During the first week of September, students from Milton-Stateline Adventist School in Milton-Freewater, Ore., had the opportunity to learn about leadership through following Christ’s example. The trip was made possible through the generosity of Hood View Junior Academy in Boring, Ore., which allowed use of its facilities for the mission project.
Twenty-six seventh- and eighth-grade students worked as volunteers at Portland (Ore.) Rescue Mission doing a variety of tasks, including weeding, mowing and other maintenance tasks. The real highlight of the trip was providing meal service to more than 270 homeless men and women at the downtown location and participating in the chapel service that followed. Students were responsible for welcoming diners into the dining room, serving each table restaurant-style and keeping up conversation with the diverse individuals seated at their tables. Following a lively dinner service, an enthusiastic student praise team led chapel with songs of praise, a brief message provided by parent Jim Boyd, and a time of prayer with several homeless men who had special requests.
As students were leaving the chapel, many of the men clapped and added encouraging words, which clearly left the students humbled and excited to see the results of the service. “Helping the homeless was an amazing experience,” says Sevin Birdwell, a seventh-grader. It was a time that the students will not soon forget in their journey toward a life of service in Christ.
Milton-Stateline Adventist School students helped with the Portland Rescue Mission garden that helps feed 270 homeless men and women in the Portland, Ore., area.
Other tasks the Milton-Stateline Adventist School students participated in included weeding, mowing, maintenance and gardening.
