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Carole Mikita ReportingMore than a hundred young people from around the country are hard at work in Utah, helping the elderly and people with disabilities. They are part of a nationwide, faith-based, workcamp project.
They want to change the world one coat of paint at a time. Traveling from seven different states, these teens, who represent several Christian faiths, simply offer service.
Lauren Thornton, Loveland, Colo: "I wanna be a nurse when I grow up because I enjoy doing it. I love helping people with their needs."
The idea began after a 1976 flash flood in the Loveland, Colorado area killed 140 people. Group Magazine's CEO created the camps.
Gus Waneka, Loveland, Colorado: "I felt bad. I haven't done anything with my life to help anybody. I came out here just to serve Jesus."
Each day during lunch they pause for devotionals.
Their director says, the bottom line here is a growth in spirituality and they share their experiences everyday. They are called 'God Sightings'.
Tom Keene, Director, Group Workcamps Foundation: "We talk about how we see God in other people and things that happens, things that we didn't expect, somebody helping that we didn't expect. Just today, the mailman comes up and talks about his experience at a workcamp."
In less than a week, more than 100 youngsters will paint, fix porches or build wheelchair ramps for 20 homes. This group's client, Emma Bush, nearly 102-years-old, is very grateful.
Emma Bush, Ogden Resident: "You know what? That's wonderful. I told them I appreciated that very much, which I do."
Their leaders say the work gets done and over 90% of the young people say they grow closer to God.
The group arrived Sunday and will leave Saturday. This summer there are 170 youth workcamps in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, with 27-thousand young people participating.
