Thoughts and insights from some of our youth...

Our kids are on a journey...one of learning, one of growth, one of building relationships. Although our kids have been made aware of world poverty through various experiences at La Croix (Feed My Starving Children, Hope Rising, or mission trips they have been on out of the country), many of them have not experienced the drastic gap between how some people live right here in our own culture.

Many of the kids we are working with do not have shoes...they eat once a day (and that's a government meal of bologna on stale bread with some mushy carrots)...they do not get the love and affection we are accustomed to. These kids are not just physically hungry - they are emotionally and relationally starving.

It's definitely making an impact on some of our youth. It may take a few blog entries, but I want to share some of the insights and thoughts that your youth have shared with me and the rest of our team so far...

I'm amazed at how the kids totally fell in love with us so fast - even though they don't even know us. They really just want someone to pay attention to them. Amanda Webb

I fell in love with this little boy who totally followed me around all day and clung to me constantly - it was awesome! Also, when the kids had to get on a bus to go to the pool, they were banging on the windows and hollering for me and Cody. They didn't want us to leave. Riley Knight

I was really surprised at how appreciative this elderly lady was - when all we did was simple stuff like clean and paint for her. Drew Wilson

I saw a glimpse of myself as a child...no literally, this kid looks JUST like me! Mason Turner

I just loved sitting and talking with and listening to the amazing stories of these people in the nursing home we visited today. Rachel Juhlin

I loved how the kids faces lit up as soon as we walked in the door on the second day! Sammy Rees

There were only two boys at the place my team is serving and I took them and played basketball with them all day just getting to know them and develop relationships with them. It was really cool. Parker Outman

I loved how all of the kids gave us hugs when we were leaving - after only hanging out with them for one day. Creigh Miles

I was just heartbroken by some of the stories these kids were telling me. Lauren Sides