"Typically, the group raises funds to travel and serve for a week on a project outside Oklahoma. This year, they chose to raise funds to help another youth group undertake such a trip," Whitaker said.
"It's a whole new way to do an old program," Whitaker said.
The Florida youth group, whose families are from Mexico and Haiti, were led by Kim Torres, the director at Branches, a General Board of Global Ministries outreach to immigrants living in Florida City.
"Thanks to the young Oklahomans' generosity, they enabled our group to make a trip they otherwise could never afford," Torres, said.
The youths spent a week framing a garden shed, painting the gym, and making repairs to the Cookson Hills Ministry Center, north of Vian. The students also made new friends, Whitaker, said.
"The youths' vision also generated wide involvement by the adults who attend Canterbury Church. For example, women prepared bags filled with gifts each day for the teens in both groups. The adults also participated in the fellowship time each evening," Whitaker said.
