So sometime about 6-8 years ago, I was attending Grace Fellowship Church and they began talks about taking a mission trip to El Salvador. I was very intrigued but as time went on, I just lost all interest and pushed it to the back burner. Upon return, the team from that trip shared their experiences and it all sounded pretty amazing but I still wasn’t convinced that I wanted to go.
The following year came around and plans were being made to go back and once again I was interested and this time even contemplated signing up. As time grew closer to going, things fell through and I didn’t end up going. The team had another incredible experience and I was sad to not be there with them. Upon closer inspection of my motives for wanting to go, I realized that they were strictly for my own selfish desires. I didn’t feel that I was “ready” to go be used by God. Even more selfish of me.
Fast forward several years to late 2011 and I am now attending Pine Street Baptist Church. They are also a very mission-minded Church and shortly after I began attending there, I got involved with helping out in the Youth Ministry. A short time later, talks began to arise about a mission trip for the youth to Peru. I was immediately interested and signed up right away. If I had learned anything from the first time around it was that I just needed “to go” and not worry about anything else.
During the process of preparing and getting ready for the trip, we found out that there had been some conflict with the missionaries in Lima so we wouldn’t be able to go. We were all very sad and distraught when God dropped another opportunity in the lap of our youth minister Nub. Him and his wife had been to Guatemala a few years earlier and fell in love with the country. Out of nowhere, a trip to there popped up that just happened to be the same dates as our Peru trip. He knew that he would always go back, but didn’t know when. This unlikely chance for him to go back could not be passed up. We quickly made preparations and on July 22, 2012 a group of about 15 of us set out.
It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I was so thankful that I was able to go. I knew that I would be going back and as soon as I found out that we had plans to go back the following year, I was in! We returned on June 16, 2013 and once again it was incredible. God had wrecked my heart for missions and gave me a desire to continue His work in some form or fashion. Its because of the beautiful country of Guatemala that I have now been on the mission field for 10 months of The World Race.
Its been about a year and a half since that desire was conceived and pressed upon my heart. On monday morning at 6am, i will begin the short bus ride back to where it all began for the last leg of this amazing journey. I wouldn’t be where I am without all the support I have received this year. Words won’t suffice for the thanks that I owe so many people. I am truly grateful for the work that the Lord has done in my life over the years so that I may be where I am at today.
I am not certain of my internet situation next month so I decided to write this blog now. 30 more days, see you soon America!
