I am currently on a mission trip for the next two months in Houston,Texas. When I agreed to go to Houston what feels like a lifetime ago I did not expect to be surrounded by such amazing people. I prayed for months for this trip and so did everyone who is closest to me, but I was never prepared for what the Lord had in store for me here.I could tell you the facts I have learned about Houston and how it is the number one city in America for job creation or how it houses one of the world's best healthcare professionals. What I like to focus on though is how Houston is one of the most racially diverse places in America and has so much to offer through it's diversity. I have been emerged into a culture that I am considered the minority by a long shot which is so rare and may scare me at times, but also challenges my faith more than anything. They say Houston is like going on an international mission trip without actually buying the extra expensive plane ticket and by not being able to read half the signs around town I couldn't agree more.

I haven't actually started "working" officially yet until Monday it's just been all the training. We are actually divided up into two different centers Gano and Joy. At these different centers we do several things throughout the week like food pantry, a kids club and teen club that allows the community families to learn a bible story and just hangout with us awesome missionaries.We also will do yard work, home visits, and Thursdays senior citizen day where we love on some seniors. I don't know too much yet, but I know that the community looks up to our centers as a holy place and the summer missionaries set a standard. I can already feel the difference here more than any other group setting on a church trip or christian leadership retreat. God is at work in the lives of every one of my fellow missionaries. Which can explain tremendously why their hearts for the Lord are unlike any other.

Everyone who knows me realizes my ability to just love people and be very open, but I think everyone on this mission can agree we have just bonded in a way that can only be described as a bond created through the hands of Jesus. My theory is if we are already so rooted in this bond that the Lord is only equipping us for the bond we will have on Houston. We have already began acculturating ourselves into the community through very interesting morning runs around the neighborhood. These runs usually turn into walks, but actually getting to see the streets of Houston first hand and not just through a bedroom or car window is such an indescribable feeling. I believe that this summer is going to be more than just going through the motions of a traditional mission trip, but actually trying to impact the communities of Houston through our love for the Lord.

“And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.”

Mark 6:7

The irony in the bible verse above is we are a team of 12 summer missionaries going onto the city trying to share his love. I could go on for hours about what all I am doing here, but I can sum it up pretty easily at the moment. I love this city and the opportunities it has to offer for us to influence it. I thank God every day for this opportunity and most importantly my fellow missionary interns who if it weren't for them I probably wouldn't have lasted a day here. They challenge me in more ways than one and it's only been a couple days. If your ever questioning where God is calling you I encourage you to just follow it because I am so glad I did already! Love you all especially the ones who believed in this trip even when I did not.Please continue to be in prayer as I influence the communities of Houston on this life changing journey.