Our youth recently took off on a fun and meaningful summer road trip. They set off for Palo Duro Canyon to witness the musical, Texas – you know, for a little educational fun. From Amarillo they got their kicks on Route 66 as they took the old scenic route through Oklahoma and into Arkansas. They stopped to eat, to sight-see, to play a little, to do some mission work… In Little Rock they received a dynamic history lesson on location at Central High School where a few brave African American students, the “Little Rock Nine,” against tremendous pressures including Army escort, threatening crowd, and an opposing National Guard, became the first to integrate there in 1957. After our youth were duly inspired of the difference young people can make, they arrived at their primary destination, Heifer International Headquarters in Perryville, Arkansas, where they endured a profound global village experience.
Being divided up into poorer “countries”, they spent the night in typical homes without electricity, without water, some without doors or even walls; and some without homes at all. Each group was allotted certain uncooked food items. If they would work together through the night they may all eat, otherwise no. They worked through physical difficulties, ugly selfishness, stealing from desperation, and countless distractions. Let’s just say it was no Kum Ba Yah campout. The next morning the refugee group, having no assigned home nor allotted food, was forced to make breakfast for everyone, and clean up. The entire experience was unpacked in a debriefing session guided by Heifer staff who unveiled how they had just undergone a simulation of many global issues that revolve around poverty, including the need to work together. Now, what does the Lord want us to do to help include all His children? Ahh, so powerful—when one’s heart-lessons are learned through their own physical experience and personal observation.