Bethel Lutheran Church is located in the Highland Meadows neighborhood on Northwest Highway, just east of Jupiter Road.

Church members are gearing up for their 12th annual Garage Sale on March 26th, with the proceeds earmarked entirely for this year's youth mission trips.

One of the trips will take 10 teens and two chaperons to the small fishing village of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, a 4.2 square mile city with a population of 2,725.

Film buffs might note that Bayou La Batre was the home of Benjamin Buford "Bubba" Blue in the movie Forrest Gump. Another interesting fact: the pirate ship in Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl and the Cornelia Marie of Deadliest Catch fame were both built at one of the family owned shipyards there.

But the reason the Bethel crew will head to Bayou La Batre has more to do with the fact that over 35% of those 2,725 folks are under the age of 18 and living at the poverty level.

The devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 made their lot yet more difficult. The goal of the mission trip is to help residents with home repairs.

"Our group went to Bayou La Batre the summer after Katrina," explains Cassie Schermbeck, who heads up Bethel’s Youth Ministry.

"The people whose houses we worked on were so incredibly hospitable! The residents we were helping spent possibly everything they had to go to the docks in the early morning to introduce our kids to fresh crab for lunch. And they had such stories to tell."

"Our young teens tried everything and listened with respect. They learned so much and they truly connected with these good people, and the kids can’t wait to immerse themselves in this community over the summer."

While the Bethel teens will be employing manual labor skills down in the bayou, about 10 of the Bethel middle school aged kids will be spending a week at Lutheran Camp Chrysalis in the hill country, just south of Kerrville.

In organizing these mission trips, Cassie works with a group called YouthWorks.

"I love how intentional YouthWorks is about protecting the dignity of those we serve. They do a great job connecting the kids to the local community, working with the community, not just in the community. They work with local organizations year after year and help us become a part of the larger picture. So it’s not just about one week of service."

Because Bayou La Batre is a two-day road trip requiring a rented bus and lodging along the way, the cost per kid will be approximately $300. For the Lutheran Camp Chrysalis kids, it’s a $330 price tag for the week.

While the families of the kids are willing to pay, some simply can’t afford the entire amount.

The answer? A garage sale.

Cassie believes that along with raising money, the garage sale is a ministry to the community itself.

"We offer quality goods – used, obviously – at very low prices, and hope and pray that blesses local families."

When she sent out an email blast to the Bethel congregants asking for a donation to cover the cost of a storage unit to hold accumulated items prior to the sale, within an hour the unit was secured. And not being one to shirk, Cassie’s monthly tithe went to the February rent.

Donations for the sale are being accepted daily.

Items available will include lots of clothing for adults, kids and babies, books, music, furniture, and a huge area dedicated to working electronics. You can pick up a complete working computer system, printer and all, cheap!

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The sale will be held in the Bethel gym on Saturday March 26th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Bethel Lutheran Church is located at 11211 E. Northwest Highway.

For more information about the garage sale, or the upcoming Bethel Youth Mission Trips, contact Cassie Schermbeck at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call the church office at 214.348.0420.