Youth News September 2007

Mountain Vista United Methodist Church
West Jordan, Utah

Youth News

Hello Mtn. Vista!!

Jason here. I just wanted to let you know that our youth program is going great!! God just continually surprises me with everything he does for us. We recently returned from a Chrysalis weekend with some boys from this church and others. When we first arrived, we all had our reservations (even yours truly), but God was just bigger than all of that and as a result, it was an incredibly powerful weekend. I would recommend that you talk to any of the boys about their experience. I'm sure that they would love to talk to you. We have also had a couple of fund raisers this past summer that will surely help the program when it comes to future conferences and events.

We still have our weekly youth night program (Identity) every Tuesday night at 7:30pm. We are currently studying the 10 commandments and how they are still relevant today. It's been a fun and even challenging study. Also the school year will be kicking up very soon for our kids as well as our CERTS high school Christian release class. If you know or have any high schoolers I would recommend this class for them. It's a great opportunity to appreciate fellowship and to practically learn how they can continue an outward relationship with Jesus through high school and even in college.

We will continue to have more events happening in the near future. I will try to continue sending e-mails to you parents. I know how those are helpful. I'm continually blessed and honored to be apart of a congregation that seeks the living God. I will be praying for you and if you could pray for me that would be great.
God Bless!!!
Jason <><

Methodist Teens Return from Helping at Mexican Orphanage

July 19th, 2007 @ 5:19pm
Carole Mikita Reporting
Reprinted by permission of KSL
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1506669

After a week in a remote Mexican village, a group of Utah young people, nicknamed "The Methodist Missionaries," have returned home.

For three summers now, members of one Methodist congregation in Holladay have sent their young people to live with and work to help those less fortunate. The teenagers returned, saying they received more than they gave.

The group from Christ United Methodist Church, in Holladay, spent last week in the blistering heat, working at a remote orphanage in central Mexico. They made a sidewalk, and they made instant friends with the 40 children ages 5 to 18 who live there. The Utah teens lived with them, ate with them and played with them.

Andrea Osojnak, a Methodist missionary, says, "The kids make it worth everything -- how they treat you, how they, like, give love to you. That moment that you arrive there, it's just amazing."

Their leaders gave them a reality check: no cell phones, Blackberries or iPods.

Rex Dabling, a Christ United Methodist youth leader, said, "What happens then is that they create this relationship with themselves and with others in the group and the other young people at the orphanage. They just stop thinking and they start feeling."

The payoff, the teens say, was not just a job well done.

Missionary Shane Reinhard said, "It's great to see the kids using the sidewalks and use the cabinets, and thanking you for the fans. But the hugs at the end and the tears shed and the ‘I love yous' are more than you could ever receive."

The young people also worshiped with their new-found friends, sharing their faith, and saw, reflected in the children's faces, the love they had given and received.

Steve Goodier, Christ United Methodist pastor, says, "When we go home, we feel like maybe by our kids loving them, we have all learned something about the love of God. And that's what it's all about."

This summer Christ United Methodist sponsored teen groups in Utah, Arizona and Mexico. The pastor says his congregation is already planning for next year's humanitarian missions.