Youth Mission Trip to Niagara Falls

 As the St. John’s youth we want to thank everyone who contributed and helped us to make the mission trip to Niagara Falls possible. Your generous donations made just as much of an impact as the youth did by being there. Without your generosity we wouldn’t have been able to go. We appreciate you deeply.  

During our mission trip we helped the community of Niagara Falls, which has much poverty. We spent 4 days working at different working sites not knowing what to expect. But no matter how bad the conditions might have been at the sites, the people always welcomed us with generosity, appreciation and open arms. I think I can speak for all of us that serving the people brought us just as much joy as it brought to them. We realized that just by helping them whether it was through construction work or cleaning up, they found a glimpse of hope again. Hope for the future of Niagara Falls, and I’d also say hope in humanity. People helping others without expecting something back is nothing we should take for granted. I think that’s what brought them so much joy. What really touched me is that the people still insisted on giving something back to us, including serving us a meal or just appreciation and heartwarming smile. Again, I thank all of you who made this Mission trip possible. Generosity changes lives and leaves footprints of hope and love in a broken world.                     

                                                                                                                 -Tina Dalinger, High School Participant  

(See the church’s Facebook page for daily summaries during the mission trip and the worship service on Sunday June 19 at which the youth led the worship service and shared details about their experience.