Although small in size, Shelterwood stands out as a boarding school that cares for its community. Shelterwood hopes to teach teens the value of community and the importance of caring for others by finding ways to give back to those in need. Every six to eight weeks we set aside our regular programming and ask Shelterwood students and staff to work in a voluntary capacity for five days. We help build homes for the under-privileged, serve food at the local soup kitchen, fold clothes at a thrift shop, or work to clean local parks. Helping teens grow means teaching them how to serve others and we make an effort to lead by example.
For those students that would like to take service and care for others to a deeper level, we also provide an opportunity to go to a foreign country and serve. These mission experiences have a strong spiritual component and therefore remain voluntary. At Shelterwood, we find that even the most hostile of students have an interest in caring for others when they see a legitimate need. We want to give our students the opportunity to help others and find the motivation for this care through their love of Jesus. In past years, we have spent time in Rwanda, Mexico, and Haiti caring for orphans and providing them with food, playing games together, teaching Bible stories, and trying to share the love of Jesus. These trips have made a lasting impression on the teens of Shelterwood and help deepen their appreciation, love and commitment to their families and to Jesus.
More Info
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Parents respond to Haiti trip
Shelterwood Parent Comments...
“Jake will never be the same from having been in Haiti with this team....thanks for leading!”
“I want to thank you personally for all you have contributed to Nick's journey... not just the one to Haiti, but to his acceptance of the fact that God created him with a purpose in mind... and to his belief that it's a good one! Thank you for your support of our family on this very long and rocky road, for your prayers on our behalf, and most of all for never giving up on us as family nor on our son as a man. We believe in miracles because we've lived a few! We pinch ourselves in light of the constant reminders that we are never too far for God to reach us and that He is in the business of restoring the years the locusts have eaten.”
“I’m not sure of what I’m all feeling right now, except that it’s making me weep and laugh at the same time! Nick holding that little girl just slays me. I can only repeat my wife’s message. We are humbled, grateful, and can’t wait to see the whole gang next week!”
“Thanks so much for the wonderful pictures of Drew on the Haiti Trip, I guess it is time for me to end the pitty party I've been on wondering if I did the right thing by sending him to Shelterwood. I know now that this is the best experience that he will ever have in his life and that he is really happy.”
“THANKS so much for this good report! We see compassion ministry in Jake's destiny; your missional leadership and Shelterwood's emphasis on relationships have been powerful in Jake's spiritual formation!”
“Thank you so much for sending this! I am in tears of joy and awe of what God did and is doing in Romans life. I think that it was a miracle that he even went! Thank you, thank you, thank you for trusting Roman and allowing him to go! Thank you for the pictures; look how happy he looks. This is our Roman. This is a blessing.”
Posted by John DeVries on 04/28 at 11:20 AM
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Shelterwood returns from Haiti
We returned home Monday night from our Haiti trip. It was truly an unbelievable time. We took 12 Shelterwood students and 7 bigs and staff. My oldest son Kage also came along as well as Phil Baldwin and his wife DeeDee and Todd Ellett’s wife Angela. Trace led the group along with Jerry Siglar a volunteer with the Global Orphan project. We had 25 total traveling. Playing with and caring for the orphans down there was a life changing experience. The Go Project is doing such a stellar work down there in the midst of almost unspeakable conditions. They support the locals down in Haiti to provide great care for the kids in their charge. Trace and Jerry along with Jake and Wes, the two guys who work for the GO project and live in Haiti, really inspired and loved our Shelterwood kids well. Phil, nurse DeeDee, and Angela were amazing and were a joy to be around. As for our SW team we shed many tears, not of pity, but of joy. The orphans touched our hearts. One Shelterwood girl made a commitment for Christ for the first time and there were several who recommitted to Jesus! God is Good! All of the Shelterwood students did a great job and I couldn’t be more proud of them. This is what the ministry is all about. Giving struggling teenagers a chance to get their lives back on track through the Love of Jesus and to encourage them to live their lives for Him. Not being defined by the past. Please pray for them in the weeks to come. Coming back to the states is a hard adjustment after such a mountain top experience. They will face many obstacles but their lives will never be the same. From the bottom of my heart I love them all and consider it a great privilege to serve them.
God Bless
Brad
Shelterwood President
Posted by John DeVries on 04/28 at 11:19 AM
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Haiti Video
Check out this fantastic VIDEO of our Shelterwood experience in Haiti.
Posted by John DeVries on 04/28 at 11:13 AM
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Shelterwood goes to Haiti
On Friday..... We began at 6:30 am with devo. We then helped the house mommas do the kids laundry (by hand in buckets of soapy water), the girls gave the house mommas mani pedi's, we went for a hike in the hills above the orphanage, we learned how to eat fresh mangoes, we traveled to another orphanage and played basketball, soccer, jump rope, drove back through a village of unimaginable poverty, played with the orphans some more, had a soccer game with the kids on the dirt field, listened to the orphans choir practice (they sang like angels. Not a dry eye to be seen), dinner, wrapping it up with the bead ceremony (we will tell you all about it later!) and glorious conversation. Unbelievable.
I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.
Posted by John DeVries on 04/28 at 10:58 AM
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Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Where is Batman?
Teens ! You gotta love em. They never cease to impress me with their energy and love of life. Finding new ways to make us as staff laugh and enjoy our time with them.
Posted by John DeVries on 03/15 at 12:16 PM
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A Powerful Influence
Sometimes when you help out your fellow man you feel like Superman!
Work can be fun sometimes especially with creative and energetic teens.
Posted by John DeVries on 03/15 at 12:13 PM
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Haiti Mission Trip (2011)
Shelterwood is sending 20 staff and students to Haiti on a trip to restore hope. Teaming up with the organization 'Go Project', we will arrive April 14 in Port au Prince, Haiti and spend five days serving children orphaned by the recent earthquake.
The focus of the trip is simple - help children recover and rejoice again. Activities will include playing games, singing songs, and making crafts but most of all they hope that the children experience lots of love through hugging and holding. The simple act of loving these children is critical to their health and gives them hope. The team will also carry down clothing, shoes and other supplies that will be distributed to orphanages throughout Haiti.
Posted by John DeVries on 03/15 at 12:00 PM
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Remodel Lives and Homes
Sometimes it is fun to hit something... in a constructive way.
Posted by John DeVries on 03/15 at 11:59 AM
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Building Crew
The guys love to build. We visited a local build project helping them clean up a broken down home.
Posted by John DeVries on 03/15 at 11:56 AM
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Lend a Hand
Working together can be surprisingly fun. Shelterwood staff, mentors, and students jump into action when people in our community need a hand.
Posted by John DeVries on 03/15 at 11:52 AM
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Thrift Store Support
We went to Second Hand Thrift Store in Kansas City which is part of City Union Mission. The first part of the day we were out on the floor organizing and straightening clothes, hats, shoes, movies, albums, and other items. The second part of the day we were in the back sorting through linens - throwing out the bad, folding and labeling the good and preparing them to go out on the floor. The girls worked hard and we had a lot of fun!
Posted by John DeVries on 03/15 at 11:10 AM
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