by Maddie Weise, HAB Youth Member
Recently, I spent a week in Shaw, Mississippi working forDelta Hands for Hope as part of my church youth mission trip.
Shaw is located in the Mississippi Delta where over 40% live below the poverty line, and the median income for a family is just over 19 thousand dollars a year. Delta Hands for Hope is an organization that provides supplies that the kids will need for the school year such as paper, printers, scissors, glue, etc. It opened my eyes to see that parts of our country aren’t as perfect as I had thought.
While we were there, I got to meet a bunch of new people and was able to see their amazing personalities. We were able to help out at a summer camp and bond with all the kids and youth that were there. I was at the music station and got to teach the kids fun songs and motions.
We also had the opportunity to work in a school garden in the mornings and see all the fruit and vegetables they were growing. We built trellises and tomato boxes for the garden. I even have the wound to prove it!
On the fourth of July, we got to watch fireworks on the Mississippi River. I always thought it was hot in Florida but then I got to Mississippi, and it’s hot with no breeze and heat index equal to the surface of the sun!
This experience made me realize that I need to be grateful for what I have in Jacksonville and how I can use those opportunities to glorify God. This trip required many long hours of traveling, plenty of patience, it’s own unique set of challenges, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I believe this trip like many youth trips has made me a better person and stronger in my walk with Christ.
Maddie (pictured below, first on the left) is an active member in the life of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church and is also one of CBF’s 25 Youth to Know in 2018. You can read more about here in the CBF magazine, FELLOWSHIP!
