Throughout my life God has instilled a love for missions in me. He has truly broken my heart for what breaks His. I have at times ignored this passion, even tried to avoid it. As the years have passed, I’ve come to believe He is guiding me towards life as a missionary.
The first time I ever realized that people were hurting was in the sixth grade. My mom took me to an event called Church Under The Bridge in Waco, Texas. I remember being so confused. There were so many homeless people. Before that day, I was blissfully unaware that people could be without a place to call home. There were people just living in awful conditions. I just wondered, “Why isn’t anyone doing anything about this? “ I wanted to help them all. It felt as though there was no solution in sight. Many of them Loved God with all their heart and praised his name with such passion. They did this despite not having much to their name. My entire world was turned upside down. My heart was broken, but I felt like I could do something. I should do something. I left with a passion, and a broken heart that I have carried with me ever since.
The following year, my church at the time, went on a spring break mission trip to El Paso. We did a lot of VBS, construction, and more homeless ministry. This mission trip was my first experience with quiet time, and truly listening to what God had to say. I still remember they lessons they taught us. They taught about Burning fervently for the Lord. I learned that God instilled in me this passion for His children. That He was the fire that lights up our entire world and guides us. I felt more connected with God than I ever had before. I understood that the people hurting in every country were God’s children. He loved us all the same. I left that spring break burning hotter for God than I ever had before.
A few years later when I was fourteen, My friend Marisa proposed an idea to me. She wanted to do a mission trip to a foreign nation.This was something neither of us had done before. Despite this, there was no obstacle big enough to stop us from trying. We came up with a plan. Every weekend we’d research trips, and ways to raise money. We ended up coming across an organization formally known as Global Expeditions through Teen Mania. Looking through the trips, we chose the scariest trip we could find. One particular country caught our attention. The disclaimer warned that the trip wasn’t for the faint of heart, and that the nation faced extreme poverty.
We had found our trip. The Philippines was calling our name. With a heart for missions and no job, no car, and no direction; we did the only thing we could. Marisa and I grabbed the biggest jar in her home. We spent all day, everyday we could, going door to door. Simply asking for money and support on our dream. A dream to save lives and travel across the world. A dream to see the worst conditions we’ve ever witnessed in our lives. Unfortunately, Marisa ended up being unable to attend the trip. I was alone for the ride, but I didn’t feel alone or discouraged. I figured God is bigger than my problem, and if he wants me to go He would provide, and He did provide, as he always does. He provided In the form of a wonderful lady I know as Ms. Shay. This amazing lady helped me every step of the way. It took a lot of odd jobs, car washes, online posts, and most importantly, Prayer, but the funds were raised. I was getting ready to go further from home than I had ever been.
Going into the trip. I felt at peace. I was nervous or anxious. I was relieved, and a little excited. When the plane finally touched down on the island, I felt almost as if I was returning to a home I didn’t know I had. The trip grew us in our quiet time and our faith. We spent every morning with God. Prayer was the guiding force of everything we did. It started and finished every activity and day. I learned to listen in the Big things and the small things. We spent a lot of time with children who lived in severe poverty. Someone brought it to my attention that these kids are a picture type for God’s love for us. Many of these kids were covered in dirt and grime. Infections rotted some of their skin, and everywhere smelt awful. However, none of that mattered. How dirty or clean they were didn’t change how we wanted to love them. How we held them. How we spent time with them. In a similar way, we are dirty with sin. Absolutely disgustingly covered with it. God still wants to hold us, He still wants to spend time with us, He still loves us, in spite of it. We are his children. His heart breaks for everyone. He love us all.
I left that trip seeing some of the worst of the world, and feeling the best I had ever felt. I burned fervently for the Lord, and I had direction, and I was sure in my heart that I wanted to be a missionary. At the time, I wasn’t sure what that truly meant, But I knew I wanted it. I wanted to be used by God to change lives in anyway I could. There was this sense of direction in my life that I had never experienced before.
God has lead me on many other smaller trips since then. I have seen many of the worst parts of society. I have witnessed first hand the poverty stricken parts of Mexico, or how drug addiction can tear someone’s life apart. More importantly than that, God has shown me how He can use us to change the world for the better. How He can lead a young pastor to renovate a hospital, and make it a center for drug rehabilitation. How a group of ordinary people can come together and build a home and future for a homeless couple. How a young girl, no older than ten, can spear head the creation of a non-profit. An organization designed to help kids who spend their lives in hospitals.
These trips have helped to shape a lot of my worldview, and I earnestly await to see what God has in store for me on The World Race. Please pray for me as I embark on this next chapter in my life, and I hope you will join me on this adventure God is leading me on.
With Love,
-Josi G
