An Alternate to the Typical Family Vacation

Around here, camping, hiking, Dollywood, and Disney rank as summer faves, but what if instead of roasting marshmallows and cruising down water slides, your family spent summer days serving others?

This summer, one of our favorite neighborhood families took a mission trip to Cherry Creek, South Dakota. Today, eleven-year-old, Hayden and nine-year-old, Auburn, share about their family's experience.

Hello! My name is Hayden, and I learned a lot in Cherry Creek, South Dakota when my family and I went on a mission trip. Cherry Creek, South Dakota is the poorest county in the United States of America.

The town wasn’t anything like I was used to. It’s a bunch of broken down houses with lots of trash outside. There weren’t any gas stations or stores. We went to the community center to do “Totes of Hope". This is a program that provides food for two weeks from a food bank in Rapid City. Most of the food isn’t fresh and it’s not filling. The people brought their totes to the center and we filled it with items such as rice, crackers, cereal, bread, and toothbrushes. 

The next day, we went to plant a quarter of an acre garden beside the Cheyenne River. I helped sort seeds, rake, and plant.  It was a lot of work and a long day. It was all worth it. Some of the kids from town came to help. That was fun. Eight individual gardens were also planted during the week. Most of the people wanted radishes.

I want to go back again. I learned a lot of things and met a lot of friends. The drive was well worth it. I appreciate my home, clothes, family, and food more now after being in Cherry Creek. I hope my family can go back and help them.

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My name is Auburn. 

I had a good time when my family went to the Reservation in Cherry Creek, South Dakota. I got to do a lot of things and learn a lot of things while we were there.

We met lots of people while there. I played with a girl that lived there and had just been kicked out of her home. She slept in a tent at the church with us. She wore the same clothes every day. They took a shower in the Artesian well in the middle of the community in a rusted out bathtub. I felt sorry for her. She was a lot of fun to play with.

I saw two children in diapers that they had been wearing for a long time. It made me thankful for all of the clothes that I have. The only things they really had to play with were bikes that were old and broken-down.

The food wasn’t healthy but it was all that they could do right now. This trip made me thankful for all of the things that I do have. When I see food on my plate that I don’t like I look at it differently now. I want to go back and help the people there. It was life changing for me. 

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Thanks, girls. Hayden and Auburn also asked me to share this link with you should you want to hear more about the Totes of Hope Program or other needs the people of Cherry Creek have. 

Have you ever been on a family mission trip? Did you go through your church or another organization? What was the experience like?

Organizations that offer family mission trips:
Adventures in Missions
World Servants
Youth Works

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Not only are we neighbors with Hayden and Auburn, but did you read the post in which my other neighbor,  Amanda, and I created my first vlog? If you want a quick peek on how I ramble on in real-life, you must check it out.

Follow @AmyLSullivan1