[Editor's Note: This article is from the October issue of the monthly online newsletter distributed by Arborlawn Student Ministries. See the subscription link here.]
Our October Newsletter features Mike Trinka, one of our adult volunteers. A constant presence in the life and happenings of Student Ministries, Mike has been with us since our beginning in 2005. Mike has always attended Sunday night youth activities - he has fulfilled several roles including playing his guitar and singing as worship leader, being an adult volunteer, organizing games, and, currently, serving as a small group leader.
Mike is one of the Sunday night small group leaders for our senior boys. Mike has spent Sunday evenings with this group since they were in eighth grade - the past five years. During that time, he has helped them mature from teenagers to young men, sharing his humor, wisdom and time with them each week. While they love his lessons and actively participate, their favorite thing about Trinka might be the delicious desserts he brings to class! Frozen ice cream pie and sopapilla cheesecake are among their favorites!
Most famously, Mike along with his wife Jenni have worked hard in the kitchen every summer on senior high mission trips. From hand rolled enchiladas to pulled pork to enough banana puddin' to feed an army... adults and students alike look forward to what the Trinkas will serve up next.
Victoria Briscoe has seen him in many facets of Student Ministries. She has this to say: "I have a distinct memory of Mike Trinka during one specific Sunday night youth several years ago. He planned group games for us back then, and this particular night, his game involved oranges, panty hose, and one's head. He demonstrated that we were to put the orange in the bottom of a panty hose leg, stick our head into the opening of the hose like a mask, and swing the orange around by moving your neck and upper body in a circle in an effort to tag other orange and panty-hosed people. It might sound strange (and it was), but this was such an entertaining, fun, and memorable game that Mike was very enthusiastic about. This simple memory of seeing Mike with panty hose smooshing his face and walking around swinging an orange around his neck represents a lot about who Mike Trinka is - a faithful man, always ready to serve others, always giving 100% of his energy for those around him, a respectable role model to our youth, and an all around fun guy."
Thank you Mike for all you do for our students! You are so appreciated.
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