Q 1: Can you
describe the Amazon mission a bit more – maybe some of the things it does, the
lives it touches?
A 1: The trip is to the city of Nauta, Peru, located on the
Amazon River, and surrounding areas. We
will be partnered with an American contact who has been living and working in
the region for over five years. Adventures in Mission’s main goal is to bring
the kingdom of God to wherever its missionaries are. With that in mind, the
trip is tailored to the needs of the local people and effective ways to reach
them. We will likely do Vacation Bible School, Evangelical Outreach, preaching
in churches, and training and equipping local Christians to further the spread
of the Gospel. We may also do manual labor for those in need, sports
evangelism, orphan outreach or feeding the poor. We will seek to be the hands
and feet of Jesus to those we meet, through structured activities as well as
where God leads us to meet needs.
Within these activities, however, my main goal is to be a
leader and discipler for the students God has entrusted me with. As one of three leaders, I will be
responsible for cultivating an open, loving environment for the students. While
there will be many needs we can seek to meet on this trip, my primary focus is
on the students and seeing them come alive in their identity in Christ and
their purpose in bringing the kingdom of God to wherever they are.
Q 2: What are your goals for this
mission trip?
A 2: My goals for this trip are to pour into the lives of
the students on the trip, grow in my leadership abilities, learn and practice
the discipline of discipleship, and love those we meet, giving them an
encounter with the love of Jesus in each interaction. I will have the
opportunity to serve the students as one of their leaders, to love and
encourage them so they are equipped to pour out into the community we are
serving in, and to love selflessly. Though many people have told me they see
leadership potential in me, I have not been given many opportunities to practice.
I am excited for these three weeks to live out what I have learned and
experienced, and to lead these students as God leads me. I am passionate about
seeing these students learn and live in their identity in Christ, and the
freedom this provides.
I am also looking forward to loving the locals we meet and
work with, especially the kids. On my previous trips to Latin America, there
have always been a couple of kids who will completely steal my heart. I imagine
that happening again.
Q
3: How does this mission reflect the love of Jesus, and His call for us
to share his love?
A 3: The primary goal is to love all those we meet. There is
a line in the song “Changed” by Aaron Niequist that says, “We’ve been empowered
to love the world to heaven.” I love that idea. Through Jesus, we are loved and
cleansed and empowered to love others. The love of Jesus is manifested in many
ways-through awakening people to their identities and freedom in Christ,
through feeding the orphans, the widows and the poor, to caring for the
addicted and broken, and through sharing love with people every day-random acts
of kindness and generosity, and selfless giving of resources, including time. I
see this trip as an opportunity to live empowered in the love of Christ, to
lead the students into the same empowerment through the grace and love of
Jesus, and to love all those we meet in such a way that brings the kingdom of
God to them and shows them a new life of love, grace, freedom and truth.
4. What are your expectations for
this trip? Do you have other needs for this trip (including financial)?
I expect to see God move in new ways, and to see my students
become more aware of who they are in Christ and how they can impact their
world. I expect to grow in my servant leadership abilities and in my
relationship with the Lord. I expect to be changed to look more like Christ and
refined in my calling and next steps.
My needs for the trip are pretty simple. They boil down to
prayer support, financial support and encouragement. I need to have a solid
prayer team for this trip, that I know will be lifting us up to the Lord daily-that
we would be hearing from God on what to do, that we would lead in wisdom and
grace, that the hearts of those we meet will be soft, and that the love of
Jesus will be at the core of all our motivation and action.
In terms of financial support, the trip cost is $1875. This includes
roundtrip airfare from Atlanta to Peru, room and board, and transportation
costs. It does NOT include roundtrip airfare from California to Atlanta, gear
costs, insurance or money for ministry activities that require additional
supplies beyond ourselves and a Bible (like supplies for vacation bible school
or special activities or treats with our students). I priced airfare yesterday
and it will likely be around $450 to and from Atlanta. Additionally, I have
talked with my co-leaders and we would like to have some extra support money
for ministry activities on the field (whether with the locals or our students).
I am planning to support raise for these additional costs as well, but the
$1875 comes first.
In terms of encouragement, I know there are family, friends
and teammates who will be reaching out and lifting me up in prayer and in love.
I am truly appreciative of them, because their love and encouragement make it
that much easier for me to do my work in this season.
For more information on the trip itself, visit: http://adventures.org/trips/mission-trips.asp?locID=36&tripid=3625.
For more information on me, my heart and where God has taken
me lately and continues to lead me, visit: http://glenalynhunt.theworldrace.org
To donate, please click here or click on the left-hand tab
that says Support Me! Though it says for the World Race, it will work for this
trip, I promise!
Thank you so much!!
Blessings & love!
