As Easter vacation grew closer, the anticipation for a break from the strict school schedule built up in many students’ minds. But while some students looked forward to sleeping late and extra hours to spend with video games, others geared up for building houses and working soccer drills on church-sponsored mission trips.

Some churches traded a usual Mexico trip for inner-city work because of unsettlement due to drug wars. However, North Fresno Church returned to their regular mission spot at a girls’ orphanage in Ensenada.

?Because of the violence [in Mexico], we had to do a lot of consideration about going back,? Dave Kleschold, youth leader, said. ?We found out the violence was more in the cities, while the place we were working at was in the country. There’ll be a risk no matter what you do, so we just gave the situation over to God.?

At the orphanage, the group, consisting of 11 students and six adults, worked together to build a house for an older woman taking care of many orphaned children. Over the week’s course, the team grew in their relationships with each other as well as with the resident girls.

“It was apparent in this trip that, even though most of the kids didn’t know each other [at the start], we all became a family,” Kleschold said. “It was also great for the students to get to know the girls at the orphanage and see the interaction between them.”

Luise Klose, ’10, German exchange student, says she learned a lot through the connection with the girls.

?We are so blessed and have so much compared to these people,? Klose said. ?We were playing jump rope with the girls, and even though they only spoke Spanish, it was cool to see we could have fun and be friends with these people without talking to them.?

On her first missions trip, Klose says she grew in her friendships with her team, as well as growing spiritually.

?My goal was to grow closer to God and make more friends,? she said. ?During the trip, I found out what I was truly capable of as I got to know myself and God better.?

At The Well Community Church, the Student Ministries team (WSM) traveled to inner-city Fresno to teach children at Susan B. Anthony Elementary School sports, paint a house, and renovate a shed to be a learning center. The trip was dubbed ?I Heart Fresno.?

Christian Warne, the recently installed junior high pastor, says he hoped for both the “served” and “servants” to be impacted.

“The goal for the trip was first and foremost to connect our students to God and to each other, and also to introduce them to the downtown Fresno community,” Warne said. “We represented Jesus, and people knew it. We will not know the lasting impact, but I know that the people we came in contact with saw the light of Christ, and that’s exactly what I wanted to see happen.”

For the first time leading a trip downtown instead of to Mexico, Warne felt I Heart Fresno impact himself as well as the youth.

?It was extremely different; serving in my own town had a much deeper impact than serving in a foreign country to me,? Warne said. ?The trip truly allowed me to recognize that I don’t have to go to Mexico every year, and I can serve any time I want right here in my home town.?

Keonia Streeter, ’11, says she enjoyed getting to know Jesus as she helped paint a family’s house, and loved the team bonding she experienced during the trip.

?At a missions trip I had gone on before, everyone was really ‘clique-y’ and I felt it wasn’t as God-focused,? Streeter said. ?With I Heart Fresno, I was worried the same thing would happen, but everyone worked together.?

When the day ended, the team retired to the Youth For Christ center to unwind with games, post-dinner snacks and devotions. Streeter says she particularly learned a lot from the devotion-time.

?Christian gave a devotion that taught me to pray when times get rough,? Streeter said. ?It encouraged me to keep a positive attitude while doing work and not get frustrated.?

For more information about Easter break missions and the I Heart Fresno project, read the April 20 article, Inner-city surges growth.