Been wanting to share this with you for some time! But as a youth worker, you know how chaotic Summer Youth Ministry can get. And after all…..TYMB is a one man operation! I’m not saying my students are more important than you, but…..yeah.
To the point: Early this Summer I journeyed with a group of students to do a Poverty Simulation through Mission Waco. It was transformative. I truly wish I could detail for you what this weekend entailed, but that would take all the fun and mystery out of you doing this yourself! What I can tell you is that you need to plan on adding this to your Summer Calendar for next year.
What’s that? You live in Nebraska? Still worth the drive. There were groups from 3 different states in our simulation and they told us that people travel from all over to take students through this experience.
So what CAN I tell you? I can tell you that there is a HUGE difference between serving the poor and putting yourself in their shoes. And while we cannot do that to the fullest extent, it was a tremendous eye-opener to students of mine from affluent North Dallas. They became poor, if only for a weekend, and were given an insight or renewed understanding of poverty. Throughout the experience, the Poverty Simulation director informed the group on the current status of world poverty and the steps that are being taken to care for ‘the least of these’ by Christ followers. We became informed on how we can combat poverty and told to look for similar opportunities in our home towns. I know this experience will only increase a ministries interest and participation in local and foreign missions.
Sound fun? Sound interesting? It was both. Do it.
(Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about our experience: Ask David)
