Youth Team

Mikayla's major at college requires a lot of internship hours, and we were incredibly blessed that she was able to come home over Christmas break and get her first internship hours by leading a team of youth up into one of the tribal areas where our family works. Mikayla has helped with volunteer teams since age 12, but this was the first time she was completely in charge of all the details. She did great!

The team was comprised of 11 high school students from Faith Academy, and the boys served on their sister's team.

Mikayla and her friend Claire (who traveled over with her from our home church) prepared the team by writing weekly devotionals, then did a great job leading them on the ground.

While some struggled more than others, each of the students worked hard to connect with the people and be used by Him in these remote mountains.

Before they jumped into ministry, Mikayla led them in a time of orientation to make sure they knew how to interact with the people, face the challenges, and be ready to what they needed to do.

The team was involved primarily in 3 ways: at the co-op to help establish livelihood projects, English lessons for elementary-age kids, and sharing testimonies at a gathering for teenagers from across several villages. We dealt with some unexpected challenges right off the bat when Steve got sick and had to return early to Manila. That left us without a driver and translator...but God always provides, and we worked together to figure out plan B...and C & D... :)

At the co-op, there were a few small construction projects, then the primary task was sorting coffee beans. After several hours of that, students said they could still see coffee beans when they closed their eyes. :)

We did a total of 4 English lessons, and the group all did a great job on their various roles (sharing testimonies, leading the song, acting out the words, etc).

They also had a lot of fun playing with the kids in between sessions.

 On the final night, the team hosted a youth gathering where each teammate shared their testimony. It was a powerful time with the tribal youth, and I am confident that God used their testimonies powerfully in many hearts.

Mikayla is uniquely equipped to lead teams like this, and God used her not only in the lives of those they ministered to; but I am confident He also used her in the lives of the members of the team. In this picture, she is telling some of the history of the Bugkalot tribe and the amazing story of what God has done there.

 She also worked hard behind the scenes, talking with the various leaders and organizers in the villages, making sure all the details were in place. This can be challenging enough in your heart language, more so in a 2nd language! But Mikayla's Tagalog stood the test, and she did great with this part of it too.

Mikayla also took time each day to lead the team in a devotional and then debrief time afterwards to help people process what God was doing.

 We got to see both God's amazing handiwork as well as His work in the hearts of the people, and we were so blessed through the days we spent there. 

 It was a great group of youth, and it was great to see God at work both IN and THROUGH them during the week. 

 And of course, no trip like this is complete without the iconic sunset picture. :)