Youth Work Team

In the 52 years Mesa Verde UMC has existed, we have sponsored 42 youth mission trips. The youth who go on a trip are known as a work team. For years, work teams went to Mexico. After Hurricane Katrina, they went to Mississippi. In recent years, we have worked through the Sierra Service Project (SSP), traveling to various sites in the Western U.S. Last year we went to Susanville, CA, near the Oregon border. This year we will go to to Smith River, CA, July 28-August 3.

SSP is all about building – building homes, building communities, building bridges between people and cultures, and building a relationship with God. The organization provides mission experiences through acts of service, repairing homes in Native American and urban communities and serving in Central America. Founded in 1975, SSP was inspired by and modeled after the Appalachian Service Project. Originally founded by several United Methodist church ministers, SSP is now an independent organization but maintains a close affiliation with the United Methodist Church.

Fundraising Opportunities For 2013

Our budget for the trip last year was $7500. We expect we will need about that amount again. Our church family has already helped with the car wash, raffle and yard sale, and a spaghetti dinner. This made it possible to register the team. Several other opportunities will be made available to church family, relatives, and friends in the coming months. 

We are also obtaining sponsors individually. The bulk of the expense for the work team is the "church camp-like" fee of $365 per member. We each pay $100 and are attempting to obtain the balance of the amount from individuals. The team members already committed to going are Courtney Lanzi, Kate, Alexa, Anaise, Haley M, Haley S, Quentin, Sierra, and Karissa.

Other fun events include our Volleyball Challenge, another car wash, Newport Rib Co. day, and a pancake breakfast, all of which will take place in the months ahead. Stay tuned!