As junior Rachel Van Lear says goodbye to her mom before traveling all the way across the world, she thinks about what this year’s mission trip has in store for her.
Van Lear has been involved in The Turning Point Church in Fort Worth, Texas since she moved from Minnesota in 2011. Van Lear and her youth group fundraised their mission trip to England by having bake sales, garage sales, and even pancake sales for the overall trip cost of about $2,500.
“It didn’t really hit me that we were actually in England until we came back from the trip,” Van Lear said. “The six hour time difference wasn’t hard to adjust to at all because I always stay up late at home. It literally felt like a dream.”
Stepping onto the plane for her first time, Van Lear anxiously sat during the nine hour flight. It was her first time out of the country.
“The flight was great for it being so long,” Van Lear said. “The people are so nice, and they’ll help you out with whatever you may need. Although I didn’t get a wink of sleep, they had the newest movies on the plane that kept me entertained.”
The youth group stayed in England for two weeks with their assigned host families. Their host families were members of their church, but it was located in England.
“It was a little awkward at first since I didn’t know them, but after a while it was really fun,” Van Lear said. “You get to learn about the English culture at first hand. It’s really surprising how they haven’t heard or tried any of the things the United States has.”
Van Lear saw many sights such as the London Bridge and the Warwick Castle. She also learned more about their culture and how it differs from the U.S.
“My favorite part of the trip was probably meeting new people and learning more about the culture,” Van Lear said. “The castle was awesome and their food is different but so delicious. It’s surprising how expensive and popular the stuff is over there compared to the U.S.”
When she returned home, she was happy to see her family again. She felt like she gained a new understanding about the differing countries.
“England is a country filled of amazing sites and friendly people, and it is a place where you lose track of time,” Van Lear said. “You really feel like you’re walking through history.”
