As I prepare myself over these next few months, my mind has been thinking a lot about what I learned from the last mission trip I took and all of the amazing memories I have from it. I learned an incredible amount about myself, different cultures, community, and so much more. There are so many things I am looking forward to experiencing again and I wanted to share some of them with you. Below are a few of those things…
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Spending every day with an amazing group of people- Last trip, I spent pretty much every moment with the same people for over three months and they quickly became my family. Every day we would eat together, talk, laugh, do ministry, and just overall do life together. We spent the days and nights together, and for someone who is a huge people person, I was thriving. It wasn’t always rainbows and butterflies, but to encounter new things, laugh, cry, and just experience life with like-minded individuals is indescribable.
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Sleeping in weird places or on different things- This might sound a little odd to some people. Like, “Averie you don’t want to sleep in a nice, comfortable bed”. Don’t get me wrong, I love my bed wayyy more than I should. But there is something about sleeping in an eno under the stars or sleeping on the floor with six other people around me talking until the sun comes up that I just love. Sometimes I take my bed and the roof over my head for granted, and i’m excited to get out of my comfort zone in this sense.
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Living out of a backpack- Okay well to be honest, last trip I lived out of a suitcase. But this time i’m excited to have (hopefully) everything I need located in one spot being carried on my shoulders. Not having to worry about all of my worldly possessions just seems so freeing to me. Of course i’m going to miss my own personal things from back home, but i’d trade it all in a heartbeat if that means I can help others.
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Growing in my relationship with God- Every day, even now, I can feel myself growing closer and developing a deeper relationship with God. There is something so different about being on the mission field and waking up every day with the incredible task to simply spread the love of the Lord. I grew so much in my relationship and understanding of God within those months on my last trip. I am ecstatic to experience Him and everything He has in store in this new way again for the next year.
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No wifi or social media- Yeah that’s right, I said it. Words can’t even describe how incredibly freeing it is to not be attached to social media or search for wifi signals every second to get on my phone or laptop. Now this doesn’t mean I still won’t hop on social media every once in a while to update you all. But not being attached every day to it is just so much healthier for me mentally and spiritually.
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Not caring- Okay now this one might not be exactly what you think. What I mean by this is just taking each day as it comes. I can be a worrier at times and I get stressed most of the time just thinking about everything I have to do in the next days, weeks, and months. On the mission field, I was only ever thinking about the here and now. I didn’t have to think about how to pay my bills, getting my school work done, a task at my job, or anything along those lines. Of course I did worry about some things, but it was completely different. I cared about what was going on in the moment and the ministry I needed to do.
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New cultures, people, food, and traditions- Out of everything, this is what I am looking forward to the most. I had such a great time last trip just experiencing Costa Rica’s culture and learning new things. I love to experience this world around me and dive deep into other cultures. This world has so much to offer and I believe everyone has a different story that is just waiting to be shared. I loved learning new languages, eating different but really good food, seeing the new beauty a sunset or mountain could have, meeting new and interesting people, and so much more. And now I get to do it eleven times!!!
I know what some of you guys are thinking, “You could easily do all of this from the comfort of your home Averie”. And while that may be true, there is something to me that is still very different when it comes to going out on the mission field. There is a new sense of vulnerability and learning that you can only experience by going out with the intent of spreading the Word of God and showing others His love. It can, at times, be uncomfortable and challenging. But God says in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of Christ Jesus”. That is what I feel called to do and that is what I most look forward to.
