I sometimes sit and think and wonder… how was it that I was called to the mission field. It seems such a big feat for one person. I remember preparing for my first mission trip to Botswana, Africa in 2007. I honestly did not want to go. With it being so short of a time frame after my dad passing away, I did not really want to venture out halfway across the world. But because of amazing sponsors who gave me more than the amount of money I needed, I went. And it was an okay trip. I got to experience African lifestyle, live hardcore for about 2 weeks with sleeping in a tent and no shower. But other than that I didn’t get much out of the mission trip.
(During ministry in Botswana) (Petting a lion in Zimbabwe)
When I got home, I decided to go on another mission trip; mainly because I had excess money in my account that I had to use. I went to Costa Rica with my best friend. It wasn’t my first choice, but I knew it would be a fun trip. This trip was very physically demanding. We slept on floors the whole time, had a shower from a waterfall and hiked through mud wherever we went. This trip, also didn’t feel like a mission trip to me. I wasn’t quite sure what I was expecting from it but I knew that I wasn’t fulfilled from this trip.
(Mariana and me in the jungle of Costa Rica) (Riding my first horse ever in Costa Rica!!Yes I was scared!!)
Then after I got home from this trip, I was praying and decided to try one more mission trip. I signed up for a trip to Albania to work with orphans. But due to little interest, the trip got canceled and I had to go with my second choice which was Peru. I signed up for Peru because the information about it said it was a medical mission and earthquake relief trip. I thought that would be pretty cool. And then when I get there, there was little earthquake relief and no medical missions. It was a drama trip! Anyone that knows me knows… I am not a fan of drama or public speaking!!!! But even though I was scared and not expecting it, God strengthened me in these areas and used me.
After Peru, I fell in love with missions. (And I fell in love with Peru but that is another story.) Since this trip, I have been to Baja Mexico 2x and back to Peru 2x and am now venturing out into an 11 month, 11 country mission trip.
(At Machu Picchu in 2009) (At an Orphanage in Pacasmayo, Peru in 2010)
(At the beach in Mexico in 2009/10) (With the girls in Mexico in 2010/11)
Who would have guessed, looking at my first missions experience to Botswana or even on my trip to Costa Rica, that I would be on track for becoming a full time missionary. I have no other desire than to serve God full time in another country. To live in a different culture, to help others and to share the love of Christ is what makes me the most happy and I know God is calling me to this lifestyle.
And though the full-time missionary life is still a few years away, the World Race is the first step to experiencing of what God has planned for me to help prepare me for the future that He has planned.
