On Safari to the Jackson Zoo

On Friday, July 11, the Summer at the OASIS Program roared through the Jackson Zoo on a field trip.

MFUGE Week 6

MFUGE Week 6 - Sports and Adolescent

Hope Phillips
First Baptist Church of Smackover
Smackover, Arkansas
Age 17

Before coming to Mission Fuge the week of July 6-10, I felt like the Lord was calling me to be a missionary. I was being convicted very strongly and now through my experience with Mission Fuge and the site of Mission First that I know that God has plans for me in the mission field. I have been extremely blessed during my few days at Mission First. Spending time with kids who have to live through the struggles of the inner city and certain unfortunate situations has changed my life. I have established friendships with the kids and I sincerely care and love them.

In the Mission First program, I work specifically with the kids in Games and Recreation. We established partners the very first day. A Mission’s First student and an M-Fuge student paired up to grow close and talk to each other. I had never told my testimony before, and this week God allowed me to share my testimony with my partner and mentor her. The youth at Mission First need love and compassion that they might not see in other places. I got to show them God’s love and give them all of my attention, and the smiles on their faces and their urge to want to play with me has touched my heart. I was here to make them feel special, but they have definitely made me feel special. Never in my life have I been as happy as I am this week. Nothing in this world can compare to my experience at Mission First. I am very, very glad I came and I will never forget what Mission First has given me: courage to share God’s word, a perspective from kids who experience inner city situations, and a life changing experience that I will never forget.

I encourage those who feel convicted or called to work with inner city missions to consider Mission First. It is amazing that an apartment complex of complete distraught from things such as drugs and prostitution has been turned into buildings for children who need the Lord’s love. At Mission First they are planting seeds of hope in children’s lives that can make a difference. I’m very privileged to have been a part of Mission’s First during my week at M-Fuge.

MFUGE Week 6 - Community Development

Noah Adams
Western Oaks Baptist Church
Springfield, Illinois
Age 18

This week at MFUGE and Mission First has shown me how much the small things that we are doing really make a difference. Whether people are playing games with children, teaching them Bible studies or doing yard work for older people, it all really makes a difference. By helping out at Mission First this week and hearing the stories about how Mission First came to be is nothing but proof of how good our God is. He can do absolutely anything at anytime - especially when it is least expected.

I have also learned that by doing mission work and helping people, I have been helping myself just as much. By learning the value of giving, generosity and mission work. This week at MFUGE and Mission First has made a difference in my life, and also in the lives of the people we have served. I have also learned the power of prayer and that prayer in God's name (and for His glory) will bring about amazing and unbelievable results.

MFUGE Week 6 - OASIS

Peyton Head
First Baptist Church Kilgore
Kilgore, Texas
Age 14

Mission Fuge for me has been a life changing experience! This camp is absolutely amazing. I love how they work with the organization Mission First. Mission First has impacted my life in a major way. I worked in the children’s educational center and have loved every second of it. The Lord really shines through each and every child. They always bring a smile to my face. They have taught me so many songs that were a blast like, bazooka bubblegum, baby shark and lots of others. I love to sing and being able for me to share my gift with them and them to share theirs with me was a blessing.

I also loved playing in the play room. We had a blast and couldn’t stop giggling (I have the battle scars to prove it). I feel like this experience of just sharing with those children have really brought me further in my walk with Jesus. I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world.

Amber, my group leader, has also been amazing. I have learned so much from her. The children’s eyes light up as soon as she walks in the room. If I have made a tenth of an impact as she has it would be amazing. It’s going to be hard to leave these children after just a week. I feel like I have grown so close to them. I thank God so much for letting me have this experience of a lifetime. I hope I have touched their hearts like they have mine.

Colonial Heights Pre-Teen

Margaret Anderson
Colonial Heights Baptist Church
Jackson, MS
Age 12

I have really enjoyed staying at Mission First. The people who work here are amazing and very friendly. Over the past few days, we have been talking a lot about how to be a servant leader. God has really shown me that helping others sets a better atmosphere for everyone. He has also taught me some good and easy ways to help other people. When we were here, one of our tasks was to knock mortar off bricks one by one to reuse them to build a building for the ministries of Mission First.

It was really tough and sometimes you feel like your little piece that you were putting into the project was just about useless, but then you remember how the rest of Mission First came together: one little piece at a time. Then you think about all of the people that would be helped by your effort.

I like to think about the fact that had Jesus been there he would have helped us. This was an awesome opportunity to use all of the things we had been taught about serving others. Everybody with me always had a cheerful attitude and was willing to help each other. I especially loved all of the enthusiasm everyone had about this project. God has really taught me a lot through my counselors, friends and experiences. This has been a very inspiring trip and I hope that I will be able to come back very soon. I will be praying for Mission First to have God’s blessing as they complete the job we started and in everything else that they do.