Jackson Reclaimed event featured in the Northside Sun!

We would like to thank our friends at the Northside Sun for showcasing Mission First and the recent Jackson Reclaimed event! Please check out those photos through their online edition!

BSBC: My week was so rewarding!

Courtnie Watkins
Bullard Southern Baptist Church
Age: 17

Prior to my week at Mission First, I thought it was going to be a long one. I hadn’t been home a lot the entire summer and didn’t have time to catch up on my sleep before traveling to Jackson. This would be the last stop before I would be at home for the summer. Now don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t dreading the trip by any means and was very excited for the journey, but didn’t expect to have the energy that I did. God did a work in me and gave me the strength I needed for that entire week.

Since the group I went with didn’t go through MFUGE; we worked directly with Mission First’s staff. This was so much fun because we had the opportunity to work with both the children’s educational program and the community development program. It was so amazing to invest in the lives of children, and to help rebuild a house in the community just a block away from the campus. I cannot tell you how blessed I am for having the opportunity to experience working in those two different areas.

The first day we met the children. They automatically gave us their biggest smiles, enormous hugs and asked us what our names were. It amazed me to see how much they knew and how fast they could learn. I had many of the kindergarten and 1st graders read challenging books to me. By the end of that first day, almost every child in the place was calling us by name, even those that were not in our class. I knew that the reason these children were doing so well academically was because of the facility and programs that Mission First provides for them.

When we made it to the work site and got a chance to look around at everything, it really hit me at how much of an impact this organization was making on their community. These people needed help rebuilding their homes and lives back up to what it had been before. Mission First is doing an exceptional job with this task.

It really isn’t possible to completely describe what Mission First is like. It is full of loving, caring people that put the kids and the community before themselves all the time.
No matter what we did, having fun playing with the children or using the circular saw and cordless nail gun (oh yea, that was me!), together we were helping serve families, children and adults. It’s so amazing how doing the Lord’s work, whether loving relationally or serving with physical labor could be so much fun. It truly is rewarding.

MFUGE: Impacted in a huge way!

Hannah Young

First Baptist Church

Chipley, Florida

Age: 16

Wow. I seriously cannot put into words how amazing this week at Mission First has been! I’ve learned so much from being here this short amount of time. When my Bible study leader, Nick, told us about each of the kids, I could tell that he was completely in love with them. Of course, I was super excited to meet all of them. Since I was involved in the Children’s Ministry track with M-Fuge, we set up VBS-type activities which included: Bible study, crafts, music, and play time. Each day I did something different and I seriously cannot tell you how much fun I’ve had.

Yes, I am definitely worn out by the end of the day. But I wouldn’t have chosen to spend my week here doing anything else. Coming in everyday and being greeted with so many smiles and hugs pretty much made my day. God has taught me so much through my experiences here at Mission First and I’m going to miss spending time with the kids here.

Mission First really is one huge example of how God provides in any situation. The love the kids are shown here amazes me. I hope that God will use me just as he has used Mission First, in such a big and effective way. Leaving on my last day is going to be incredibly difficult and very sad. But, I hope to visit again and see what else God will do in the children’s lives through Mission First. I am so blessed to have had such a wonderful experience here and I will never forget how God used Mission First and the children to impact my life in such a huge way.

MFUGE: Work at Mission First "indescribable"

Lauren Woods

First Baptist Church

Chipley, Florida

Age: 15

How can I really describe this week? Before we ever came, Nate, my leader for games and recreation told us the background story of Mission First. When I first arrived, I just looked around and saw a miracle. We toured the facilities and saw the sights – it was amazing. Then, we went in the gym and met our buddies from Mission First for the first time. When I saw the look in the students’ eyes I wanted to cry. They had that look of happiness, and they just let me know from that second, this week was going to be the best week of my life.

I can’t even tell you the first game we played because I am so tired. The students have so much energy. It even lights up all of the Mission First buildings. We have played dodge ball, freeze tag, noodle tag, pac-man tag and ships and sailors. Honestly, there are so many more that I just don’t even remember.

However, just getting to know the background of the students was the best experience of it all. The staff of Mission First and Fuge care about the students so much. But, most of all God loves these students more than anyone in the world can ever offer, and that is what Mission First lets them know everyday. They let the kids see God through them. I am very sad that I have to leave. I hope that I get to come back to Mission First next year and see how God has moved them. I love Mission First and everything they do and I am praying that God moves in a mighty way through them.

Through the eyes of a child... Art in Motion.

By: Mary Katherine Segrest

My time at Mission First began as an opportunity to serve with the Junior League of Jackson, but ended in blessings upon blessings from the Lord. When I was driving in my car on Monday morning, I prayed that the week would be wonderful and the kids would have a great time and learn a lot. Then, I arrived at Mission First and knew right away that this week was going to be more than an “art camp.”

A few weeks ago, I received my assignment for the camp. I was to be the t-shirt coordinator and photographer. Although I was unsure of the title of t-shirt coordinator, I was very excited about being the photographer. I thought it was a coincidence that I worked as an assistant to a wedding photographer and this would be my 'job' for the week... but as a follower of Jesus, I should know better than to bank on coincidence! It was all God. As I floated around campus snapping my camera, I got to witness PURE JOY. The children were full steam ahead! They jumped in and were ready to learn. When I looked back at my pictures later, I saw it plain as day.

..the joy in their eyes.

…the focus and desire to do good.

…the love for each other and for the adults serving them.

…the excitement for all of the neat activities that they participated in during the week.

The kids gave out hugs freely. By the second day, the smiles came more easily to my camera lens as well! If this 'coincidence' had not occurred, I would not have gotten the same experience. I was able to meet and see everyone in every area. By the grace of God, I toted my camera from room to room - and was HAPPY about it! (I have to mention that I also played some serious games of dodge ball!) I laughed and laughed with them as they danced for us. I was blessed by watching the staff at Mission First love on the children. It made my heart happy to see the other volunteers love on the kids - and the kids open up and love them back! I loved seeing the boys and girls SO proud on Friday night - when they showed their parents/families what they had learned during the week! The artwork, music, drama... they did so well and worked so hard.

I left Mission First Friday night very tired. But it was a pure, happy tired. My cup overflowed with blessings from the week. I take with me the look of pure joy in the eyes of those children - simple JOY that only God can give in the eyes of the child. I look forward to serving there again.