St. Ignace Youth Travel to San Francisco

The St. Ignace group traveling to San Francisco included (back row, from left) Gabi Campbell, Mandy Fenlon; (middle row) Kelly LaJoice, Sam Wyers, Kirt Stage-Harvey, Derrick Clark, Molly Dandona, CJ Campbell; (front row) Tari Stage-Harvey, Misti Gamble, Megan Stenson, and Kori Sorenson.

Nine high school students and three adults from Zion Lutheran Church in St. Ignace traveled to San Francisco July 21 to work with the homeless, provide day camps for inner-city youth, and volunteer in food banks and second-hand shops.

The group worked for nearly a year to raise funds for the mission trip, said Pastor Tari-Stage Harvey, hosting 10 fundraisers. Kelly LaJoice, Sam Wyers, Megan Stenson, Kori Sorenson, Gabi Campbell, Molly Dandona, Misti Gamble, Derrick Clark, CJ Campbell, Mandy Fenlon, Kirt Stage-Harvey, and Mrs. Stage-Harvey took the nine-day trip.

The first few days were spent sleeping on the floor of a Lutheran church, while seeing the sights of San Francisco. The group went to Six Flags, Muir Woods, Alcatraz, Chinatown, and experienced a theater festival near the Museum of Modern Art. During the week, the group joined with three other church groups from around the country to provide community service.

San Francisco has the nation’s highest number of homeless people, Pastor Stage-Harvey said, and one of the most diverse populations.

“The group experienced a city life that is very different from St. Ignace,” she said. “For many on the trip, this was their first time on a plane.”

The students returned to St. Ignace encouraged by the experience and ready to do some community work at home, she said. They plan a trash pick-up and volunteering at the local food pantry as immediate projects.

The next church youth trip will be to San Antonio, Texas, in the summer of 2006, for the Lutheran National Youth Gathering.