Local Youth Travel to Mexico for Outreach Mission
Medford, NJ, February 23, 2016 (Newswire.com) - Recent Stockton graduate and Medford United Methodist Church member Morgan Barnett considered doing something different in January--she knew she wanted to take a trip but where and how were questions in her mind. “I love to travel and more importantly, I love to travel with a purpose. I think it adds incredible value to a journey if you do good work for others,” she said. This desire was taken to her Pastor at church, and an idea for an outreach trip was born. Recently, Morgan was one of six young adults who accompanied Pastor Kathleen Stolz to Rio Bravo, Mexico.
Pastor Stolz came to outreach ministry by way of three different continents. She may have started her church service in the United States, but she found her calling working with youth in Northern Ireland and furthered it in the war-torn African west coast. It was working with youth in those regions when she discovered outreach would be her special role as a Christian.
"We live in a time when people, especially young people, want to know how the church can make a difference, and Kathleen Stolz is great at translating the teachings of the gospel into tangible action. I'm so happy to be in ministry along with her."
Joe Monahan, Senior Pastor
When asked about Stolz’s importance to children and youth within the church, Senior Pastor Joe Monahan remarked “We live in a time when people, especially young people, want to know how the church can make a difference, and Kathleen is great at translating the teachings of the gospel into tangible action. I'm so happy to be in ministry along with her.”
Stolz joined Medford United Methodist Church as Associate Pastor in 2013. Before coming to south Jersey, she enjoyed a long and varied career as a Christian ambassador. But in all the places she has lived and people she has served, it is children and youth who most touch her heart.
“It is young adults who can and will make a difference in this world,” said Stolz with a smile. “The connections they make so easily with others allow us as leaders to admire the ability as we work along side them to forge new relationships.”
Just recently, Stolz took just that kind of group into Rio Bravo, Mexico. Located in the State of Tamaulipas, Rio Bravo is about fifteen minutes over the Texas border and home to Manos Juntas VIM Mexico, A.C., a ministry of the Methodist Church of Mexico.
“The reason we chose Mexico for this outreach trip is that it was time to challenge our young adults to learn more about trust, faith, and God's world,” reported Stolz. Leaving the country posed even more demands on MUMC members.
“It’s the youth who make the difference,” Stolz said. “Seeing everything through their eyes and watching the magic of understanding.” And hey, as a young adult, who wouldn’t want a trip to Mexico? But wait. This isn’t an all expenses paid, or typical spring break trip. These students have to contribute half the cost of the trip themselves and the rest is provided by contributions from the congregation--a lot to live up to for a youth. The congregants ranged in age from 19 to 23 and included not only Barnett, but Chelsea Hill, Brielle Hohne, Nicole Lombardi, Matt Miller and Brad Polhemus.
These young missionaries, like Polhemus of Medford Lakes, do it because they believe in Christian fellowship. Brad’s family has a history of outreach work with the church, including some of those trips to Roanoke, Virginia. Mission work outside of the country was a whole new experience. “Hey, I ate all kinds of stuff I couldn’t identify,” exclaimed Polhemus. “And I survived!”
But when asked the best part of the trip, he admitted it was sewing a pair of shorts. How many teen boys would say the same? And what that means to Pastor Kathleen Stolz, is that a Mexican citizen was learning to sew right alongside Brad. “This lends a dignity and importance to the work when the locals see us take pride and joy in it with them,” she said. “Hopefully, the pride we feel works to bring them confidence too.”
The mole sauce didn’t scare Brad away, and Morgan Barnett, the oldest of the group wasn’t dissuaded either. Asked about her time in Mexico, Morgan reported cheerfully “This was my second mission trip with MUMC. I was grateful that Pastor Kathleen envisioned a trip for those of us who had outgrown the youth program.”
Pastor Kathleen brought a parachute and some inflatables with her for the children to play with at different points in the day. This activity was always a big hit as Morgan remembers “Giving the kids a parachute and some beach balls really showed us that the kids were looking for something a lot deeper than fun; attention. The kids were dying for our attention.” Knowing that the children’s parents were inside the center gaining job skills or stopping by the medical clinic made the time with the youngest even more precious.
At twenty-three years old, Morgan is a 2011 graduate of Seneca High School. She was working with the local children while in Rio Bravo, and it seems that they were hungry for connections. “ At first the students insisted on piggy back rides, hand holding, snuggles, and tag. The more time we spent with them the more they wanted to talk to us, even with the language barrier, “Barnett claimed. “There were kids who asked our names over and over again, they wanted to get the pronunciation perfect. There were kids who wanted to ask us about our favorite things. There were kids that wanted to tell us about family tragedies.”
Morgan, like all those on the trip, was touched by the stories and connections they made with the Mexican residents, who all seemed to keep a positive attitude through their struggles. After all, the focus of the outreach trip was connection--to Christianity, culture, medical care, job training, education. But most importantly, a connection with the young was at the heart of the trip. For Pastor Stolz, her focus lay on the youth congregants and seeing the impact they made. For the youth who went, it was a smile or a knowing glance from one of the Mexican residents being helped by this outreach work or a quiet squeeze from a child.
When asked if Pastor Stolz would return to the area she readily replied with a smile ”We’re already planning the next trip!” If you would like to get involved in outreach work with Medford United Methodist Church, please contact Pastor Kathleen Stolz or stop by the church anytime at 2 Hartford Road in Medford.
Medford United Methodist Church has been a presence in the village since 1821, with the first sanctuary built in 1824. Since 1972, the church has been located on Hartford Road and is a vital part of the Medford community. The people of Medford United Methodist Church are committed to growing in faith. MUMC members love God, serve people and hope to transform lives. For more information visit medfordumc.org.
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