Andalusia twins Madison and Robert Copeland recently spent three weeks of their summer vacation in the Cayman Islands.

“It’s kind of cool how it happened,” Madison said. “One of our friends had gone before and worked with Cayman Baptist Church and the pastor asked him to bring along some more. He contacted us and said (the trip) would be fully paid for by a donor.”

The friend they went with is a youth pastor in East Moss Point, Miss.

It was the first time the Copelands had left the country.

While they were on the islands, they ministered through two Bible studies on Grand Cayman on Mondays through Thursdays.

“We had the opportunity to minister to a group of new believers,” Robert said. “We also did service projects while we were there.”

On the weekends, they traveled to Cayman Brac, which is a small rural community with about 1,400 people.

“We held youth rallies at small churches with about 40 to 50 people, where about half were youth,” Madison said. “We would speak between the two churches. We would fly back and forth between Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac.”

“It’s very humbling. It’s not about us. We’re just a couple of twins that laugh funny and dress alike,” Madison said.

The twins said that the islands had many of the same amenities that can be found in U.S. cities.

“The islands are like a melting pot for ethnicities,” Madison said. “There are Wendy’s but no Wal-Mart stores.”

Comparatively, Madison said Grand Cayman is a cross between Dothan and Destin.

“And Cayman Brac is like driving up and down Straughn School Road 14 times,” he said. “But, they are very hospitable folks.”

The goal of the mission trip for the Copeland twins was simple, “that many people may come to know Jesus Christ and learn to love him and love one another,” Robert said.

“We want to show the world that Christians aren’t a bunch of un-accepting, stuck- in-our-ways people. We are loving, and want them to come to know Jesus,” Madison said. “This is definitely something we want to do again,”

The two say their passion lies in teaching college ministry and hope to start an active group at their home church, Southside Baptist Church.

“Right now, we’re tossing around ideas,” Madison said. “Our passion is working with youth and college students, which is a blessing,” Robert said.

The twins are 2005 graduates of Andalusia High School, 2007 graduates of BLW Community College and graduated from University of Mobile in 2009 with bachelor’s degree in theology.

“Lord willing, ” they will graduate from the University of Mobile again in May 2011 with a master’s degree in biblical studies. The twins are the son of Betty Sorrells Copeland and the late Robert Madison “Bob” Copeland II.