Helping and understanding: a reflection on MITTO 2011

02-03-2012

Helping and understanding: a reflection on MITTO 2011

By Jackson Floyd
Special Contributor

The true meaning of the Christmas season is to give to others because God gave Jesus to us. This is exactly what youth from all across the state did for one week after Christmas.

MITTO, meaning “to send” in Latin, is a brand new Conference event where senior high youth go out to help those in need in our own communities. At MITTO, we realized that there is a lot of mission work that you can do in your own area—you don’t have to travel to distant places to make a difference.

I attended MITTO with my youth group. We packed our bags and left for Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Dec.26. At first, I was slightly upset that I couldn’t be at home for a week of my vacation, but it turned out to be worth it.

The event had been orchestrated by two senior high youth, Max Hocott and Caitlyn Hendrickson, with the help of youth leaders from the participating churches. Each day consisted of mission work during the day and contemporary worship services during the evening. Each night, a Hot Springs-based youth band, Visitors Parking, led worship music, and Jamey Bentley, pastor of canvascommunity UMC, delivered a devotional.

When it came to mission work, we were split into small groups who not only went to different sites together, but also had group study every night after worship, often discussing our experiences during the day. The first day of work, my group and I interacted with older adults of PHUMC at a roundtable meeting they hold in the mornings.

Our second day, my group and another small group teamed up and went to the Wesley Foundation at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. A handful of youth stayed inside and painted the main hallway, while others went outside to rake leaves (which, in such a large yard, is easier said than done).

We put two coats of paint on the hallway and managed to make it look good, then ate lunch and went outside to rake leaves with the others. Despite the task, we had fun!

The third day we teamed up once again and went to the Compassion Center near the State Fairgrounds to clean up the mess hall, clean out the closet and help cook lunch for the residents. Before lunch, though, a small group of people (including me) got to go outside and rake up cigarette butts and throw them away. I am proud to report that the Compassion Center’s back yard now has significantly less trash in it. When we finished that, we assisted with the cooking. I’d never actually made a salad before.

The fourth day, my group went to the Methodist Children’s Home and played with the three- and four-year-olds, first in the gym and then in their classroom. I could definitely tell they enjoyed it as much as we did. So many kids wanted piggy back rides that I walked away from there with sore joints.

The last day, we held one final worship, packed our bags, and said our goodbyes. Even though we had only shared almost an entire week together, we had already become excellent friends with those we barely knew. You would be surprised how much a handful of teenagers could bond over the course of six days.

It was disappointing to have to leave, but I easily got back into the swing of normal routine. I left with one important lesson: Even the people who seem to have it all together could be falling apart on the inside. The world needs the Kingdom of God, and the first step to building it is understanding others.

Floyd, a high school student, is a member of Highland Valley UMC Little Rock.
Photos: Caitlyn Hendrickson.