CCUM Youth Mission Trip: Snapshot of American Homelessness

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - This past Spring Break, thirteen 11th & 12th grade students and 3 adults from Christ Church United Methodist traveled to Springfield, Missouri in Greene County on a mission trip titled "A Snapshot of American Homelessness".

The purpose of the trip was to dispel the myths about homelessness and dispel the glamorization or over-simplifications of it's solutions. The focus of the trip was to teach the students the poor are to be viewed as freinds and neighbors - not projects.

While there, the students and adults worked in the Salvation Army's Family Enrichment Center - which also served as their lodging for the trip. The worked in the food bank, offered food in frontline feeding and assisted in the thrift store. Also during their stay, the students shoadowed the staff at teh Family Enrichment Center and Emergency Social Services to learn about clients' stories and to witness how the staff help each person. To assist the staff, the students served in numerous ways including cleaning cold winter shelter cots, cooking, cleaning, outdoor and yard projects, tutor and play with theh kids in the after-school program.

Some students from Christ Church United Methodist participating in the trip were Tyler Silva, Rachel Specht and Rebecca Mentzer.

Christ Church is located at 6363 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands, next door to The Woodlands High School.