Life Changing Mission Trip Examines Global Challenge

by Theresa Hamilton, Office Manager/Events Coordinator, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

The Global Challenge at Heifer International Ranch in Perryville, Ark., was more than a challenge for three adults and 12 youth from the Northwest Area (NWA) of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); it was an eye-opening and life-changing mission trip! The 48-hour “Global Challenge” was paid for by the generous offerings of the summer camp program; and the group was blessed to borrow the vans of the First Christian Church (FCC) in Cameron and Plattsburg.

Regina Rhodes and Sara White, co-coordinators of the Northwest Area camps, did the legwork to set up the trip. In the process of calling NWA churches to recruit youth and sponsors, Regina made contact with Theresa Hamilton at the Gallatin FCC. From that first phone call Theresa felt called to take an active roll in this mission trip.

“My husband, Pastor Russ and I, have given to Heifer International for many years and we strongly believe in their mission to end hunger,” she said.

In 2013 the Gallatin FCC Vacation Bible School youth lead the charge to send an Ark of Hope through Heifer International C an Ark is a gift of $5,000 that purchases two of many types of animals and distributes them to people around the world (including the U.S.). As a reward and incentive for the youth’s hard work and generosity, Pastor Russ Hamilton agreed to get his head shaved!

The Global Challenge group take a break from their team building exercises where they learned about sharing resources and “thinking outside the box” so that everyone would have enough resources and food. Front row left: Theresa Hamilton, Nick Widner, Justice Fry, Wiley Butler, Owen Schweizer, Grace Han, and Becky Butler. Back row: Pastor Russ Hamilton, Alyssa Poulson, Madison Merrigan, Kinley Stevenson, Sadie Terry, Carli Beck, Hannah Stith, and Zack Dreesen.

Besides Theresa, Becky Butler, Director of the Lighthouse Learning Center, and Pastor Russ went along as adult sponsors. Together they worked with Regina to recruit youth for the trip. The 12 youth consisted of five boys, Wiley Butler, Nick Widner, Justice Fry, Zack Dreesen, Owen Schweizer; and seven girls, Carli Beck, Hannah Stith, Sadie Terry, Madison Merrigan, Alyssa Poulson, Kinley Stevenson and Grace Han, who represented several congregations in the Northwest Area.

The youth left early on June 9, the girls in one van and the boys in another. After traveling 423 miles, everyone was ready to relax and get to know each by sharing conversation and prayer around a campfire. Wednesday the group took a tour of the 1,300 acre ranch and learned how Heifer International began more than 70 years ago when Dan West, a farmer from the American Midwest and member of the Church of the Brethren, went to the front lines of the Spanish Civil War as an aid worker. His mission was to provide relief, but he soon discovered the meager single cup of milk rationed to the weary refugees once a day was not enough. He had a thought: What if they had not a cup, but a cow? From this thought Heifer International was born.

Heifer International provides education and animals to people in more than 125 countries and has helped over 22.6 million families lift themselves out of poverty. Each family who receives an animal in turn passes on the first-born female of their animal to another family in need. Thus the gifts you give just keep multiplying!

Carli Beck holds a homemade tortilla that Wiley Butler (in back) cooked on the open fire pit. As part of the challenge, Nick Widner’s team opted not to “pay” for healthcare; which would have meant a loss of resources (food and supplies for the night). As a result of the team’s decision, Nick had to wear a sling on his dominant arm all day until bedtime. The Global Challenge taught youth about making difficult decisions about whether to buy food or pay for healthcare–a decision people all over the world face on a daily basis.

The youth had fun with team building activities and took a tour of the Global Village, a mock society, before being split into three groups. Each group was assigned to a village and given provisions for the night. In addition, each group had one member who needed medical care and one member who was expecting a baby. The teams then decided whether they wanted to seek medical attention for the person in their group and give up supplies to pay the doctor, or to allow the person to have a disability and keep the supplies they received.  This real life decision was difficult and helped the youth to understand that each day millions of people have to make difficult choices between eating and receiving medical care.

As each group arrived at their assigned village it became apparent that the groups did not have enough supplies to survive alone. If they were to eat that night, they had to share resources and trade with the other villages. For example, one village owned the drinking water rights and another group owned all the fire wood, while the other group had the only outdoor cooking area large enough to make a meal for the group.

After some intense negotiations, the groups agreed to share their resources and they enjoyed a meager “feast” of rice, eggs, vegetables and homemade corn meal tortillas. Following the meal the groups had time to visit before retiring for a fitful night’s sleep as they swatted mosquitos and scratched the chigger bites they received earlier in the evening. As the sun came up they gathered for a breakfast of oatmeal before returning to the barn to help with chores, and have a group learning session with leaders from Heifer International.

Following their chores they learned how to make bricks from clay as they talked about how the world’s resources are distributed. They were shocked to learn that America has only 5% of the population and uses 30% of the world’s resources. The youth also learned how only one person’s shoes were American made and the rest were made half a world away and shipped to local retailers–all of which uses resources.

During meals at the Heifer Ranch cafeteria the group was reminded to “take what you want, eat what you take.” The amount of food waste for each meal was weighed (less than one percent), and that waste was composted for future use in the gardens. The youth were reminded not to waste food and challenged with the question: If there is enough food for everyone, why does everyone not have enough?

This profound question lingered as they took showers and later talked about how they are blessed with ample food and homes with running water while millions of people continue to live in difficult conditions every day–without much hope for change. They were THANKFUL to say the least.

In the days following the trip it was clear to see that the seeds planted in the minds of the young people will grow and produce a harvest for many years to come.

A BIG thank you to the Northwest Area Campers for an awesome experience!