Most people my age spend their spring breaks at sandy beaches or some exotic resort. My spring break however was no where near as lavish but I can promise you it most rewarding experience I had ever been on.
Over my spring break, I was given the opportunity to spend a week in Guatemala doing mission work. I went on this trip with a church from back home and did not know anyone that was going on the trip. Leading up to the trip, I felt God calling me to do some type of missionary work; so when I heard of this opportunity I could not resist. Even though I knew no one going, other than my mom, I knew that was exactly how God wanted me to spend my week. When we first arrived, I was a little uneasy. We stayed at a local Christian children’s home that was started by missionaries from the US. The place was nothing like I had seen before. It was very overwhelming at first. This was my first time leaving the country, so I was already nervous about that. We arrived on a Saturday so the next day we got to attend their on site church. This experience was truly moving. I do not know if it was seeing everyone worshiping God in a different language or how much passion the children had; but God’s presence was unquestionable. This reminded me that God is everywhere. He is not only just in my family, my school, or my church. He is truly everywhere. God knew I needed that reassurance from Him. I was right where I was suppose to be.
As the week continued, I started to become more comfortable. I started opening up with the children and making actual connections with them. Looking back in the journals I kept during that week, every night I wrote down that I would connect with at least one child there. It was not until two days before we were leaving that I finally made a meaning connection. I met a boy who was around my age and was in the university program offered by the children’s home. He opened up to me so quickly. It was truly incredible and heartbreaking to hear his story and see how different our lives were. He was a walking miracle. God really showed me himself through this boy. After spending hours just talking undisturbed with him, I was confident in God’s calling for me to spread His Word around the World. After our time together, I not only fell in love with Guatemala but also fell in love all over again with my relationship with God.
After my time in Guatemala, I really did not want to take anything for granted again. I did not want to loose the feeling I had when I returned from the trip. God has given me so much, everything I have is undeserved. The lest I can do for him is show others just how much of a loving God we serve. I plan on returning back to Guatemala to the same children’s home next spring break and am counting down the days until I am there.
Someone once believed in me when I did not. Now it is my time to go and believe in someone else until they believe in themselves. Time to pay it forward!
