Missionary group gets good support

They left Minneota on July 16 and returned on July 22
“There is absolutely no way this trip would have been possible without the tremendous support of our community and various congregations,” Myhre said. “Because of this support, we were able to raise over $30,000 through fundraising efforts and private donations. We appreciate everyone who supported us in any way.”

The youth participating on the mission trip were – Landon Abraham, Natalie Abraham, Thomas Belaen, Trevor Belaen, Nolan Boerboom, Hannah Brewers, Serena Breyfogle, Brant Buysse, Emma Buysse, Chloe Davis, Lizzy Davis, Ali DeVlaeminck, Trent Esping, Ivy Mahan-Diette, Olivia Mahan-Deitte,Sienna Mahan-Deitte, Tanner Differding, Amber Engels, Brock Fox, Heidi Guttormsson, Lauryn Hansen, Carolyn Hoffmann, Jackson Jeremiason, Laura Knutson, Rachel Knutson, Jennifer Krog, Molly Krog, Ava Larson, Sydney Larson, Cole Myhre, Matt Myhre, Tyler Myhre, Ellie Pesch, Ted Pesch, Alex Pohlen, Emily Pohlen, Blake Reiss, Brendan Reiss, Kathy Richmond, Alex Saltzer, Cole Sanow, Austin Thompson, and Serra Vick.
“And we were blessed to have an angel watching over us; Donnie Schuelke,” said Myhre.
 Chaperones were: Kim Abraham, Shannon Brewers, Scott Knutson, Nancy Krog, Keven Larson, Wade Myhre, Terri Myhre, Moriah Reiss, and Pastor Bruce Drackley.
Below is a brief description of each site as provided by Myhre.
 Presbyterian Urban Ministries (PUM): “PUM provides clothing and food once a month to homeless people. It serves 30 clients in the morning and 15 in the afternoon, five days per week. Clients are allowed about 15 minutes to go 'shopping' in the basement of this small home and choose items they need. Each client is allowed to take one pair of pants, three shirts, one pair of shoes, socks and underwear, a blanket and a backpack. While there, our kids helped check people in, visited with the clients and took down a storage shed. They also sorted clothing and trimmed bushes.”
 Harvest Crops: “This is an organization that connects people who are wealthy and not utilizing their fruit crops with those in need. Our group drove about 35 minutes into a gated community and picked oranges from about 10 trees in the landowner's backyard. The landowner that donates the fruit will receive an invoice that is tax deductible. We delivered the 2,000 pounds of oranges that we harvested to a food distribution center where the oranges will be given to those in need.”
 The Boys and Girls Club: “This is basically like a YMCA. It provides activities to about 150 elementary-age children each day. Our kids worked on bulletin boards, played soccer, enjoyed relay games, and played 'Duck-Duck-Goose'. Some plugged their ears when the children were playing drums during a music session. We shared our game 'Red Red Rover' with the kids.”
 St. Vincent's: “This is a facility that houses nearly 900 residents at any given time. The residents consist of families, singles, and many veterans. Some live there long term, and some are just in transition. St. Vincent’s has an on-site daycare, a medical/mental health clinic, a job/employment program and so much more. One of the things they are known for is serving 800 to 1,000 meals a day to their own residents as well as the homeless. We had the opportunity to prepare and serve these meals in their family and public kitchen throughout the week. Upon arrival we would do 'prep work', which included chopping meats and vegetables, cleaning, browning meats, making sandwiches and anything else they asked of us. Though we did not get to interact with people, we touched the lives of many through our work.”
 San Diego Food Bank:  “This is the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County. We sorted and bagged over 6,600 pounds of apples, and filled, sealed and labeled white and brown rice.”
 Community Christian Service Agency (CCSA): “This mission provides emergency services to individuals and families in need in the San Diego county, including food, clothing and referrals. While there, we sorted cardboard, sorted and stacked food bags, and sorted clothing.”
 Habitat for Humanity: “This was similar to the ReStore in Marshall. We moved cabinets, carpet, rocks and building blocks. We also did some painting, priced items, washed windows, measured windows and doors, and dusted.”
 San Diego Rescue Mission: “This a program that helps people to learn to hold a full-time job while going through drug and alcohol rehabilitation. While here, we sorted clothes and household items and hung clothes.”
 San Diego Adult Health Care Center: “This center offered us the opportunity to work with individuals in adult day care. They shared their stories with us, allowing us to play bingo, do arts and crafts, and participate in karaoke. Our heart-touching moment was when (one of the men staying there) asked Hannah (Brewers) to dance and she accepted. I'm not sure who smiled more during the dance.”
Special Delivery: “This is a non-profit organization that prepares and delivers nutritious meals to home-bound people with medical conditions such as AIDS, cancer, diabetes, and kidney dialysis. Many of them have terminal illnesses. Our group prepared ingredients in the mornings such as peeling and dicing carrots, bagging almonds, shucking corn, frying hamburgers, making cookies, making string zucchini, and sorting cherries, mushrooms and potatoes. We packaged meals for 115 people in the afternoons and helped deliver them.”