11-year-old Jay girl to go on mission trip to Honduras

JAY – Amy Nauss is looking forward to planting trees in Honduras. She is excited about spreading the Lord’s word.

The 11-year-old will leave Monday for a mission trip that will take her thousands of miles from home. Honduras was hit hard by a major hurricane that devastated its trees, a major resource for the people there, and Nauss wants to help replant the country.

“I feel God wants me to go. I prayed about it … I feel pulled to do it,” Nauss said. “I feel like I need to do things for others and teach them about God.”

Nauss, daughter of The Rev. Roger and Holly Nauss, will first fly to Florida and join other preteens as part of Teen Mission International.

She’ll spend two weeks in an intensive boot camp to prepare her for the conditions in Honduras. She’ll also learn carpentry, masonry and other skills she may need on her trip. And she’ll take classes in spiritual growth, Bible study, evangelism, music, drama and puppetry before she travels to San Pedro Sula in Honduras.

She’ll spend two weeks there planting trees as well as visiting churches to teach people about God. In addition, there will be sightseeing and shopping for souvenirs.

To get in shape to hike the mountains and plant trees, she has walked and biked regularly and even attempted to dig a ditch in the family’s yard for drainage purposes.

Nauss has yet to practice doing her laundry in a bucket, she said.

She chose this particular mission trip because she likes to plant things and help other people.

“It will be a lot of fun even though it will be a lot of work,” Nauss said. But the work doesn’t bother her.

Come Monday, she’ll take her 42 pounds of luggage, including a sleeping bag, and go on her way, leaving her family behind for five weeks. After leaving Honduras, she’ll go back to Florida for debriefing for about a week.

She only has a few things left to pack.

“I’m pretty much bringing all of my stuff, except my stuffed animals and Minew,” her cat, she said.

The home-schooled girl is in the equivalent of sixth grade, she said.

“It is still sort of unbelievable I’m going away for five weeks. I’m not sure if I want time to speed up or slow down.”


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