Raised on Mission: MK Trip to Australia
Mary Beth Bagley, Global Partners’ missionary kid (MK) care specialist, recently led a group of four missionary kids on a service trip to Perth, Australia. In June, the team volunteered at several children’s ministries, built connections and got a taste of life in Australia.
Saying “g’day” to some of the local wildlife.
“These trips give MKs an opportunity to serve directly instead of through their missionary parents,” Mary Beth said. “It’s a super bonding experience and a great opportunity for MKs to connect with each other.”
While connecting with one another, the team also supported local volunteer programs and encouraged long-term missionaries in the area.
In Perth, the team assisted the School Breakfast Club at Landsdale and Alinjarra Primary School, a program designed to ensure children receive a nutritious meal during the day. The MKs distributed breakfast and spent time with the students.
Beyond the breakfast club, the group volunteered in classrooms and assisted teachers by helping students with reading. Afternoons were spent at a local kids club, where the MKs lent a hand with games and sharing Bible stories. The team also experienced some of the Tonga culture by visiting the Peace Lake Tongan Wesleyan Methodist Church and attending a service.
The trip to Perth marks Mary Beth’s second overseas MK trip. Last year, she led a team of six MKs to Nicaragua for similar activities.
The team got to help out with a program designed to make sure students receive a nutritious meal during the day.
=Abigail England, a missionary kid who participated in last year’s Nicaragua trip, said “the entire trip was a very educational experience for me. It was interesting to view missions from a different perspective … rather than simply being along for the ride,” Abigail said.
Mary Beth plans to continue these trips at least once a year with plans already underway for next year’s destination.