The spring mission trip is a highlight of Camp Mini-Yo-We’s Internship program. Glendon McGowan, our Operations Assistant, joined the interns in Eastern Canada this month and reported back about the trip.
Travelling far distances with a purpose often brings us outside our comfort zone. A few years ago, I went to a Bible school in Sweden and—6,000+ kilometers away—I stepped out of my comfort zone to experience more of God, learning to serve and grow with others in my community.
Similarly, this past week, nine year-round interns and three year-round staff members embarked on a journey to Truro, Nova Scotia, almost 1,800 kilometers away from Camp. The goal was to learn, grow, and serve together on the annual mission trip of the Mini-Yo-We Internship.
Learning: New Places, People & Opportunities
On the trip, we were with billet families, visiting different ministries in the Truro area. We met many people and were so appreciative of the hospitality we received. One of the ministries we visited the last number of years is The Helm. It is a Christian farm- based addiction recovery program for men in Glen Haven, Nova Scotia. We had the opportunity to visit and learn about the ministry, its participants, and the ways God is working to bring restoration and freedom from addiction. Our interns were amazed at how the founders created a space for healing, and how the Lord has provided time and time again for this ministry.
Growing: Discovering Who I Am & My Team In A Different Context
We also visited and served at Camp Pagweak in Pugwash, Nova Scotia. It is smaller than Camp Mini-Yo-We and we were able to support them on the maintenance side, as well as organize elements of their program as they look to launch more year-round opportunities. The majority of tasks done during this stop on our trip were not assigned to our interns. Instead, using what they have learned about themselves this past year, they had the opportunity to try something new or jump into an area where they thought they could provide leadership. This growth in their recognition of their competencies and areas to learn more is something that has been developed in the internship and continued on our mission trip.
Serving: As Jesus Did
In the final week, we served with a church in Truro called Groundswell. They have an amazing testimony of God’s faithfulness and exemplify what it means to be a church for their community. We had the honour of partnering with them in some of their ministries and serving the community through the church. We supported their children’s ministry and were able to help facilitate their Alpha Youth program. By serving and welcoming individuals into the church, we were doing what Jesus did during his life on Earth. As we celebrate Easter, we couldn’t help but think about the servant King who died for us, giving His life as a ransom for us all. Happy Easter from the interns and their community life team and all of us at Camp Mini-Yo-We!