The child I sent was not the same child that came back!

Truer words have never been spoken. Bruce Allison with North Park Church in Gibsonia, PA, along with 2 other adults led a team of 10 high school juniors and seniors from their student ministry into Cap Haitien, Haiti and stayed at the Joshua House. Upon their return, a parent noticed right away that the trip was life changing for her teen. That’s what serving does…it changes you for the better….it opens your eyes and your heart as to how others live (or survive). The North Park team took time to love on the orphans at EBAC and IDADEE but they also connected with a pastor in Cap Haitien that oversees four churches in the area. They put on a Vacation Bible School and participated in other events at 3 of the 4 churches. In the evenings during devotional time they took time to reflect on the day. One thing that stood out to many of the teens was how happy the Haitian people were in spite of their poverty and living conditions. They acknowledged that is was the Haitian’s faith that gave them such joy. Needless to say, the trip of a lifetime for these teens impacted them. Allison and the other adults challenged the teen with this question, “What are you going to do with this “impact”? How much will stick? How will this impact affect the way you prioritize your college years and your life?” Their prayers for these teens is that the experience will shape the faith and life pursuits of all 10 “impacted” teens. After the trip, the team shared its experience with the church which in turn showed its love and support for the teens by donating money to the orphanage. Another lesson for those teens…they can count on their church family for love and support…hopefully a lesson that will follow them to college and throughout life as well.