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By Luann Hoxeng, Volunteer Coordinator & Youth
Program Manager
Every summer Good Samaritan Urban Ministries' children
have the opportunity to experience many of the fun nature
and outdoor delights of camp. However, for many of our
children who come from the noisy city environment with
concrete streets and sidewalks lined with brick buildings,
the tranquility of nature can be frightening and a bit
overwhelming. However, each time they go to camp, they
have a chance to see life differently, especially the
wonders of God's glorious creation. Each year it's a
time for personal growth.
The younger children of Good Samaritan traditionally
attend day camp but sometimes it's just fun to break
with tradition. This year we went Day Trippin'! You
know the concept, "Let's pile the kids in the car
and go explore!" Thanks to the support of many
volunteers, we experienced five incredible day trips
over the course of the summer!
Johnston Evangelical Free Church jumpstarted the Day
Trippin' dream when Cami Brocka, their Vacation Bible
School director, called about sending our kids to the
Omaha Zoo. The church not only sent our kids to the
zoo but they joined us on the trip as chaperones and
gave a great Bible lesson for the kids. Bob Friesen,
a bus driver from Johnston Evangelical Free, transported
us using a bus loaned by Valley (Evangelical Free) Church
of West Des Moines. During the organization period of
the zoo trip, Scott Oates from Valley Church called
and invited our kids to Kingdom of the Son: a Prayer
Safari Vacation Bible School. Our kids enjoyed their
time, lessons and especially the music. When it was
over, Valley gave each of the children a bright yellow
Safari t-shirt that was a lifesaver for the chaperones
at the zoo!
Chaplin Joe Brummel of Central College in Pella, Ia.
and Russell Muilenburg from Pleasant Valley Reformed
Church of Holland, Ia. approached us in the spring looking
for a unique mission opportunity. They wanted not only
a physical labor work day but also time with inner-city
children and so our dream for the day trip to Des Moines'
new Science Center became reality. The Good Samaritan
children enjoyed their young chaperones as they toured
the Science Center and experimented with the various
hands-on activities. They were mesmerized by The Living
Sea at the I MAX Theater and awed by the majesty of
God's underwater creation. Chaplin Joe ended the day
by teaching a simple lesson of praise to God for His
creation.
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Can you imagine a kid going to a horse ranch and being
told "If you want to ride, you first must muck
a barn"? These were Gayle Lindstrom's-4J's Ranch
in Ankeny, Ia.-instructions to our group when they arrived
for our Horse Day Trip. Gayle knew we wanted the kids
to have a genuine experience of what really goes into
the care of horses and learn they did! Each child took
a rake and cleaned the barn, then fed and groomed the
horses. Next, she taught each child how to approach
a horse and gave them safety tips. Finally, the moment
arrived where they learned to get on the horse and had
their chance to ride. They ended the day with a good
old-fashioned hayride. What an awesome experience for
a bunch of young city kids!
Jason Jackson and the youth of Bethel Reformed Church
in Sheldon, Ia. signed on to take us on the fourth trip
to the Ledges State Park and then on to riding the rails.
We enjoyed the beauty of the Ledges and ate a mouthwatering
hobo meal (meat, veggies and potatoes cooked in foil
over coals). Prior to boarding the Boone Scenic Railroad
train, we had a stirring devotional about Kate Shelley
- a young woman from the 1890's who sacrificed her life
to crawl over a high trestle bridge during a thunderstorm
to stop the Midnight Express passenger train from crashing
through a broken bridge into the ravine. In the train,
we listened to the conductor explain that we would be
going over a high trestle bridge like the Kate Shelley
bridge. The expression of surprise and fear on the face
of the kids at that moment was priceless!
And lastly, the final trip of the summer took place
the beginning of August to Valley View Aquatic Center
in West Des Moines. Led by Sandy Suntken from Zion Evangelical
Reformed Church of Garner, Ia., once again, God provided
a youth group looking to minister to our children.
Remember the line from Field of Dreams, "If you
build it, they will come?" This summer's dream
of day trips was a real learning experience. We make
the plans but God is the one who puts it all together!
Many thanks to our faithful donors and all the many
volunteers, who made it possible for these children
to have a great "camp" experience this summer.
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