Hello everyone! I know a lot of this will come as a shock to many of you but I am excited to be taking a leap of faith and happy that I am able to share this journey with all of you and why it is that I am doing just that.
So many things within the past couple of months have really impacted me in ways I never thought they could. I had a plan laid out, which included, going to USC, playing water polo, and getting the chance to go to school with my sister again for two years. I thought this was the path I was going to follow for the next 4 years of my life…until all that changed, simply by showing up to school on a particular day. I was in my English class and we were watching a documentary called “The Human Experience” where two brothers go on different journeys, understanding and living like other people do that are not as privileged or struggle daily to meet the basic necessities to get by. While my classmates and I were struggling with what our debt would look like after college or our popularity standings at school or even what we were going to eat at lunch, I realized that while those might be things that we stress about or overthink sometimes, there are people who have nothing, who have nobody…and yet wake up each and every morning with a smile on their face ready to serve God. That is a beautiful thing that touched my heart and at that moment I knew that I wanted to make a difference rather than watch on the side lines and let others change the world. Be the change you wish to see in the world, do not let others do it for you.
Okay, so why explain all of that and not about what got me to the place where I am today? Well, after watching this documentary our class was assigned to research a couple of different opportunities to serve the Lord and my group just so happened to get The World Race. After researching what this program was about and the opportunity to serve, I really felt like it was something I wanted to pursue.
Something amazing is the different and unexpected ways God works in our lives. I ended up completing about half the application before I realized I was a day late and I was crushed. God gave me a second chance by opening another door. An individual from The World Race contacted me a couple days later and offered me to finish the application and submit it that night. I was given a second chance to be chosen for this trip. I had an interview and about a week later I got the call that I was selected to go on this journey. It is a 9-month mission trip to Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, and Cambodia. We travel to these places to help women and children from human-trafficking, poverty in different cities, and many other issues people are dealing with. This is an opportunity for me to serve alongside others and really become independent and strengthen my relationship with the Lord.
I know I will have struggles along way. Leaving my family for 9-months, missing holidays and birthdays, and distant relationships with friends are just a few of those things. But choosing to not miss all those times takes away from the amazing gift of this journey I might never get the opportunity to do again. I hope through this process I learn who I am as a person but also as a child of God and I hope that everyone can support me by following alongside me through this blog and PRAYING for my group and myself as we embark on an incredible journey.
But, like every mission/service trip…it comes with a financial commitment to cover my travel, lodging, food and supplies needed while I’m gone. It is with a grateful heart that I ask that you prayerfully consider donating to my service trip/opportunity. Any amount will help me reach my goal. Your gift is tax deductible and it is my prayer that throughout the days, weeks and months I am gone that you will feel like I am working with and serving God’s children because of your support!
I hope that this clears up some questions of why I feel led to take a leap of faith and trust God through such a crazy time in my life. Can’t wait to start this life changing experience!
In Christ,
Alyse Tyler
Adventures in Missions is a tax-exempt organization under IRS code 501(c)(3) and is a member of the ECFA. (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability). Due to IRS and ECFA regulations governing the administration of tax deductible donations given in support of a particular trip/program, support contributions given on behalf of an individual will be used to offset the costs of the trip/program you are involved in. All contributions are non-refundable regardless of the participant’s success in completing the program.
