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Soaking Up Scenery and Gratitude on Spring Break
By CEIL SHARMAN
 | | Photo by Jill Pink Laguna Presbyterian youth paint a mural at church in Molokai during spring break, from left, McKenna Nokes, Kate Winn, Kacky Brown and Kelsey Peterson. |
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Special to the Independent
For 35 junior high and high school students, spring break this year took the form of Laguna Presbyterian's annual mission trip.
Accompanied by the church's youth group leaders and chaperones, the students flewto the Hawaiian island of Molokai, known for its high unemployment and welfare rate, for a sojourn that combined outreach with spiritual growth.
The group worked most of the day, with a break for beach time, and then met with an inspirational speaker each evening.
"It's always a really good trip," said Laguna Beach High School junior Brian Yale. "It makes you feel good helping others who are less fortunate, and seeing the beauty of the island."
After returning, Yale told the Presbyterian congregation, students "painted the outside of Calvary Chapel, built a playground, weed whacked the Molokai firetrail, painted the inside of Grace Episcopal Church, cut branches, and built fences."
 | | Photo by Billy Darnall From left, Rand Hardy, Zac Cornwell, Brian Yale, Trever Hathaway, Garrett Hume and Brennen Mulvaney return from a day's labor at a Molokai farm. |
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Sophomore Kelsey Peterson said, "It's great to have a week to focus, away from the distractions of Laguna, but it wasn't a trip my Mom would want to take!"
The week's activities culminated with "affirmation night" on the last night of the trip, when participants were encouraged to share something they especially appreciated about others. "…I invite them to be like Jesus, intentionally encouraging and affirming each other," explained Steve Sweet, the youth and family pastor, who said he then challenged the participants "to bring this circle of affirmation back home to Laguna, thanking a parent for the roof over their head, driving them to events, or acknowledging they take them for granted."
When asked if he followed through, one student replied, "Yes. My dad got teary eyed, and my mom braced herself on the sink!" With a catch in his own throat, Sweet recalled another student who affirmedhim by saying, "You're a pastor, a brother, a father, to me."
To learn more about Laguna Presbyterian youth programs, or the upcoming family night, visit www.lagunapreschurch.org.
Ceil Sharman is a Presbyterian parishioner.
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