One of the most important parts of my grade school life was playing baseball. Just like every normal little league baseball player, I wanted to play in the major leagues. I also knew I was called to be a missionary. My little self combined the two, and I decided to be a missionary in the dugout. I thought it was a good plan until I realized I was not going to make it to the major leagues. I adjusted my plan and decided I would be a missionary at whatever job I eventually took and on trips around the United States. After all, America needs the Gospel just like other countries. I did not want to be a missionary outside of the country. It was scary and I didn’t hear good things that happened to missionaries outside of America. I wanted to be safe and be comfortable. Nothing in me wanted to leave the United States. Maturing in age while pursuing Christ changed my plan even further. It wasn’t until I moved to Louisiana and got plugged into a church that was intentional to send international missionaries that I started to understand more of the calling on my life.
I started attending FBC Longville the summer of 2015, the summer they sent a team to Brazil. It was so cool to know people that would go so far away to serve the Lord. I had only seen missionaries as a special guests at church or stories online. I had not had the chance to be friends with any missionaries, let alone attend the same church as them. Then the next summer, FBC Longville sent a team to New York. We were sending out teams every year, and youth students were going on them. I wanted to go. January 2017 comes around and my youth pastor, Dex, announces a meeting on Wednesday night about a trip to Cuba. The second he said that, I knew was going, and I was not taking no for an answer.
I attended the meeting, got some information, and went home to tell Mom. She wasn’t sold on the idea. I told Mom everyday for over three months “I want to go to Cuba,” and eventually she accepted it. Mom told me that she wasn’t going to let her son leave the country without her, so she decided to come with me.
The fundraising process was difficult. At fifteen years old, $2500 was difficult to come up with. I thank God for all the opportunities He provided me with to raise the money. I pressure washed, helped with bake sales, sold jambalaya, among other things. Friends and family also donated, and I was super thankful for their contributions. Mom and I were able to raise the $5000 we needed together for the trip.
July pops up on the calendar before we know it, and boom, time to go to Cuba. We load up and drive to New Orleans where we spend the night awaiting our flight to Miami and then Cuba. We land in Cuba and are met by Pastor Lestor and our lead translator, Darriul. A feast is thrown and we eat a massive lunch, and it was a perfect welcome to Cuba. I ate some form of rice and beans multiple times a day every day. Safe to say, rice and beans will never taste the same. The hotel was amazing also. We had large beds, hot water, and good meals. It was not uncomfortable in the slightest. The Lord blessed me with the best first mission trip ever.
I remember one night in particular. Our group divided in two and some went to one church while we went to another. It was my first night time church service out of the country. The Cubans were excited to have new guests and we got to sing them the song “What a Beautiful Name” and then Dex preached. However, the greatest part was the end of the service. The Cuban worship team stepped up to close the service in song, but it didn’t end. Song after song was sang as Jesus’ name was lifted high in English and Spanish alike. I don’t know how long it was, but I do know I didn’t want it to end. Looking back I remember dancing with a young girl, people jumping and spinning, some where out of breath, and everybody shouting the glory of the Lord. That night I think I got to experience a small glimpse of what it will be like in heaven. Everybody from everywhere eternally praising God. That night in Cuba is one of my favorite nights I’ve ever had.
My first mission trip to Cuba helped me realize that going out of the United States is what I wanted to do, far from what I had imagined when I was planning to stay home and be comfortable. Cuba was one of the first steps the Lord helped me take in preparation for the World Race. The Lord has been preparing me for this trip my entire life, and it is extremely cool to start to see part of His plan for my life.
