Being part of a ministry in a poor community means that people want to come and serve us. Leaders want to bring their kids to Branches because they can work in a low-income community with a diverse group of children and youth. The majority of mission teams that come are not diverse themselves. They are made up of middle-class White kids. Groups come from other parts of Florida and from other states because they want to "help" the kids here.

But I believe that the visiting teams also receive help. Groups gain a new understanding of what it means to be Christian. They meet kids who think that church is the greatest thing in the whole world—because they have lived without God and know how bad that is. They meet immigrants who are undocumented but who now have a name and a face that they grow to love. They learn what it means for a child's future to be labeled an "illegal alien." They can no longer hear the news and think immigration issues don't matter.

The visitors meet kids who have never had any privacy—not even their own bed, much less their own room. They meet kids who are just like them, only different.

There are several community-service projects that I will always remember. After Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992, the Miami District Disaster Response Youth Summer Interns decided to have a youth work day. We were going to help rebuild homes. I remember watching our youth help build a house when many of their families did not own a home. That is what mission is all about—serving Christ, not thinking of yourself.

Another service project we did was gleaning. Most kids in our group have parents or family members who work in the fields. The kids have also spent time picking crops to help the family earn money. So this was a way for the kids to use a skill they already had. Since we had only two cars, we took only eight kids. Our job was to pick the corn left in the field. Another, larger youth group was also gleaning. By the end of the day, our small group had picked almost six times as much corn as the other youth group!

Children from Branches After-school Ministry help out at a fundraiser to build a soccer field in the community.

When Christmas comes, people are always calling to see if they can give the kids gifts. I really struggle with this because I do not want our kids to become dependent or greedy. Besides, Kendall UMC does a Christmas program with us every year. The kids even get to pick a gift for someone else.

I want them to learn to give. As a result, our youth participate in a service project each month. We have done everything from picking up trash to working with people with disabilities. It's important to teach the value of serving and then to practice it.

Ismael Ferniza
—13 years old, born in Miami, Mexican parents

In 1992, the house Ismael's family rented was destroyed by Hurricane Andrew. Everything the Fernizas owned was destroyed. The next few days were a struggle for the family just to find food and drinking water. What Ismael remembers is how an army of church people gave him and his family what they needed.

Ismael was one of the first kids to join Branches. Last October we experienced another hurricane that caused flooding. Through the support of UMCOR, Branches was able to distribute 500 flood buckets and supplies of food to affected families.

Gavin started to come to Branches when he was in third grade. He was always big for his age and he got into a lot of trouble. Almost every day when he came to the after-school program, he had a detention notice or a story about fighting at school. Gavin has matured now and has become a new creation in Christ.

Gavin is good friends with Harold Simons, 84, who has been volunteering at Branches forever. Harold lost a leg in an explosion in World War II. Last year, Harold's macular degeneration became so bad that he could no longer drive or read. He is not blind but doesn't see clearly. He still volunteers at the after-school program. The kids now read to him.

Martine wants to be a missionary. Recently she did a school report on her future career and learned a lot about the General Board of Global Ministries. She thinks it would be great to go back to Haiti and work with people there. She is fluent in Creole.

Martine thinks that the monthly service projects are tough but are giving her insight into her future. She has been uncomfortable, tired, hungry, dirty, and sad while serving others. Nevertheless, she likes working with new people and she likes experiencing new things.

Miguel Angel Ferniza
—15 years old, born in Miami, Mexican parents

In March 1999, St. Luke's UMC in Orlando needed a translator for a mission trip to Duverge, Dominican Republic. The volunteers were building a church and teaching Vacation Bible School. They invited Miguel. It was his first mission trip away from home and his first time in an airplane. It changed his life.

Everything was new for Miguel—getting a passport, going to the airport, being with a group that was White. At the hotel in Duverge, Miguel got his own room. It was the first time in his life that he had his own space. (He is one of five children.)

When we were at the church preparing for a service, Miguel picked up a broom to sweep. A friend tried to take it away from him, saying that men do not sweep. Miguel said he always swept at home and didn't mind sweeping the church.

Miguel is no longer the quiet middle kid of his family. He is a leader with lots of friends. His mission experience has made a world of difference in his life. Through it, he learned that God has given him many things and that he is special.

Norma Toussaint
—17 years old, born in Miami, Haitian parents

For the past four years, Norma has participated in the 30-hour "Famine" with World Vision. Our group fasts for 30 hours and learns more about world hunger. We also sleep outside on the church grounds in cardboard boxes to simulate the experience of being homeless. The whole experience is a challenge for Norma. Not eating is difficult, but it is even harder to learn about children around the world who are starving.

For four years now, Norma has attended high school at a magnet school in Key Biscayne. It is about an hour and fifteen minutes by car, but she takes four buses and the metro rail to school every day. She often does not get home until 7:00 P.M. Norma wants to go to college—and she will. Participating in local mission projects has helped her to remember that life is not all about success and having more than her parents did. We are here to serve those around us because that is what Jesus did.

Christina Martinez
—13 years old, born in West Palm Beach, Mexican parents

Christina likes to do service projects because they are fun. She enjoys spending time with people in the group and learning new skills. One project that she really enjoyed was painting a house for a woman in need. Her mom and little sister also helped.

Christina would like to do mission work outside Miami. She thinks that she would be good because she is bilingual and knows what it's like to go through hard times. She is not afraid of bad neighborhoods. And she would like to work with migrant kids because her family also followed the crops.

Milagros Ocampo
—16 years old, born in Nicaragua

Milita loves music. Recently she was able to use her gift to help others at our "Summer J.A.M." For three days we had a series of worship services outside as part of our outreach into the community. The youth praise band played at each of the services. Milita loved being able to play for the people.

Milita lives with her father and her little sister, usually at her father's girlfriend's house. But every couple of weeks they are kicked out when her father and his girlfriend fight. She knows what it is like not to have a place to sleep and to have nothing. It empowers her to bring a little joy to someone else by playing a song.