Over the past 14 years, Cranberry Area High School teacher Trisha Dixon has been taking students on mission trips to various parts of the world, where they have provided volunteer services in the name of God.
All the mission trips have been “life-changing” experiences for the students, said Dixon, an adviser for both the trips and for the high school’s Ignite Bible Club. However, Jamaica has had the most impact on her students than have the other corners of the world to which they have traveled, which is why she decided to once again lead a group to the Caribbean island nation last month.
“I’ve been taking teens on mission trips for years,” said Dixon, whose trips have included missions to Haiti, Costa Rica, the Philippines and New York City. “My first trip with teens in my youth group was to Harmons, Jamaica. The founder lives in DuBois and knew our pastors at the time. Our church helped support the organization, which is called ‘Won by One to Jamaica.”’
‘Life experiences’
Ryker Bingham, of Shippenville, said he has been on mission trips to Jamaica twice, the Philippines and the U.S., and has had “some of the best life experiences” on such trips.
“They are meaningful to me for the connections you make,” he said. “I have tried to duplicate the feeling you get on these trips on missions in my own town, surrounding towns and in several other states. All of these places have their own atmosphere. I didn’t know a lot of the people on this trip and now they are really good friends.”
Dixon said because of the structure of the trip and it being led by Jamaicans, “students learn what it looks like to live for a week like God calls us to live. Because we are part of the community there, we get to hold babies, teach primary-aged children, work with men on job sites, sit and talk to mommas, and gain wisdom from the elders in Harmons.
“We are part of, not apart from. Integrated, not separated. Morning, noon and night, Jesus is the focus. During devotions, eating lunch, building a foundation out of rocks from the mountain, playing games with kids, and worshiping alongside Jamaicans, the focus is constantly centered on God’s provision.”
That message wasn’t lost on Cranberry senior Maria Galletta. “I am much more appreciative of everything we have here. We learned to let God into our lives. You could really feel his presence down there.”
Another Cranberry senior, Rylee Coe, said she gained perspective as she began to understand the culture.
“They have a lot less than we do and they are OK with that,” she said. “Everyone here is complaining that they don’t have this or that. We were in Jamaica for a week and barely had clean water (brought to them in 5-gallon containers). It was a humbling experience.”
Challenges
One of the challenges the students faced is adjustment to being “unplugged” for a week.
“They are addicted to their phones and it is very difficult for them to give up an appendage,” Dixon said. “However, it removes all distractions and they are able to recognize Jesus in everything. This alone deepens their faith, and they truly get to see Jesus face-to-face and see how He works for our good.”
There was a certain amount of culture shock almost from the time the plane touched down in Montego Bay.
Bingham said water is an important resource; so they collect a lot of rainwater in big black tanks. “They don’t drink it but use it for washing and making concrete. They don’t have running water in most houses. They have to purify water for drinking.”
Volunteer work
One of the volunteer services the students performed was helping to building a house for a single mother. Next door was her nail salon. “She was very grateful that we were able to help her,” Galletta said. “Before her house was completed she was staying with her cousin.”
Bingham said the house was divided into three areas — central, sleeping and bathroom — and was connected to a waste-collection system.
In addition to homes, the volunteers also were helping to build a church.
When the students weren’t working, they went on faith walks through the community. “All of the people we met on the faith walks were not Christians but most of the people we worked with were Christians,” Galletta said.
Bingham said those walks “were incredible,” as “we would spend half a day just going through the community praying with people.”
The students also attended a Jamaican school, where, Bingham said, “it was their last day of school and it was a fun play day. We also did some music worship. It was a good day with the younger generation.”
Addi Karnes, another Cranberry student, said “incredible friendships” were made with everyone who went on the trip. “Being there made me appreciate home.”
Dixon said it took much preparation to make the last mission trip a reality.
“Kids raised funds by selling hoagies, candles and Daffins candy bars, as well as working odd jobs for people in the community, holding yard sales and collecting clothing for Goodwill,” she said. In addition, the team received support from local churches and high school staff. Three of the students were completely sponsored by two people from the Knox and Cranberry areas.
Looking ahead
Dixon said the Ignite Bible Club teaches how to live an on-mission lifestyle. “Missions don’t just happen one week of the year. We go out of the country on a weeklong trip, but then come back and consider our high school as a nine-month mission field.”
This year, the Ignite Bible Club will have a designated local missions team. The club will specifically work with Life Made New Ministries, a local nonprofit. As in the past, club members also will make and deliver Christmas cookies to night-shift workers in the community, Dixon said.
“I am really looking forward to this school year and seeing how our mission team will help ignite the faith of their peers,” she said. “Having a front-row seat to spiritual growth is such a blessing.”
