Mission complete
U.M. Army fulfills Chandler mission
By Chad Wilson

Chad Wilson Photos

Their mission was simple; "To provide a Christ-centered, quality youth work camp in the Chandler area that serves people in need and provides spiritual growth and leadership development in youth."

After 40 projects were completed at 26 different work sites the U.M. A.R.M.Y. did just that last week while setting up camp at the First United Methodist Church in Chandler.

Director Lisa Garcia raved about the Chandler area during an interview last Thursday saying that the group has felt "extremely welcomed" and that this area has opened their heart and homes to the group like no other area she has ever seen. Ms. Garcia is a full-time youth pastor in the Houston area and a first time U.M. A.R.M.Y. director; she has attended four UM Army camps.

More than 90 youth and leaders invaded Chandler, Brownsboro, Leagueville and multiple lake subdivisions last week from five different Texas communities. There were people from League City, Galveston, Texas City, Pasadena and the Cedar Creek Lake area. Divided into four color groups and 12 overall work teams the group began work on area homes last Monday.

WHEELCHAIR RAMP-- A U.M. A.R.M.Y. team completes a wheel chair ramp on Big Eddy road South of Chandler during the rain last Friday. Above the team works to align the porch on Thursday.

Each camper paid $199 to attend the camp and all of the camp fees went to buy materials for the work sites and other items needed for the week of camp. Some of the projects the Army completed last week were building wheel chair ramps, porches, fences, repairing roofs, window and screen repair and painting both houses and fences.

U.M. A.R.M.Y. is an acronym for United Methodist Action Reach-out Mission by Youth and was founded in 1979 as 36 youth and adults from the Houston area held the first camp in Athens.

Since 1976 the camp has grown tremendously with over 3,500 people attending the camp in 2005 and more expected this year. In the "Texas Conference" alone Ms. Garcia stated there are 38 cities this summer from the Galveston to the Dallas area that will be host to a team.

Students attending the camp must have completed the 9th grade and have a heart to serve others. There is also a camp for college age students at least one year out of high school.

The Army's work philosophy is preparation, safety, teamwork, leadership development in teens, servant - nothing in return and free for the client. Their desire is to improve the quality of life for their client before they leave.

Normally a typical client for the Army would be one who met one of the following characteristics; low-income, elderly or disabled.

As the Army ministered through both work and dialogue with clients they too were ministered to last week by home openers who allowed them to borrow their showers to clean up after a long work day.

Last Thursday night the group was joined for a worship service at FUMC by their clients they helped out during the week.

The typical schedule for the Army was to wake by 7:00am, participate in a morning devotional at 7:25am before leaving for their work site at 8:30am.

After work (3:30pm) the group would head to the showers before eating dinner at 6:00pm. At 7:00pm the group had a worship and devotion time before they were allowed free time. Lights out was at 11:30pm each night.

In a world that is normally focused on one's own needs, the U.M. Army is out to make a difference for the cause of Christ through servanthood. With their selfless display many hearts in the community were touched by their efforts.