The work – it was no walk in the park.

From digging, to chopping, to hauling, to lifting, members from Trinity’s High School Youth Group were tested – especially through their endurance – during their recent Summer Servant trip to Keweenaw Base Camp in Atlantic Mine, Mich.

But, at the end of the day, their hard work had meaning – God is good, and so are His creations.

“What a blessing it was to pray, praise, work, serve, laugh, eat and explore with these fine young adults,” said Kari Smith, who is Trinity’s High School Youth Director. “This group worked as a team all week, and together we learned to press on through the challenges we are faced with every day.”

One of the service projects - at the Upper Peninsula camp just off Lake Superior - included moving a Trust Fall platform to a new location. The work included digging out eight posts and digging an 8-foot by 3-foot trench that was 3 feet deep.

“The trip was meaningful because it showed me that working together and finishing a project is so rewarding,” said Brendan Bloomer, who is a Trinity graduate and will be a senior at Davenport Central this fall.

The group of nine high schoolers, who slept in tents, also chopped and hauled wood, trimmed trees and rebuilt and built benches.

“The most meaningful part of the trip for me was truly experiencing God’s creation in its natural beauty,” said Renee Clemensen, who is a Trinity graduate and will be a senior this fall at Davenport Central. “Seeing and helping to restore parts of nature was amazing.”

Brooke Mester, who also is a Trinity graduate and will be a senior at Davenport Central this fall, agrees.

“This trip was an amazing way to get in touch with nature and also a good way to see God’s creation in a relatively pure form,” Brooke said.

Throughout its journey and experiences during its week-long servant trip, this group grew spiritually.