PERU – Tyler and Matt Colpitts aren’t the Blues Brothers, but they are brothers (twins, even) and will soon be “on a mission from God.”

The Colpitts, and their friend Jeff Fuller, will depart later this month to conduct humanitarian work with their respective mission groups in Haiti and Ecuador.

“I can’t wait,” Matt said.

He and Tyler were scheduled Saturday to travel to a place about 20 miles outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where they’ll help build a sidewalk, work at Vacation Bible School, show movies and conduct open-air evangelism. The Colpitts’ group of 10, half of whom are adults, was organized by Evangelistic Projects International (EPI). The mission will last 10 days.

On June 30, Jeff is headed to Quito, Ecuador, with 566 others. They will perform a variety of tasks, from putting on plays to giving medical aid. Jeff will minister one-on-one in the evenings, but his daytime participation will center around skateboard demonstrations in Quito’s skate park.

Jeff was chosen for the skateboarding assignment, along with 11 others, based on a resume and videotape that his father helped him produce.

Jeff is pleased his talents can be used to help others during the two-week visit. “I think I can reach a section of kids through skateboarding that a lot of adults and other people wouldn’t be able to necessarily reach otherwise,” Jeff said.

Jeff anticipates it will be a challenge to navigate the all-cement walls and ramps in Quito’s park as well as riding at the 9,000 feet above sea level.

“I skied in Colorado a couple of years ago,” he recalled. “The first day’s going to be kind of interesting.”

All three 16-year-olds have been away from home before, but none have been on a mission trip or out of the country.

For Matt and Tyler, their biggest concern was not world turmoil but the projected lack of sleep on the trip down to Haiti. Jeff was also worried about the amount of peanut butter he’d be eating while in Equador (each member in his group was asked to bring some along; he figures that’s for lunch).

Realistically, the teens are aware of the dangers of traveling to Third World countries. All have received the required immunizations, and arrangements have been made to ship drinking water to Haiti.

Missionary work has been commonplace for the Colpitts family. Marilee Colpitts, the twins’ mom, participated in a mission trip to Kodiak Island, Alaska, when she was 19, and her brothers, sister, and father have also worked as missionaries. The twins’ uncle, Philip Eyster, president and founder of EPI, has spent time in Haiti, as has Marilee’s father.

As for monetary support, the families’ church, Fayette Baptist Church, donated approximately 60 percent of the costs. The rest came from friends, family and church members in response to letters sent by the boys earlier this year. The tremendous outpouring of support has encouraged the teens’ commitment.

“The idea of helping kids that don’t have a lot is an exhilarating feeling,” Jeff said. “If we could make two kids feel better, that’s worth the trip.”

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