“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
A year ago to the date I was fundraising and preparing to go on my very first mission trip to Ecuador for 5 weeks. I was excited and nervous to be serving God for that long and in a new country. I knew God was going to do big things that summer of 2014.I would have never imagined that now I would be preparing to go on an 11 month mission trip to 11 countries!
Over the past months I have felt God making me uncomfortable with the complacency of life in the United States. There are countless people that will never hear the name of Jesus or know the love of God simply because of where they live. To show a person love like God shows love is possibly the greatest gift one can give. I believe The World Race allows missionaries to share Christ in a variety of ways, and to a number of different locations. During this trip, my team and I will be teaching children in schools, leading VBS, praying and serving the elderly of the community, restoring and painting building, ministering to people stuck in sex trafficking, loving on orphans and so much more. This is going to be the adventure of a lifetime, not only because I get to experience different cultures and see incredible sights around the world, but mainly because I will be able to share who God is and why He is so worth my entire life to people I would otherwise never meet. In addition to this, I don’t doubt for a single second that I will change forever; that God will work in my life as I serve Him, and I cant wait!
As I prepare for this trip, my greatest hope is that you, my friends and family, will join with me in prayer and in many other possible ways. This is not just my mission trip but also all those that come along side me. Your prayer, wisdom, advice, and encouragement are much needed and appreciated. One thing we can begin praying for together is for the people of the countries I will be going to- for their heart to be ready to hear of this great love, and for their well-being. Begin praying that their lives be forever changed, even from now that they may feel a difference in their daily lives. The second thing we can begin to pray for is the team and myself. Eleven months in different environments, away from home is surely going to be a toll for some, please pray for safety and that we never lose the excitement of sharing the Gospel.Prayers like those found in Colossians, Ephesians and 2 Thessalonians are power:
“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19, NIV).
“Pray first that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes…” (2 Thesslaonians 3:1, NLT).
“We also pray that you will be strengthened with His glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy” (Colossians 1:11, NLT).
Finally, a big part of my preparation is raising financial support in order to go on this mission trip. This process is difficult but also a huge blessing. Asking others to invest in what God will be doing through me during this time is intimidating, but I have already seen how God uses money for His Kingdom. If you would like to take part in this call to God’s Kingdom and financially support me, here is the link to give online:
I want to thank all of you in advance, for encouraging me, loving me and for coming along side in this new adventure.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV)
-Lila Hermosillo
WHEN: January 2016 – November 2016
WHERE: Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina.
