A very frequent question that I get asked right now is: “why are you going on this trip?”. I originally planned to try and answer this question for you on my own, but I just kept feeling that my answer alone didn’t put into perspective what I wanted to say.
After some thought I decided to let my teammates answer your question. So I asked them why they are going. And this is what they said…
“There are many reason why I’m going, to help those who cannot help themselves, to go and tell the hopeless and lonely hearts that they are loved, or even just because I want to be a part of something that’s way bigger than myself. But all of that really doesn’t matter because the biggest reason and the only reason that truly matters is this; Christ told me to get up and go.” –Brian Quinn
“If only one life is changed eternally, this trip will have been worth it. That is my prayer and motivation to GO!” –Ali Geisler
“I want to love others as Jesus loved the Church and to adhere to the task Christ set for us in the Great Commission: To go and preach the Gospel to all nations. And one day God hit me with a sack of potatoes that all said “GO.” , and this is where He has led me: to this adventure with all you wonderful people.” –Sam Lacey
“Honestly, if it were up to me I wouldn’t be going, I’m going because The Lord called me there and has given me a heart to be excited to help people and to see his beautiful creation. To get out of my comfort zone and follow right behind Him.” –Abigail Carr
“I’m going on the race for two main reasons. One: I’m head over heels in love with Jesus Christ. It makes me sad that some people don’t know him and I want to spread his love with everyone! If that means sleeping in a tent with only a backpack worth of clothes, then I can’t wait! I want everyone to love Jesus like I do! Two: I’m tired or normal. I’m tired of the pressures and expectations of school and the “regular” American dream life. I want to have an adventure! I want to taste foods I’ve never tasted, sleep in crazy places, and live an out of the ordinary, spontaneous life.” –Amy Whelchel
For me all of their answers describe my heart in different ways. But if I had to sum up why I’m going…
I want to live like Jesus did. A life of abandonment and pursuing the Father. To proclaim good news to the poor, the broken hearted, and the forgotten. To love on orphans and widows so that they may know just how much Jesus loves them. I want to do things for the kingdom and help people who would otherwise be overlooked. Basically I want to live the same kind of life that Jesus lived and love the people He would want me to love on.
“But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” -1 John 2:5-6
My team is amazing. I love each and everyone of them so much. They have incredibly passionate hearts for Jesus and I am excited to serve along side them for 9 months.
