Courtesy photo

ROCKLAND, Maine — Aldersgate United Methodist Church of Rockland recently hosted a youth group from Hilltop United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, S. D. The group of 34 students, ages 12 to 18, had never

been to the east coast and had never seen an ocean. They arrived around 10 p.m, on a Saturday, had snacks, played games and slept in sleeping bags spread around the sanctuary.

The next morning breakfast was prepared for them, after which they stowed their gear in three vans, set up chairs for morning worship and left for Mt. Battie in Camden, a boat trip around Camden Harbor and a walk on the Rockland breakwater to the lighthouse.

The youngsters are on a mission trip to Camp Mechuwana in Winthrop, a church camp run by the Methodist Churches in Maine. Their goal is to reshingle the roof of one of the buildings, and dolandscaping and painting.

Similar mission trips from Hilltop UMC have been to Alaska, Mexico, and Rosebud Indian Reservation in

South Dakota.