Mission trips are nothing new to Sara Page of Liberty. Since eighth grade, the member of Church of Annunciation in Kearney has gone on eight mission trips with her youth group. From Boston to just down the road in Kansas City, Page had attended the trips as a youth member, but this summer provided her first opportunity to travel as a leader.

“I didn’t really know what to expect,” Page said. “I knew I was going to be more of a leader this time and knew they were going to be looking up to me.”

Previously, Page had served as an assistant leader, impressing the youth leaders at Annunciation.

“She is just a wonderful leader all around,” said Elizabeth Madeo, the church youth director. “She is definitely a model youth in any church group, and the kids look up to her.”

Page led her youth group on her third trip in Kansas City at the end of May. The five-day mission was constructed around a theme Page developed herself along with daily devotionals and small group discussions she had planned.

“She pretty much gave the context for the spiritual side of the whole mission trip,” Madeo said.

Witnessing the results of her preparations left strong impressions on Page.

“It was great to see them grow in their faith and really expand their horizons when they were down there,” she said. “Being a leader was really fun and seeing it from an adult perspective made you more responsible.”

From assisting the mentally challenged with a group in Boston to spending a week at an Indian reservation in South Dakota, every trip has strengthened Page’s faith.

“Every mission trip is about service and makes you focus inward. It’s about the relationships and finding God in every situation,” Page said.

On mission trips, the youth are not allowed to have their cell phones or iPods — or even shave — emphasizing their focus on learning from the experience.

“The time is set aside to completely spend with God,” Page said.

From her eight trips, Page believes she has grown to understand the importance of helping others.

“That should be our focus all the time, helping other people,” she said.

Page plans to continue her work with mission trips in college and said plans are already under way to join the church on a trip next summer.

“They’re kind of addicting,” Page said. “It’s not something I can walk away from now.”

Madeo is more than happy to welcome the leader back.

“She is just a great person and a wonderful blessing to Annunciation overall,” Madeo said.

Editorial intern Ryne Dittmer can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 389-6606.