This past summer, our Youth Group took a trip to Johnstown, PA to help those in need. In what follows, our Youth Director Ethel Wesley reflects on the trip and what's in store for our youth in the future.
 
Children and Youth Ministry
 
“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way"...       Psalm 25:9
 
          "Thank-you all. Thank-you for what you are doing for my family. You have 'Helping hands and Loving hearts." These are the words Hope Morrison, Ryan McElhaney, Jim Gardner, and I heard from the owner of the Hollingsworth Farm in Johnstown, PA. With helping hands and loving hearts we joined youth from two other churches. One from Traverse City, Michigan and a younger group from Princeton, New Jersey for a week of mission work in western Pennsylvania. We took the Vision Statement of Holy Comforter and made it come alive for others in need. With a church on Maple Avenue in Johnstown as our home base, we begin a week long journey on a Sunday afternoon in late July getting acquainted in our new surroundings, meeting the staff, and locating a sleeping spot on the floor or on an old sofa. This church would serve as a place for meals, showers, worship, games, small group times, and quiet reflection.
          This was an exciting experience for the four of us who went to Johnstown, We can't say enough about the work we did or the people we met. I will try to give you a snapshot of what we did. Each morning we started with breakfast followed by Bible Study and journal reflections around the theme for the day. The youngsters from Michigan and New Jersey certainly knew their way around the Old and New Testaments. We were impressed with their Bible knowledge. Morning worship was followed by small group time. Both Hope and Ryan were small group leaders.
          Once we verified our daily schedules and picked up our lunches, we headed to our work sites. The four of us stayed together throughout the week. We worked at a house that is being refurbished to be a halfway house, we moved wood and debris from a former hospital that will be turned into a Youth Center, and spent an afternoon at a local Nursing Home.
 
          Our favorite assignment was working on the Goat Farm. Dorothy and Rachel gave us a warm welcome for there was much to be done. Dorothy's husband has been bed-ridden for fifteen years and the farm has gone downhill. With the help of several groups this summer, Dorothy's place is in better shape because of many helping hands. We had the privilege to help strip bark from branches of black walnut trees to get them ready for fencing material. The guys worked in the barn and helped replace siding. People from the other groups worked in Dorothy's garden and helped clear her front entrance and play area for her grandchildren. We cleared a barn of old wood to get it ready for hay for the animals. It was hot, sweaty work, but it was very rewarding work. 
          As a thank-you, Dorothy and Rachel had the entire group over for a cook-out and swimming. Afterwards, we had a prayer service around the campfire and had a time to pray for each other. These are memories we will not forget. On our final day, we toured the town square, visited the Flood Museum, and stopped for a solemn view of the site where Flight 93 went down in the field in Shanksville in 2001. Although there are few jobs and little activities for the adults and youth in Johnstown, we met young adults with dreams and visions of a better day.
          I want to thank Hope and Ryan for saying "yes" to mission work and for their commitment to living the gospel message to "go and do". I want to thank Jim for all he did on this missionary journey. He was a chaperone, coffee maker, chief disciplinary for the juniors from Princeton, driver, and cook for the entire group at the cook-out. This trip was possible because of his generous help.
          The Youth Group hopes to continue to do outreach as the new Sunday School year begins. Thanks to all of you for making this trip possible this summer.
      

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       Sunday School will open on September 18th. Our Pre-Kindergarteners through 2nd graders will meet at 9:30 in the Lower Parish Hall. Children's Chapel will follow at 10 o'clock. The Morrison's will meet the 8th through 11th graders in the Youth Room at 11:20. The Middlers, 3rd through 7th graders, will assemble in the Piano Room. We are still in need of teachers for this class. Please see Chris Stanley or me for more information about this class.
          We have begun training our children in the right direction. We hope to continue to worship, to learn, to do outreach, and to have fellowship with one another throughout the year.