By STACEY PLAISANCE / L’Observateur / March 29, 1999

RESERVE – Students from Reserve Christian School and other area churches will share their faith with Dutch youth in Amsterdam during a spiritual mission overseas in April.

The Global Strategies Mission Association is sponsoring the trip, which was organized so area youth can have the opportunity to encourage spirituality among the youth of another culture.

“We hope they will have the chance to grow spiritually and share their faith with those who have never heard the gospel and also experience a new culture, because many of these students have never left the United States,” said Susie Bashta, mission trip coordinator.

Susie and her husband Dick will travel to Amsterdam with the group, along with the Rev. Tony Foster, dean of Gulf States Bible College in Baker, andthe Rev. Gerald Daigle of Pierre Part. Dick Bashta is the internationaldirector of GSMA.

The group will interact with youth of the Solid Rock Church in Amsterdam, which is an extension of the Harvest World Outreach Center in Hammond.

The students will participate in evangelistic services and activities such as a battle of the bands and night of cultural exchange. Theme for thecultural exchange program is, “Where Will I Spend Eternity?” Female students will perform mime and street drama in front of the palace at Dom Square, and Reserve’s alternative Christian band, SidsCanoe, will perform during an outdoor concert.

The mission retreat will include visits to area towns such as Volendom, which is an old-fashioned Amsterdam town open for tourists to experience live Dutch history.

With March and April marking the peak of tulip season, the group will also visit various parks and gardens while in Amsterdam.

Cost of the trip is $1,500 per person, and most of the students earned their travel funds through part-time work and fund-raisers, Susie Bashta said.

“They earned most of the money themselves by holding fund-raisers, working concession stands, the hot dog stand at Winn Dixie and babysitting,” she said. Some fund-raiser programs included a volleyballtournament and Parent’s Day Out function.

The $1,500 covers most expenses of the trip including airfare, travel, hotel and food accommodations.

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