EYC Service Work
Costa Rica
For nearly a decade, Saint John’s Sr. EYC members have been traveling to Costa Rica to provide aid to our sister parishes, Ascension and Todos Los Santos. In conjunction with the Episcopal Diocese of Costa Rica, the trip is comprised of two different parts: a Vacation Bible School and church construction work. This trip is not only a chance to lend a helping hand, but it is also an incredible learning opportunity for all those involved. To work towards a common goal side-by-side with people of a different background is an experience that, for many of St. John’s youth, is more rewarding than anything that might be done for our sister parishes.
In 2009, 24 youth and adults traveled to Costa Rica on June 27 to do construction work on the Diocesan House in San Jose and to put on a Vacation Bible School for our two sister churches. The Construction team was very successful with the completion of work on the newly converted Chapel. The VBS team drew in crowds of children both morning and afternoon to spread the Love of Jesus to the communities surrounding each of the two churches. Great mission work and bunches of fun were had by all who participated. Planning for the 2011 Costa Rica Mission Trip is well underway!
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In As Much
In As Much is a middle-school mission trip that focuses on various activities to improve the quality of life for elderly or disadvantaged citizens. Past trips have taken St. John’s Youth to Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia, and Indiana.
In 2009, 14 youth and 3 adults traveled to Erie, PA to help out with several home improvement projects. In partnership with Group Workcamps Foundation, St. John’s youth painted houses, built decks, constructed handicapped ramps, and helped out in any other way that they could.
The theme for the week-long mission trip was “Reveal,” an idea that allowed the participants to learn something about each other and about their own faith. They also managed to have a wonderful time rolling down grassy hills, swimming in Lake Erie, and eating banana peppers at the Olive Garden restaurant. For more information on the 2011 InAsMuch Trip, click on this link for the brochure InAsMuch 2011 Brochure
30-Hour Famine
30-Hour Famine is an international youth movement to fight hunger. Participants in the program fast for thirty hours and raise funds to help feed and care for children around the world. This gives them a real taste of what hunger is like. By sacrificing and serving others, they learn to think outside themselves and see the world as Christ sees it.
Each year since 2000, the Youth of Saint John’s have participated in World Vision’s 30-Hour Famine. By doing so, they have raised awareness of the problem of starving and hurting children in some of the world's poorest countries, raised money to offer open where none otherwise existed, and grown closer to God.
Over the 30 hours that the Youth are fasting, they also engage in different various volunteer work. In 2009, EYC undertook four service projects, including a canned-food collection to support the Department of Social Services emergency food pantry, sorting and stocking of clothing donations for Alexander Children’s Home, the packing of individual toiletry kits for the Emergency Men’s shelter, and spreading mulch right here at Saint John’s.
At Saint John’s, this event has now grown to include approximately 200 youth participants. Thanks to the youth’s fundraising efforts and parish-wide support, the youth have been the largest fundraiser for World Vision’s international famine relief for several years. Over our nine years of participation, the youth have raised significant awareness of world hunger throughout our community and over $500,000 towards world- wide famine relief. The money raised is sent in to World Vision, and put it to work in areas like Malawi, Swaziland, North Korea, and here in the United States. In 2009, an environment of economic uncertainty and concern, the youth raised over $83,000 toward fighting hunger.
This youth-led project energizes our entire parish’s sense of community and outreach. We want to continue to nurture and strengthen our youth so as to perpetually engage them as participants and leaders in the life and ministry of the church.
For more information on the 2011 30Hour Famine click on this link for the most recent updates 2011 30 Hour Famine Participant and Parent Info