The summer months are fairly quiet around Unity Lutheran Christian Elementary School. But for three days in July, there was plenty of action this year, and the focus was the same as always – mission. During the spring, we were contacted by the Youth Group from Zion Lutheran Church way up north in Aniwa, Wisconsin. They were interested in helping out at Unity, so we scheduled July 9-11. We agreed that on Monday and Wednesday, the eleven teenagers and three adult counselors would complete several cleaning tasks and make sure the Fourth Grade room is ready for the new class. They painted and scrubbed. They carried out trash. They moved and washed desks. Those young muscles made short work of my job list! On Tuesday, they planned and prepared for Mr. Miller’s All-Day Birthday Party. I didn’t want our guests to come all the way from Wisconsin and not meet our students. Activities were scheduled for 9:00am-3:00pm, including devotions, Bible study, singing, games, crafts, snacks, and lunch. The Aniwa youth were excited to meet our Unity students, and they were anxiously waiting when 9:00 arrived. All of the students had been invited and reminded. But you can guess what happened. At 9:00, no one arrived. 9:30, and still no one. Mr. Miller got on the phone and started calling the families. 10:00. 10:30. Still no guests! Finally, the first two students arrived. The Aniwa Youth converged on these two. But then, a few more came, and then a few more, and gradually the group grew to about 25 guests. There were lots of giggles and smiles, handshakes and hugs, as everyone enjoyed the activities. It turned out to be a wonderful day for making friends, and sharing the love of Jesus. At the end of their time at Unity, we spent a little time discussing the experience they had for three days. The entire Aniwa Youth Group was happy that they came to Unity, and we were really glad to have them. Although it may have looked like “grunt work,” I assured our guests that everything they accomplished was indeed mission work. They had spruced up the school; they had prepared another classroom; they had entertained our students. All of those things contribute to making Unity a place where children feel welcome and want to be. When classes resume in August, the teachers will be ready to continue teaching about God’s love everyday. That’s our mission! Thanks, Aniwa, for helping us get ready. You are wonderful gifts from God to share in His mission at Unity!

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