DUNCAN —
After months of fundraising for a mission trip to Africa, 17-year-old Shelbi Neufeld suddenly found herself stripped of all $700 she had planned to take with her.
Working through an organization for teen mission trips called Global Missions, the Marlow High School senior set out to meet with the rest of her group in Texas before leaving together for Africa. The night before her flight, Neufeld’s room that she occupied with three other girls was ransacked, leaving her with no money.
Frightened and upset, Neufeld called her mom who just happened to be in the company of her daughter’s youth group from Immanuel Baptist Church and told them of the disaster. Within that one evening, the group raised $1,600 to replace the money she had lost.
“I was freaked out but God came through,” said Neufeld. “I’m so thankful.”
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the only road block Neufeld hit before her travels. She had left her yellow fever card at home, an item that was necessary for travel to Africa. But again, things worked out when her parents were able to overnight Fedex the card to her.
“It all happened the same day and I thought I would have to go home,” she said.
While Neufeld had previously been on mission trips within the states, this was her first overseas trip. She was glad to have the company of one of her best friends within the group that left on July 7 and returned Aug. 2.
What she experienced was a bit different than what she imagined the trip would be and it took her a while to have it sink in that she was in another country.
Despite the strange smells and huts that sat across from her hotel, it wasn’t until she interacted with the children of schools and orphanages the mission was working with that Neufeld realized the difference.
“It hit me the second week we were there,” she said. “This little girl was talking to me about how she’d been through rape and war. It was heartbreaking.”
The mission was to go into schools and orphanages to witness to the children about God. Because they couldn’t go in straight to that subject, they began their time by talking about abstinence and leading into a conversation about faith.
“We were like rockstars to them and it was awesome,” said Neufeld.
“They were always wanting to give us gifts and hold our hand or pray with them and they were so open.”
Neufeld said there were two main lessons she took away from the experience. One stems from the trouble she ran into in the beginning and the second, from the time spent with the African children.
“I learned to never lose faith because I thought I’d have to go home but He pulled through,” said Neufeld. “Also, to not be selfish because (the African kid’s) rich is our poor.”
Despite the homesickness she felt each night, when she was with the children, Neufeld said she didn’t feel it but when the time came to fly home, she was ready. However, she said two days after being back home, she wished she were still in Africa.
Similar mission trips are something she plans on doing again, and soon.
“I want to go to Baja, Mexico, this December and this time I want to take my brother,” she said about brother Kirby, a junior at MHS.
“We are really close and I think it would be good for him.”
As far as the money that was raised and gifted to her, Neufeld only spent $700 of it. The rest she gave to the schools and orphanages and $400 of it went to a Women’s Clinic in Africa.
She also purchased wristbands for the youth group, which she handed out at a gathering where she expressed her gratitude and shared her experience.
“I cried and then I said they did amazing,” she said. “If it hadn’t been for everyone, I would have had to start over.”
Features
Related Photos
-
Shelbi Neufeld takes a photo with some of the children she worked with on her mission trip to Africa this summer. Photo Submitted
-
Shelbi Neufeld is surrounded by almost 200 kids as she plays a game with them during a mission trip to Africa. Photo Submitted
Teen’s mission presents challenges, joys
Shelbi Neufeld robbed, rewarded and ready to do it again
- Features
-
-
Katrina Elam shares background on AI’s Kree’s new single 'All Cried Out'
Moments after American Idol 2013 season 12’s Kree Harrison finished performing her new single, “All Cried Out” during the finale show Thursday, a former Bray resident let her friends know just how proud she was of the moment.
-
Heartbeat Studio concludes season with princess theme
Four seniors are among the 57 dancers with Heartbeat Dance Studio from throughout Stephens County who participated in their annual recital Sunday.
-
Taking careers to the classrooms
Recognizing the need for students to learn about the variety of careers offered, several area professionals visited school classrooms Thursday as part of Career Day.
-
Duncan’s Laura Leighe finding fun with newest EP release
For those looking for some upbeat music, look no further than The Laura Leighe EP which was released in January after a year of work for this Duncan native who now lives in Edmond.
-
Church briefs
Area church briefs for Friday, April 5, 2013.
-
March 22 Church Briefs
Editors note: These are the correct church briefs for Friday, March 22 edition of The Duncan Banner. They were not published in today's paper. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused our readers.
-
Chisholm Trail Heritage Center promotes Youth Art Month
Designing your own pair of sunglasses may be just a dream to some but for a few area youths, they were able to do just that to celebrate Youth Art Month Oklahoma.
-
Bosworth’s movie promo tour begins in Duncan
To most, he was known as “The Boz,” the high-flying, mohawk wearing, controversial linebacker who was forever entrenched in Oklahoma football lore when he helped bring the Sooners a national title in 1986.
-
'Blues' show brings fun
While one performer Saturday night glued on sideburns and created a nose out of putty and wax, the other got dressed. After adorning black suits and slapping on Raybans and fedoras, the pair were transformed into their onstage personas as the Briefcase Blues.
-
Film looks at value of ag land
“Losing the West” tells the story of land that was once wild and tamed only by ranchers and farmers who understood its necessity to society, yet is now being taken over by urbanization.
- More Features Headlines
-
Katrina Elam shares background on AI’s Kree’s new single 'All Cried Out'
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
