Telijah's guest blog: Back to the Bahamas

Help me go back to the Bahamas this summer with Young Life Expeditions! 

Dear friends and family, 

Last year I had the opportunity to go to Young Life camp in Eleuthera, Bahamas with my family. I got to hang out with Bahamian teenagers, help illustrate the gospel, and visit some beautiful beaches while I was there. 

It was the first time I had ever been out of the country, and I am so thankful for the people who donated money so our family could go. My parents were the camp speakers last year, so my siblings and I got to tag along as a vacation, and I didn't really have to help out as much as people who go to run the camp. 

This year, I am actually going back to serve with Young Life as work crew. My parents will be the camp speakers again this year, but as work crew, I will be staying apart from them, and I will be doing things that they are not expected to do. Instead of just going and hanging out with the kids, I will also be helping serve meals, cleaning up, and helping to run the camp. While I will still have the chance to relax and hang out with some amazing teenagers, I will be expected to do more work so that camp runs smoothly. 

In order for me to go, I need to raise $1,700 by June 15th. This means I need people who are willing to sponsor me. Will you consider helping me as I set out to help Bahamian teenagers have the best week of their lives?  

You can donate online here. 

5 Thoughts on our Mission Trip to the Bahamas

We're just getting back in the swing of things from what may have been the best week our family has ever had together! It was an amazing trip. 

Quick recap: Emily, all five kids and I helped put on a Young Life Camp for kids in Eleuthera, which is an island in the Bahamas!  

A blog that covered every great thing about the trip would be more like a book, so I'll just pick five of my favorite things about the trip. 

1.  We made the right decision by taking our kids.  

On the plane, a woman said, "You're bringing your kids to the Bahamas? What kind of vacation is that?" Technically, we were on a missions trip, but I understand. Sometimes couples need to get away together. However, what made this trip so special to me was seeing my kids in constant amazement. Doing things like this with a big family is hard. Trust me, we know. We're nowhere close to rich!!!!! If you ever get a chance to do something like that as a family, please go! You will never regret it! 

2. It's impossible to miss the artistry of God! 

On our final full day in the Bahamas, once the Young Life camp was over, the island missionary director Keith Doster told us our goal for Saturday was to enjoy God's creation. The beaches all look like swimming pools with sand bottoms. The scenery is breathtaking. The creativity is God is on full display. It reminds of an old school LeCrae song, "I'm not worrying about changing shoes, my God can change the city sky from grey to blue." 

3. Even Paradise needs the gospel. 

During my club talks to the kids at Young Life camp, I told them how in my first-ever trip tot the Bahamas, one of my college basketball teammates was robbed in Nassau. Even in a picture-perfect place like the Bahamas, there is brokenness. No place, no matter how beautiful, can escape it. The blessed hope is God promised to reconcile all the broken things in this world to Himself through Jesus Christ. 

4. This could be your blog next year. 

There are some really cool short-term and mid-term mission trips where you can serve where in the exact same place where we served.  For all of my friends with Young Life connections, please consider serving in the ministry overseas through Young Life Expeditions. Also, The Eleuthera Bible Training Center has a two-month internship program in June and July for any college-age kids seeking a really challenging and amazing discipleship program. 

5. You can help kids in Staunton have a wonderful week of Young Life camp, too.

Lee High kids - along with other area high schools - head to Young Life Camp at Lake Champion on July 19. We are still signing up kids, and every penny helps. One ongoing fundraiser is that for the next 50 books I sell, 100 percent of the proceeds go to help Lee High kids go to Young Life camp! Books are $10 each! 

This was definitely the highlight of my summer. I would love to hear from you, too! What's been the highlight of your summer so far? 

Bahamas Update: The 12-Day Countdown

Our kids working on homemade thank you cards !!!! 

Just 12 days out, here are 10 facts about our Bahamas trip. 

10. Our youngest kids' passport came in the mail yesterday! That was (almost) the last big barrier to being fully ready to go. 

9. This is actually my second trip to the Bahamas. I went in 1996 as member of the Shenandoah University men's basketball team. (For those of you that know Jeremy Hartman or Mandrel Stuart, can you find them in this picture collage?) 

8. Waynesboro Chick Fil-A helped us with a big fundraiser. Our five kids were also unofficial  Chick Fil-A workers for the day. It was cool to see them putting in effort toward their trip. 

7. THIS IS NOT A LASSITER FAMILY VACATION!  We're actually going to serve with the ministry of Young Life in the Bahamas.  Lee Corder, who heads up Young Life mission work on the Western Hemisphere, sent me this encouraging e-mail as we prepared for our trip! 

"This often comes up around our Caribbean work. Just remind people that we don't drive from airport to resort, we stop before the resort in small towns and villages with all the same issues of poor nations everywhere.

Where you're going is poverty, despair & hopelessness all covered by a sunny climate. The descendants of West Indies slaves live in a world of licentiousness, religious bondage and superstition where the good news of Jesus' deliverance and freedom are desperately needed. Your willingness to serve is profound and crucial for our dear kids there."

6. I will be the camp speaker. I know from a distance most people only see the Photoshopped, cleaned-up verison of me, but I know I'm a mess. (I've got hang-ups like dial tones!) I'm thankful that God uses crooked sticks to draw straight lines, and that He specializes in accomplishing His purposes through broken people.  P.S. Here's one of my favorite sermons on that very topic. 

5.  Father's Day really made me think long and hard about the legacy I want to leave my kids. I'm so glad they are coming with us this year. 

4. In the past few years, I've been to Uganda, Bermuda and Hawaii as well. The truth is, however, I don't really need to travel. I'm pretty much like Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit. 

3. I'm a big picture person, but horrible with details. This trip would never happen without my wife! 

2. So many family members, friends, churches and ministries have come together to make this trip a reality for us financially. We could never say thanks enough! 

1. We still have a ways to go financially and 12 days to get there.  You can make a tax-deductible donation by clicking on this link:  Thanks everyone. Every penny helps!