The youth group at Fuller Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., traveled all the way to Porto Velho, Brazil, following the call of their church’s former youth leaders.
Ann and Ray Kapteyn, now missionaries in Brazil, invited the youth group to help enlarge the home shared by three female Brazilian missionaries. As they built a roof from the trusses up, the teens experienced a much different culture and a much hotter climate. The group enjoyed star-covered nighttime skies, fresh fruit on work breaks, and the heartfelt gratitude of their hosts. “The women kept referring to our group as angels from heaven, a true blessing,” said Cathy Winterhalter, one of two youth leaders who accompanied the teens.
“[The Christians there] simply try to live out their faith, and it stands out in the culture,” observed Mike Jonker, 17.
About the Author
Roxanne VanFarowe is a freelance writer who claims both Canadian and American citizenship and grew up in the Christian Reformed Church. She is a member of Blacknall Presbyterian Church in Durham, North Carolina.
