I heard about Adventures in Missions Gap year program from my sister’s boyfriend, Brandon Coco, who went on the World Race this past year. I really wanted to go on this Gap Year, because I think that I want to pursue a life in Missions.
Missions has become the purpose for my life. Whether I’m in school or a third world country it is my mission to give glory to God, represent Him well, and share my faith with people. I have been on many missions trips with my youth group to places such as: Chattanooga, TN, Rutland, VT, Harrisburg, PA, and Lewiston-Auburn, ME. We went with an organization called Youth Works and participated in varying types of missions. At some locations, we helped in retirement homes, cleared trails at an upcoming park, held kids clubs, and much more. I have also gone with my church oversees to Transnistria, Moldova three times, and plan to go again this year in the spring. There we have been working at the same orphanage for many years doing a Bible program with the kids, similar to a Vacation Bible School. After my first missions trip to Transnistria, I felt God’s calling to go into the missions field, and devote my life to serving Jesus by helping others around the world. I took this new life mission into my school through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, because as Christians we are missionaries wherever we go. I also work at a summer camp called Camp Sankanac, and even though I do earn some money, I am definitely out on the missions field. I am a counselor to about 10 girls each week serving them and sharing God’s word with them.
I want to make sure that missions is really what God is calling me to do before I go and study Christian ministry for four years in college. As I mentioned, I have been on many missions trips, but they have all only been for about 2 weeks at the most. I believe that going onto the missions field for 9 months will really give me a small snippet of being a full-time missionary.
