Samoa Outreach

June 26th – July 11th, 2012

Download Full Colour Flyer Here

A unique opportunity to build parent/child relationships, and for young people to consider the call of God upon their lives.

The Rationale

What does the future hold for our children?  Scripture tells us that we are his workmanship, created for good works in Christ.  The question we need to be putting to our children is not, “What do you want to do?”  but, “How are you called to serve?” Each of us is uniquely gifted by God unto this end.

One of the best ways for us to find out who we are and who we are not, is to start serving.

While ACE has, as part of its programme, a convention structure which is intended to be a means of preparing students for ministry, we know that many of our families would also like the opportunity for their teenage children to be able to participate in an actual outreach.

Aside from the obvious goal of sharing the gospel, an important goal of this outreach is to put our young people in a position where God may be able to clearly speak to their hearts about equipping themselves for future service, as opposed to equipping themselves for a Western-styled, self-centred career.

The Location

While it is true that there are needs right outside the gates of our own homes, an outreach to a Third World environment, which is neither too harsh nor too expensive, has some distinct advantages.
• It strongly underscores the extravagant, wastefulness of the self-centred, self-indulgent Western culture in which we live
• It teaches appreciation of the very basic things in life
• It shows how much each of us can do with the little we already have
• It powerfully impacts and blesses the lives of very needy people
• It provides an environment in which God can work powerfully in the lives of those who serve, and show
   them clear avenues of potential future service

To this end, Samoa would seem to be an ideal location.

Youth with a Mission are happy to allow us to use their facilities to work from, while at the same time allowing us the freedom to pursue our own programme.

Their base in Apia will provide us with a place to sleep that is basic (as opposed to primitive),
with adequate toilet and washing facilities (cold showers) and cooking facilities acceptable by Western hygiene standards.

While basic, the meals will take into account the fact that we are accustomed to a “Western” diet.

The Programme

• A number of clear, dedicated opportunities to present the Gospel 
    in a variety of locations to a variety of age groups. (We will have access to schools, the local prison, and the local village people.) We are already planning a Kids Club-style outreach over two weeks, a prison visit, and participation in an existing sports outreach to local youth who do not attend school.
• An assortment of different practical service opportunities.
    We are already planning the following:
 •  Teaching basic hand washing lessons to local school children
 •  Assisting with the installation of a biogas system into the local village
 •  Providing reading glasses to local villagers who can no longer read
 •  Teaching/providing basic first aid and health care
 •  Setting up a garden to provide food for the local mission base
 •  Maintenance tasks on the base
 •  Practical, hands-on assistance to the Tsunami-affected village of Poutasi in the southeast of
     the island (painting, repair work etc.)
 •  Practical, hands-on assistance in the local village near the YWAM base.

Supervision
Todd and Riety Roughton will head up the team, but rather than us “take your children” on outreach, we would like to structure this as a “Father/Son, Mother/Daughter” opportunity. We know from experience that all outreach is beneficial, but that when conducted within a family context, it can be a particularly special and bonding time.

To this end, we would like to go as a group of family “units”, comprised of 1-2 children together with a parent. (There will be an overall minimum adult-to-student ratio of  1:2)

Who Can Come?
Any teenager, aged 14 or older, who is accompanied by a parent,  and who meets the following criteria:
• A pre-existing, genuine commitment to Jesus Christ. (This is non-negotiable)
• A heart that is willing to serve
• Willing hands that will reach out to do whatever is required to be a blessing
Depending on numbers, there may be room for some unaccompanied teenagers, who would be “adopted” into another family unit.
Family groups will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
We also need a kitchen support person.

Cost
A number of things have still to be finalised, but the maximum cost will be $1500 per head.
Cost analysis (approximate)
• Return Tickets Auckland-Apia $600
• Accommodation koha (16 days @ $20 per day) $320
• Group fund contribution (transport & misc.) $320
• Pocket money

PreparationThree days of preparation in Whangarei  immediately prior to flying out from Auckland. (Not included in costings)