamm, Director of Youth Ministry, Jack Savario & Caiden working together to cut framing boards for a new sidewalk built for Kullichito United Methodist Church.
