Day 4!

We slept good last night! On the docket today is going to second harvest (a food bank) in the morning and in the afternoon we are going to hang out with kids at the boys and girls club. 

Then later we will go out to tybee island to the beach. 

But first devotionals to start out our morning!

More pictures to follow!

Working at second harvest food bank this morning sorting through food. 

Davis moving pallets outside

Hannah stocking the shelves. 

A guy named Tyler took my name tag that I have been wearing all week long but he gave it back. 

Will playing some basketball. 

Trying to get a game of football going. 

Beach time then pizza!

Really proud of the way the youth served today! Even when they were so tired. They have poured their heart into serving! My prayer is that they will give of themselves to the service of others in their own backyard. 

Tomorrow we will be at second harvest in the morning and then at a nursing home in the afternoon. 

Day 3!

We are ready for our third day! Words cannot express how proud I am of the youth! They have poured their heart in to the work of Jesus. Plus they are such a joy to be around. 

We will be working with the children at the YMCA again this morning. And then painting in the afternoon. Hopefully it is cloudy because yesterday it was hot!

I will post some pictures later! 

Getting started at the Y!

Rick and Davis playing soccer!

Painting again!

Got to tour the First African Baptist Church here in Savannah. Only if we could worship there this Sunday!

Day 2

Just getting started! This morning we had breakfast clean up crew. I know you are probably wondering who these kids cleaning are! 

This morning we will be hanging out with kids at the YMCA and then painting a house in the afternoon. Looking to be a good day! Check back for some more pics...

Day 1

Today has been amazing. So grateful for all the youth on the trip. The numbers this week are small so this means that our teams will actually be organized in churches. I know the youth are happy about this! It looks like tomorrow that we will be working with the YMCA summer camp. 

Be praying for us and the relationships that will be built this week! 

Pgumc youth make me proud! 

Also here is a statue of John Wesley. One of the founders of the methodist movement. The only time he came to the America's was in the 17th century where he was the priest of Christ church an Anglican congregation here in savannah, ga. 

We are here!

Now ice cream!

Getting ready for club time (worship and bible study)

And we are off!

Need to Knows about the Mission Trip

Hi All,

Here are the questions you have been asking.

When do we depart tomorrow? 9a
Please show up 15-30 minutes earlier to give us time to get things in the van.

When will we get back? Between 3-4p on Friday

Spending Money? 
$80 per youth. This includes their meals, activities during the week, snacks, and any souvenirs they would want to buy.

Do I owe money? 
Each youth owes $20. Checks can be written to Pleasant Green UMC.

If your youth is taking the big step of leaving their ipods and cell phones at home... I am very proud of them! We will post something on the blog each day and talk about what we have been up too. Youth can also borrow my phone to call home or you can give me a call 251.223.2800.

Be in prayer for us tomorrow and especially for those that we will be in contact with while in Savannah. This is going to be a GOOD week. Looking forward!

Jason

PGUMC Youth Mission to Savannah!

Dear Parents and PGUMC Congregation,

We are so excited to have 8 amazing youth plus 2 really awesome volunteers (Kyle Meier and my wife Kiah) journeying this next week with our youth to Savannah. Thank you to all that contributed to this mission trip. Thank you to all who have prayed and continue to pray for them.

A mission trip is a foundational journey for youth. My hope is that they will discover more how much God loves them and that how God has meant for us to share this  love to especially those in need and marginalized.

Please check back each day to see what we are up too.

Looking forward to this journey with them and you.

Jason

Exclusive Youth Club

Instead of calling ourselves PGUMC Youth lets call ourselves "The Exclusive Youth Club." This past week I have had a few conversations about youth bringing friends that has left me scratching my head.

1. Someone asked me this week: Does a youth have to go to confirmation before they can be apart of the youth group?

2. I asked a youth about inviting their non-churched friend to church... for which they replied: "But they don't go to our church so why would we invite them?"

As much as we teach that "God loves everyone" and "accepts everyone" some how this "exclusive theology" has won. We become a group that is closed to outsiders simply because "they don't go to my church."

If this was true half our youth group broke this rule. They came to church because they had no church. And they stayed because we became what they were looking for.

This past year our theme was "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young." We spent a lot of time talking about how significant the youth's gifts are to the body of Christ. This year our theme will focus around the churches' mission: To go and make disciples of all nations.

Youth are surrounded by friends that need Jesus. Parents you are surrounded by friends who need Jesus also. This year I want to begin praying for those people that they can come alongside us and follow Jesus together.

So can youth bring friends to church? YES!
Do they need to know all about the bible before? NO!
Will they be loved regardless? Absolutely!