TEEN MISSIONARIES FROM AREA TO WORK IN PARIS FOR TWO WEEKS

SCOTT CITY -- Two weeks in Paris may sound like a dream vacation, but teenage missionaries headed to France today plan on hard work.

A group of 17 teenagers, including three from Scott City, will help launch a new Assembly of God church in Paris. They leave this morning for a two-week stay in the "City of Lights."

John McHaffie, youth pastor at the First Assembly of God Church in Scott City, said the youth missionaries will be doing miming, clowning, puppetry, acting and singing in Paris' city parks.

McHaffie is leading the group for an organization call Ambassadors in Mission, or AIM. Teenagers involved in the mission work come from across the country.

It's not a two-week holiday; only one day of sightseeing is on the itinerary.

"Every day we will be in a different park passing out literature and Bibles," McHaffie said. "Every night will be a service at the church, and we'll be highly involved. It's a revival of sorts."

Brad Smith, 17, of Scott City, is one of the teenagers headed to France. "It sounded like something fun to do and also something to do for the Lord," he said.

Smith said he's been told that Christians in France are looking forward to the enthusiasm a group of American high school students will bring.

"We have a bunch of mime skits and dramas. We plan to work towards kids too with puppets," Smith said.

Teenagers respond by application and were selected by the national organization to participate in a number of different mission trips planned by the organization each summer.

Each child pays his or her way -- $1,600 for the trip to Paris. Most raise the money through car washes or odd jobs.

Christi Shaw, 14, of Scott City, is the youngest member of the team.

"My main purpose is to expose Paris to Christ and what he can do for them," said Shaw.

"When I think about mission work, it's not really that you have to go to a foreign country to do it. I could do it right here if I wanted to," she said. But a chance to travel to Paris was appealing.

Shaw has experience doing skits and clowning in her Scott City church. She also sings. "People do respond, very much so," she said.

Sara Doria of Scott City is also participating.

Jennifer Gray, 17, of Festus, has planned on a mission trip for years. "My sister went on one and I saw the results. I expect to see souls saved for Jesus," she said.

She said that her own life will likely be changed. "It's not a vacation for me whatsoever. I do not expect to come back the same person I left," Gray said. "I think my eyes will be opened to so many things."

McHaffie was in Paris in August doing similar missionary work. Paris is home to 13 million people.

"Most people think of a third world country when they think of missions," he said. "But Paris is considered the occult capital of the world. It's a beautiful city, but a lot of things there are not pure. We have lots of work to do."