Maggie- “I went on my first mission’s trip when I was 12 yrs old to Mexico with my youth group. It was the first time I saw poverty and it made a huge impact on my life to see what others’ normal is and to realize we are kind of in our American bubble. I also noticed how they were so happy and family oriented and Americans can have it “all” and still suffer from depression and just not be happy! I liked helping the unfortunate and having the opportunity to depend on God and not be so distracted. God set a fire in me then to do missions long term and to just have a heart for people! All people! I believe when we are here this is our mission field! It’s the everyday conversations we have- giving encouragement! Being bold when we need to! Telling people about the Jesus of the Bible- not an Americanized image we’ve made Him to be here.”
“I went to Romania when I was 14 yrs old with a team with priority one ministries. I was on a team. I loved being on a team. You have a community with you that is going through the same thing, who will hold you accountable, and who share the same passions for the people you are serving and for our Lord, Jesus! I have been to Romania 3 times and the last time I was there for 4 months alone. I stayed in a children’s home. I probably learned the most there, but it was also the hardest. I’m so thankful to now have a husband and to be going with a team to have the community.”
“God has given me a heart for the lost! I am so burdened that there are those who are deceived and who are dying and going to hell when there is a loving God who gave up His life for them! I pray daily to be loving and bold enough to tell them about Him! I also have a heart for orphans- would like to maybe have a children’s home one day 😉 Have a heart for the boys and girls in sex trade. (I learned in Romania quickly, that it is boys and girls). For widows, poor, hungry, and sick. Our prayer is that after this trip we will know where we feel called long term!”
“I heard about the world race through a friend who was going on it and thought it sounded awesome! I got married to a wonderful man of God and we just started praying and asking God to confirm it. He has opened all the doors, so here we are!”
(Last trip to Romania at the children's home)
Drew- "As a child I moved around a lot. My family and I moved from house to house constantly, so from a young age that sense of change and excitement was instilled in me. I loved to move around and experience new cultures, places, and people. However, this did not help when it came for me to decide on a career path to follow for the rest of my life. I was all over the board. I’m not a very conventional guy anyway, so an 8-5 was not high on my priorities. I asked God on many occasions what He would have me do and it always seemed that He never answered me (or I just wasn’t listening). So I tried everything. From a degree in Film to ski-bum (those might go hand in hand… I’m not sure?) and everything in-between. I searched but could never find where I was called. Here was my problem; I wasn’t fully submitted to the Lord!"
"I have this problem of trying to take every situation into my own hands and trying to solve it by myself. He wasn’t going to use me when I was so closed off to everything He had to say to me. Then one glorious night when I was on my hands and knees before God, uncontrollably crying and pleading with Him to help me, He came. He revealed to me what a total mess I had been and how much we can screw things up when we try to do things ourselves instead of relying on the Lord. Not long after that he gave me verse Genesis 12:1 “… Leave your fathers household and go to the land I will show you.” At that time I was living with my dad (which I had never done before), so that was huge for me. I prayed a lot and thought God was telling me to leave the USA, so I planned to pack a backpack and head to Europe. Now this time was very special to me. I spent a lot of time in the Word and growing close to God. Throughout those months he really showed me how He intently cares and provides for me. Yet even when I came back I still felt as if I missed something. I slowly began to realize how selfish I was being. Only looking out for my best interest and not caring for others as I should be. God calls us to help the widow and the orphaned and to spread His Word to all the nations. Finally this small ideation that had been there all along in the back of my mind came out. That’s me!!! I need to do that. I’m called to do that.
I believe that verse He gave me was not only for a trip to Europe to grow closer to Him, but this World Race. I’m praying and believing that He will show me where I ultimately need to be for His greater purpose. I want to be in God’s perfect will."
God then brought a beautiful woman into my life and turns out that she has the same desires to serve our God as I do. So we got married, prayed a lot for this trip, and here we are today. On the brink of this exciting time of allowing God to work in us and through us to do what He has called us to do.
(Backpacking through Europe a few years ago, just Jesus and me 😉
How We were called to the Mission field
