This summer, twelve senior high youth group members from Calvary Independent Church of New Castle went on a missions trip to Broken Arrow Bible Ranch in Gallup, New Mexico. Located near a Navajo reservation, the kids at Broken Arrow Bible Ranch speak both Navajo and English. Two of the twelve teens are affiliated with LCCTC, Raymond Campbell, Construction Trades (Class of 2017), and Claire Brandes, Cosmetology junior. The following article is written from Claire’s point of view:
~ ~ ~
Our group from Calvary were there as the work team, so our job was to give a hand to the staff wherever they needed. We ran chapel services; set, served, and cleaned tables after every meal; and manned the snack shop. One of our jobs were to run some of the activities such as Frisbee golf and the x-games. A few of us even also got to help the kids build and set off rockets! In chapel, we taught the kids about God's love through the help of superheroes which focused on heroes, both fictional stories and real events. We also did a skit in the evening called “Gumtree Gully” which teaches about the laws of the church, should they choose to follow.
On the day before camp actually started, we got to go see Canyon De Chelly and Window Rock in Arizona. The sights were amazing to see; the kinds of different landforms are unlike any we have in this area of the country. On the last day of our trip, we got to go on a trip up the Rocky Mountains on a tramway. It was so fun to be above the mountains there were more green there than in the rest of the dusty, barren state. The topography in New Mexico and Arizona is basically just pine trees and sand, but the view it was really incredible.
The whole experience was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and if I had the opportunity to return, I certainly would!
 |
| Claire at Window Rock in New Mexico |
 |
| Ray (second from the left) and Clair (far right, back row) pose with the other missionaries |
~ ~ ~
Claire Brandes, junior cosmetology student, works at McDonald's. She loves to play sports including soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. Every fall, she enjoys taking part in musicals at her home school, Lincoln; she loves to sing. In her free time, she enjoys helping with Children's Church at Calvary Independent. When Claire graduates in 2019, she wants to study early education to become a preschool teacher.
