For those of you who want to know about his trip, I am putting up this web page for "Micah information." Also, look at the bottom of this page for things concerning teens or written by teens. I hope to eventually start a teen section (if you or any Christian teen who reads this is interested) to let you know all the great things other Christian teens are saying, thinking and doing. So, if you guys have any poems, comments, letters to contribute, you can email me or see me at church or... .
Micah left on Saturday morning, June 5, 1999 for Garden Valley, TX, (the star in the center of the map if you press the link - he said he's about an hour from Longview) where he is one of 500 teens who came to the *Teen Mania Ministries campus (see next paragraph) a week early to train and possibly qualify as a group leader for their Peru trip. The teens were busy the first few days learning the drama they will be presenting in Peru (and in all the other countries they are going to). We heard that on Tuesday night, June 8, each group's drama would be judged. Those who passed would go to town the next day to try it out on the streets.
*Teen Mania Ministries: For those interested in checking out this organization, you can hear its founder, Ron Luce in the Indianapolis area on Saturday nights on Channel 42 (TBN) at 10:30pm (at least till time change in the fall). The program is labeled "Ron Luce." You also might be interested in the Teenage Bill of Rights you can find from their website.
Friday, June 11 - We heard from Micah early this morning (about 6:45am). He and his group passed their drama judging. The drama is a 22 minute long mime. He has a part in "The Life Cycle," (a modern day version of Ecclesiastes). His part is in the group where people's lives consist in working 9-5. A journeyman breaks out of that mold, however, and examines all the other modes of living such as the people of pleasure, the men of power (gangs, violence, etc), the people of knowledge... and ends up killing someone while trying to obtain (money?) when investigating the people of greed. There is a miracle man in all the scenes who is trying to reach him, communicate with him but doesn't before journeyman is accused and sentenced to death for the killing. The miracle man takes on his punishment and is put on a cross. He rises from the dead, then takes the blood-red gloves off journeyman's hands... . They also worked on some short skits to communicate the gospel themes from other angles.
The group took a trip to Longview to a children's home for dysfunctional families, a nursing home, a Christian university where they had unsaved kids for some programs, and to three parks. There were some salvations. Micah said those he ministered to said they were already Christians, but he's really praying, "Lord, use me." He said this time is making him really look forward to SEMP (a Chicago based group that teaches teens to reach the cities - he's coming home from Peru one day and leaving 12 hours later for a week at SEMP).
Micah is very, very busy (this a.m. he was up early to help fix meals, and in between in his first "free time" he is choosing to greet the missionaries who arrive at all hours.) By tomorrow 6,000 teens who will start getting ready to go to all points of the globe will have arrived. (On or within two weeks of 06-15-99, youth are leaving for Australia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Berlin and Budapest in Eastern Europe, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Nepal, Panama, the Philippines, Russia, Botswana (South Africa), Trinidad, Venezuela, and West Africa. There are later trips throughout the summer to many of these countries, but there will also be trips to Alaska, Bolivia, El Salvador, Papua New Guinea, and South East Asia.) It would be great to pray for Teen Mania's outreaches. They have taken many youth out in the last few years, and I'm sure prayers of God's people have had a lot to do with the teens' safety and effectiveness. (As of Tues, June 15, I spoke with Laney, Micah's representative who called to give me his Peruvian address - see below. She said the teens who are supposed to be coming in a week or two for other trips are having all sorts of things thrown at them to keep them away. I know prayer would be appreciated on the young people's behalf.)
Though the youth are very busily preparing, Teen Mania is also very conscious of the teens' need for quiet time, and there is an hour built in every morning for prayer and Bible study. Micah says he really appreciates it because he needs it.
Monday, June 14 - Micah called us again early thin morning. He sounded as excited as tiredness would allow. The groups have continued in intensive preparation. He made mission advisor, which means he is working with, he says, a group of five counting himself. They are putting the finishing touches on the drama with everybody, and he is praying they pass the judging today the first time through. Micah says they have heard Ron Luce, head of Teen Mania speak every day the week before everyone came; also, they heard a missionary from Norway, Stephan Christensen (don't know if my spelling's right). I believe he's part of a European ministry similar to this, and he was telling many things they have seen our wonderful Lord do as they are faithful to proclaim His gospel.
Micah really likes the Peru project directors and team leaders. He is thoroughly enjoying getting to know the other teen missionaries as well. Also, he had a neat encounter (which might easily not have happened if it weren't for God, considering there are 6,000 teens) with Patricia Smith, one of the friends from KY who has been cheering him on. She will be leaving for Kenya, and two of her sisters will be leaving on trips in the middle of the summer... . He says to say "hi" to everyone, and will try to send some postcards if possible.
Tuesday, June 15 - Micah called this morning about 9:00 am. He says he had to get his luggage loaded by 9:20 or so, and then he was free till they left for the airport. He still didn't know whether he'd be going through Miami or not. It seems the leader he reports to knows fluent Spanish, and Laney, Micah's representative said when she called that he'd told her he had already learned so much, and planned on learning more en route from this missionary. When we talked, we prayed with Micah, and thanked God for traveling mercies.
He left for Lima, Peru on Tuesday, June 15, 1999. Early the next morning, Wednesday, June 16, 1999, they left Lima for Iquitos. We are, of course, praying for good weather en route to, from and in Iquitos and the Amazon, as well as for the ministry there.
Saturday, July 10, 1999 - Micah is supposed to be back in Dallas and debriefing today. He called and left word however, that his group had a little adventure on the way from Peru. They ended up staying an extra night (at a fancy Peruvian hotel in Lima at the airline's expense), because the airplane they were to take by way of Miami, FL had mechanical troubles. I'm very grateful they discovered the problem before the teens were in flight, and they all got a bonus out of it! Now their arrival time in Dallas is noon today. As you can tell from the sparse reports I've been giving, I haven't had any time to debrief Micah. Hopefully you will soon hear some excellent reports - maybe I can debrief him between his McD's hamburger and the Cinnebon he intends to have at the airport (!) tomorrow evening at 5 pm when we pick him up. Apparently I was correct when I told him he would go through culture shock or at the very least McDonald's withdrawal! Stay tuned for more... .
When I can, I will post more information. As his mother, I want to say a great big thank you to all of you who contributed funds and prayers to Micah for his trip. I have seen tremendous body ministry here, for which I am very grateful. I will keep sharing as he shares with me, because you all are truly a part of any ministry he has while he's there. God bless you all.
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