Mission Trips & Outreach

The youth of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas are constantly going on mission trips and outreach opportunities to serve others. If you do not see a particular trip or would like to post pictures from a recent event, contact Laura Shaver.

2010 St. Luke's & St. David's Trip to New Orleans

On our mission trip to New Orleans, St.Davids' and St.Lukes' youth groups came together to put on VBS at All Souls Episcopal Church in the lower 9th ward. We arrived Monday night, which allowed for VBS Tuesday through Friday at the once abandoned Walgreens. The moment we stepped into that church I must admit I was nervous, but those kids welcomed us with huge hugs. They had so much energy! It was a nightmare just to get these kids to sit down! But once they did, it was easy to see their open minds and willingness to hear what we had to say. Reverend Right has made such a difference in all of their lives, giving them a strong role model. And when I say strong, I mean no nonsense, sit-down-and-pay-attention-or-else kind of man. To say he demands respect is an understatement!
We had crafts and games everyday for all the kids to relate to the High Seas Adventure, the theme for this years' VBS. We made steering wheels for ships and spyglasses for sailors. There was jewelry making and even Sprinkle, Sprinkle, Splash, a variation of Duck, Duck, Goose. Most of all, though, the kids loved to sing and dance. We brought a CD of VBS songs and taught them dance moves to go along. The pictures I took while they danced to Today is the Day are my favorite of the whole trip solely because you can see in the eyes of the kids pure and innocent joy challenging the all too real dangers of the 9th ward.
The kids weren't the only ones being taught. We are tempted with petty things everyday, like gossip, immaturity, and pride, and only with God can we stay strong. I saw Jesus Christ in every single one of those kids' hearts, in their eagerness to shout so boldly for the Lord. I was there to teach them God's love and show them they are worth it, and in turn they taught me to follow Jesus without hesitation in all aspects of my life. One thing is certain: God is love, and not even temptation can tamper with that.

Thanks,
Emily Paschal

July 2009 - The High School youth group from St. Stephen’s Wimberley with a few add-ons from around the Diocese spent a week in Chicago in July on Mission trip. The group stayed at a community church in South Chicago only 2 blocks from the White Sox stadium. Besides truly enjoying the Urban setting we called home for the week, we were divided into teams combining with churches from Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Ohio. The teams were then dispersed throughout the city working with homeless, children in summer programs, adult day care facility for individuals with physical and mental handicaps, an urban garden and a soup kitchen. We were also able to visit some of the sights such as MillenniumPark an had a picnic at the park on the shores of Lake Michigan our last evening there. It was truly an amazing experience as the pictures show.