Westminster is now on 
Summer Mission Trip Alumni
Westminster Summer Mission Trips have a profound affect on the communities they serve. They also have as much impact on those that serve, if not more:
Katie Morris
"Westminster's Youth Group had a profound affect on my decision to study other cultures. The trips we took to other churches, even in an all-Spanish Catholic service in San Salvador, El Salvador, is the primary reason I chose to pursue my B.A. in Religion. Secondly, if it wasn't for the mission trip exposure to all walks of life in South Central Los Angeles and the poor and under-represented at the Union Rescue Mission, I wouldn't be working to pass legislation that protects and enhances State programs to help these groups of people here in California."Kate Sullivan
“The years I spent growing up in the youth group at Westminster are still some of the fondest memories of my life. Although I had a tight knit group of friends in school, it was a great way to end the dramatic week of high school by worshipping with great friends from other schools who were part of a safer, more care-free and loving world. Now, almost seven years later, the people who I am closest to are not the ones I went to school with, but the ones I went to youth group with.
Somehow I ended up in Construction Management, an exciting and fast paced world where you get to see your work develop before your very eyes. I'm sure my interest in this had a lot to do with all the painting of churches, building of roofs, pouring of concrete, laying of tile, or constructing latrines while on mission trips.
Between all the late night conversations, capture the flag games, play rehearsals, and hours and hours on road trips with people who were centered in their faith I made friendships that will last a lifetime. I can't thank WPC enough for helping me grow up in a community where the whole church congregation was there to help me grow into the woman I am today.”
Will Elkins
“Westminster served to broaden my horizons both spiritually and socially. Chief among these experiences was our work trip to El Salvador in 2001 when we built a school in a rural community. The people I met and the places we went showed me the world beyond our privileged American lives, and made me appreciate all that I have. The people there have their farms, their families and their faith, and that is all they need to be happier than I ever will be. I became very interested in people, and the true meaning of "happiness" which is one of the many things that led me to study Philosophy. I would encourage everyone not only to travel abroad, but to do so at least once to a country in need of aide. The experience will touch you on a level you never though possible, and it does nothing but enrich you.”
Anna Brown
“A visitor to the Heifer International farm I work on once asked me if I come from an activist faith background. I wasn't exactly sure what he meant by the word "activist," but I can certainly say that yes, Westminster encourages its youth to live out their faith by taking active roles in the church and wider world. The youth group at Westminster gave me the chance to serve meals at Loaves and Fishes, learn about the effects of war and poverty in El Salvador and the commitment of peacemakers and school-builders it takes to heal such communities. From Sunday school classes to mission trips, a welcoming, helping hand was offered to me that I was in turn able to offer to others. Today the youth group continues, still full of energy and with wonderful leaders, to explore what being part of a faith community means. It was to me and and still is a fun, safe group of friends, a call to action, an inspiration, and so much more. Thanks to everyone for supporting it, and Thanks be to God!”
Haley Anthonisen
“My experience in doing the mission trips each summer has definitely inspired me to continue doing community service. Now that I'm in college and have the ability to do similar things on my own it has been a focus of my life. I am the Community Service chair for my sorority, Alpha Theta Phi, and Community Service Chair for Greek Counsel. I also work in the Community Service Learning office of the University of Redlands as a correspondent for volunteering in the Greek community. One project that I've been working on is a bracelet-making project where I get different organizations together to make bracelets that we then sell for $2 each. 100% of the proceeds go directly to Women's Empowerment, which I also help out with proceeds from my business, Haley Corina handbags. Within my sorority, my co-chair and I have planned a couple work days in a garden on campus that I work in every week and we are planning on visiting a retirement home with our sorority soon to spend time with the older ladies, paint nails, do hair, and have fun.
I'm planning on completing my community service credit for graduation this coming May by traveling to the Rocky Mountains with 8 other students. Along with hiking and camping we will be stopping at different locations to help the communities we visit. I'm extremely excited about this trip and cannot wait to see who we will be helping and what we will be doing.”
Colleen Anthonisen
I attended one summer mission trip and will definitely remember it forever. I think it is an important trip for young people because they get a chance to be away from their routine life and help others. It is a good chance for young people to grow individually, making new friends, helping the less fortunate, and actually getting to meet the people they are helping. Someone can donate money to a cause,
but they never get to see where that money is going or who it is
helping. On a mission trip, they are given the opportunity to meet and get to know them as people. It definitely makes you think about what you have and how you should be grateful for every bit of it.