Hello everyone, I am so sorry it has taken me so long to finally get this first blog out there, but here it is!
There have been a lot of people who have asked me about my mission trip and why I want to go, or they say, “you really want to do that?” in shock. Well the truth, YES, I am so excited and cannot wait to begin this wonderful experience. Let me tell you why I am so excited, and how I got into this.
There are many people who don’t know this, and I hid it for a long time because I thought I was supposed to LOVE college. Guess what? I didn’t, maybe it was the location, maybe it was the school itself, maybe it was the classes, or maybe it was because that’s not where I was supposed to be at the time. That got me thinking, at first, I was like no, it’s me, I need to make this work and stick it out. It took me falling to a low point and being so unhappy that I finally realized yeah, maybe it was me. I then realized I was chasing my plans instead of the plans God has for me.
Here is how the story goes, I was sitting at my desk in my dorm room working on homework, I was then distracted because my phone rang. Since I was already distracted I thought it was a wonderful time for a break, so I played on my phone. An advertisement popped up on my phone and it was Adventures in Missions, and I knew a little about this organization because I have a friend who is on the 11n11 World Race right now. I went to the website and clicked on my age group and there it was, the World Race Gap Year program, it felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I felt so many different emotions and, in that moment, I knew that God was calling me, but then I started second guessing “Am I too late they leave in September?”, “How am I going to raise the funds?”. Then it hit me, when God calls, you go, if it is His will then it will be done.
I went home that weekend and told my parents I was applying to go on a Mission around the world and that I was going to be living out of a backpack. They at first thought maybe I was joking, and told me I needed to be sure of this that it was a big commitment. I told them I was sure, and that I was applying. My parents then told me they would support me no matter what, and that they were praying for me. That Tuesday I had a phone interview, and that same week on Friday at about 4:50, I received a call saying they were offering me a spot in the program and that I had been accepted. I cried, I was so overjoyed and full of excitement I wanted to tell everyone, and anyone who would listen.
So, there it is the story on why I applied, but why would I want to do this you ask?
I have been on mission trips before, yes, they may have only been one week at a time, but they were still so life changing. On every mission trip I have ever been on I have experienced something that just hits me hard. I love that feeling it is so eye opening and refreshing. I not only get to help other people, but I get to better myself and my relationship with God in the process. I love helping and serving others, and the thought of being able to help people while serving our most glorious God for nine months made me feel ecstatic. I get to minister and talk to people all over and hear their stories and share mine and the thought just amazes me.
I am so excited for this experience and cannot wait to share more about myself, and the journey ahead of me. Thank you all for your time, prayers, and donations!
