First United Methodist Churches of Italy and Frost sent their junior high and senior high youth to Oakdale, Louisiana June 12-18th for an organized labor of love.

Central Texas Conference of Youth Mission (CTCYM) organized over 1200 youth from the Central Texas area to travel to Louisiana to build, help and love the locals of the gulf coast region either struck by poverty or disaster.

There were groups going in two consecutive weeks traveling to Texas/Louisiana border to see if they could help people in need. Among the troups were 14 youth and 5 weary adults from Italy and Frost. This organization has sent youth on many missions of love and will continue next year with Missouri in mind.

Besides meeting new friends, the group also put siding on houses, built wheel chair ramps, painted and repaired and supported the area with prayers. Pastor Leah Hidde-Gregory, Pastor of Italy and Frost churches, thanked the youth to be “willing to go out and be the hands and feet of Christ.”

Among the youth going were:

Taylor Anderson
Tyler Anderson
Brett Hale
Volley Janes
Carl Jaynes
Annan irk
Tristin Smithwick
Alex DeMoss
Alexia Steeles
Jasmine Steeles
Maddie Pittman
Chey Griffin
Connor Dunn
Tara Rippenkroger

Adult sponsors included Stan Gregory, Chris Rowe, Amy Anderson, Diane Jaynes and Alex Flores. The group came back a little worn out but felt it was well worth the trip and are willing to go again next year.