With serving hearts, 32 western Washington teens and chaperones volunteered for this year’s Local Teen Mission (LTM) Trip in July. They returned to Lewis County with a mission to reach the surrounding community.
"The people, ministries and organizations our teens served gave high praise for the work that was done,” says Ira Bartolome, Centralia pastor. “It was a pleasure to serve with our LTM group, and [I] hope they can take the same spirit of service back to their local context."
The teen participants spent the weekend serving the community both at a personal level and at a community level. Besides chopping wood, folding clothes and serving food at local community distribution centers, the dedicated youth also landscaped for the Centralia Train Station, washed windows and painted rooms for the elderly in the city, spread the gospel through literature evangelism, and more.
“The people’s smiles show that they love what we’re doing,” says Emily Bezman, a teen participant from Renton. “That inspires me and makes me want to help even more.”
“It feels good to help people,” says Hunter Birdsall, a teen participant from Montesano. “I plan on going to more mission trips so I can help out the community.”
This is the seventh Local Teen Mission Trip. The teens previously served around Washington in Friday Harbor and Burlington and multiple times in Lewis County. The trip was sponsored by Washington Conference Adventist Community Services, the local churches and Lewis County Adventist School in Chehalis.
Teen participants shovel in brand new bark to beautify the Centralia Train Station, as one of the service projects completed during the Local Teen Mission Trip.
Western Washington teens join together with a mission to “Impact! Serving the One, Serving All” at this year’s Local Teen Mission Trip.
Teen volunteer Nika Zavalishina helps to paint a room at the home of an elderly lady.
Aby Luna and her fellow teen missionaries bring joy to the elderly residents as they greet each one after singing and sharing stories with them.
Thirty-two teens and chaperones spent three and a half summer days serving in selected communities.
Local Teen Mission Trip combines spiritual growth and service qualities of mission service and brings the experience closer to home.
Teen volunteer Hunter Birdsall works diligently to make a Centralia resident’s window squeaky-clean.
