Each year teams of individuals and families from churches across our country, many of them tradesmen and contractors, come to Lakeside Montana to serve in short term missions. Vacation With A Purpose (VWAP) is a summer program that has been running here for 20+ years. I helped as project manager for the groups that came this year.
Projects completed:
Installed 4 new roofs
Painted 11 houses and 7 sheds
Poured 10 concrete footers for light posts
Replace damaged siding
Repaired a fence line
Fabricated 6 more security light posts
It was a time of encouragement, worship, laughter, hard work, prayer, fun, food, sweat, and a few tears! What they accomplish in a few weeks would take us years to do on our own. Their skills and service thrust us forward in the care and development of our campus so that for the majority of the year we can focus on training, supporting, and sending missionaries.
It was energizing to serve with believers and their children, watching their desire for missions grow. One 16 year old girl who came for the first time with her family was enjoying her time so much that she told us on the first day, “Oh, we are definitely coming back next year and we’re bringing our friends!” This was especially sweet for me, knowing how much short term missions in my teen years changed the trajectory of my own life.
VWAP teams demonstrate how every skill set has a role to play in missions, how individuals and whole families can work together in serving the Lord. We are always looking for more people to join us. If this is something that sparks an interest for you, I would be happy to talk about how you, your friends, or church could be a part of VWAP in the future.
For more information on VWAP click the link below
Vacation With A Purpose