Sophomore starts fundraiser for missions trip

In the midst of school work and extracurriculars, going on worldwide missions trips often gets overlooked in a student’s busy schedule. However, sophomore Camryn Shields plans to make the most of her high school experience and spread her ideals to the people of Haiti.

“I want to go to Haiti because I want to reach out to those in need in a third world country,” Shields said. “My mission is to go and share the good news that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins and that He loves us even when we think no one else does.”

Shields attends Mount Zion Baptist Church, where missions is one of the largest forms of their ministry. She says she loves working with kids and enjoys being able to help and establish a relationship with them and their families.

“While [in Haiti], we will build a house and a bathroom, paint houses, hold a women’s Bible study, have a game and story time with the children and do a teenage girl purity class,” Shields said.

Shields is passionate about her work and believes missions is a great way to spread the word of God. Yet this trip is no easy endeavor. Shields is selling T-shirts to raise money for her trip.

“This is going to pay for a portion of my payment. I felt that [selling the shirts] would also be a good way to show that anyone can help in small ways,” Shields said. “The people who aren’t going on the trip are still helping those in Haiti because they are helping me to raise money so that I can go with my team and physically help out over there.”

The shirts are available in green, pink, blue and purple and are made by Comfort Colors. The front says “Love Haiti.” The back of the shirts don a Bible verse that Shields holds close to her heart.

“The back of the shirt says ‘In all you do, do it not but for men but for The Lord,’ which is Colossians 3:23,” Shields said. “This is a verse that I live by, and by going to Haiti and serving those who need the most love, I feel I am truly serving Him.”

The deadline to purchase a shirt is Friday, Nov. 20 but can be extended based on demand. The shirts are available for $20 in sizes XS to XL and 2XL sizes are $22. For more information, contact Shields at [email protected].