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Youth Mission Trip: Then & Now

Youth mission trips have always been important to me and my family. Four generations of my family have been on mission trips here at First Hurst, from my great-grandfather, Chuck Jorden, down to me and my brothers. As our current students are gearing up for our 2023 mission trip, I have found myself reflecting on some of my past mission trips.

My very first mission trip was down in San Marcos, TX. This was an incredible experience. Mainly because we were incredibly spoiled. We stayed in the dorms at Texas State University, got to float the river, and even had dinner at Saltgrass Steakhouse one night (we were never this spoiled again, sadly). One of the highlights of this trip was being in a work group led by Tom Whiteman. He taught me about laying tile, how to use a saw, and the importance of tool safety. Tom was so kind and so open to everything we wanted to talk about. He was a big part of why I loved this trip so much. Another part of this trip I loved was getting to have my mom with me. Though we were in different groups, I loved getting to be with her. I had heard so many stories about her youth mission trips, and I was so excited to finally be able to have my own stories.

Mission Trip to San Marcos, TX with the Southside Community Center.

My first high school mission trip was to Nashville, TN. This was my least favorite mission trip. Why? Because I was in pink arm cast and was not able to use the chainsaw like all my friends. So unfair. Instead, I was tasked with “safety”. This meant I stood on the side of the road waving an orange flag to let drivers know they needed to slow down. Now, putting the dramatics aside, this was still an incredible trip. I remember being so excited to be with the older students because I thought they were so cool, and I really wanted to be their friend.

Proof that I actually do work on mission trips.

While mission trips consist of a lot of hard work, they also are full of a lot of fun. Especially when you have adults like Patti Little, Beck Martin, and of course, my mother. Pranks were played on so many trips. I’ll never forget when a work group was acting like they got in trouble but then turned it into the Harlem Shake. Or when a certain group snuck out to the junior high group’s location to wrap their van in tarp and rope. Yes, these are silly things, but I loved how it brought everyone together. When I hear others reflect on their past mission experiences, what stands out the most is the relationships that were made.

A certain high school group that went to prank a junior high group while in McAllen, TX.

This year our students will be traveling with UM ARMY (United Methodist Action Reach-Out Ministry by Youth) to Round Rock, TX. We will be leaving on Sunday, July 9 and will return on Friday, July 14. Below is a list of our participants. I ask that you pick a few names each day next week and pray for them. Thank you for your constant support!