"SSP has been providing life-changing service experiences for young people for thirty years in which young people learn first-hand the joys of Christian service to others. Most of our projects take place on Indian reservations, where youth spend their days repairing homes and their evenings in worship, discussion and recreation. We also operate a home-repair project in the City of Los Angeles and two home-building projects in Honduras.

We are an independent, interdenominational Christian organization affiliated with the United Methodist Church"http://www.sierraserviceproject.org/




Having worked for SSP for the past two summers, I felt that y'all should know what it's about! SSP is a riot. It's the sleeping on the floor, eating camp food, and running around with 70+ youth all summer long kind of riot.



I applied to SSP on a whim. I had been praying for a job that was both spiritually anchoring, but service oriented. I bombed my interview (oh did I ever), almost skipped my last stage of the process, but again, my performance (initially) would not play a role in this adventure. I was intended to work with this project! I was accepted into the program (by the grace of God?); I shipped myself off to California as the first international player with Sierra Service Projects.

Upon arriving- haha well I was a tad overwhelmed. There were songs to learn, practices to follow, traditions to uphold...and a job to do! We were heading to Owhyee, Duck Valley Nevada. We lived in the MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. If you think you have been to "nowhere," and it wasn't Duck Valley--- stand to be corrected. We lived and worked on a Indian reservation, where if you stood in the middle and chose a direction…you could drive for days…and end up....closer to somewhere, but still no where.
There was one store on the reservation; it was an old fashioned painted red, westerner cafe. It stood proudly across the road from our school, and boasted about it’s Indian Tacos. The tables were covered with plastic checkered picnic cloths, and the wall covered in local rodeos pictures, of the last real cowboys.

As a staff, we ran a camp for hundreds of students, fixed 30 houses on the rez, and managed to fall deeper in love with our Lord, service and each other. Of course, we all got the stomach flu, chased tarps during rain and windstorms, and ordered the wrong color paint. We didn't really sleep, and fought off Flocks of mosquitoes-- but when I ask my staff about Owyhee, that is not what they remember. Funny how it all works out.


Upon returning to SSP, the staffs change, the campers change, the location changes, but the spirit remains. This past summer I has the joy of living and working on the Round Vally Reservation in Covelo, Northern California. We spent nine weeks getting to know our community, loving our campers, unplugging toilets, sleeping outside, inside…where ever there was room, feeding the community with a breakfast program…and reading foolish children’s stories to 16years olds before they fall asleep at night.

hahah...oh how I love it!


This summer I will not be able to attend SSP, because, well I am serving in Korea, however I will be back! Now, I didn't realize how personal this ministry had become to me, until I listened to old staff chat about their new sites, and adventures that they anticipate. I recognize a call in my heart for this type of service. It's simple, based on love--- in my opinion it needs to move north. Perhaps I'll pray about dreaming for God. I believe Canadian Native American reservations could benefit from this sort of service.

Just had to gush...check out the website--it's an incredible program