When I was a freshman in high school, a new friend invited me to her church's youth group. The group was founded that fall and was lacking attendees. I excitedly went and instantly found a new home.
After a few months had gone by, my youth pastor began to talk about the mission trip that the youth group would go on that upcoming summer. I had never gone on a mission trip before, and I wasn't even sure what a mission trip was. I was told that if I chose to go, I would embark on a 10-day-long journey to Birmingham, Alabama to serve a local resident in their home. I had little idea what that meant, but I liked the idea of traveling to a new place and the thought of helping people was cool. In the middle of July 2012, �a couple dozen youth and a handful of adult leaders jumped into vans en route to Alabama. I did not know what to expect and had very few friends with me. Little did I know I would form incredible bonds with people I typically would never talk to and have an experience that I would never forget.
In Alabama, my work crew of 7 people served a woman named Theresa. She was an older woman who was tragically affected by one of the many torandoes that hit Birmingham that year. Theresa had a husband and an adult son, neither of which were capable of helping her repair her home. We painted the entire exterior of Theresa's house, repaired her garden, and helped her clean and rearrange her yard.
I left Birmingham feeling accomplished and like I did something that mattered. My heart that was previously cold and hard was softened and warmed that week. I was struggling with self-image and self-esteem that year; the way that the mission trip forced me to leave my own problems at home in order to better the life of someone who was suffering far worse than I ever could gave me fulfillment and helped me in my own healing process. I knew that I wanted to do a trip like this again.
The next mission trip that I attended was in the summer of 2014� to Shamokin, Pennsylvania. After straying away from the church a bit, I believe that I went on this trip for the wrong reasons. I wanted to be with my friends and I was looking forward to the fun I'd have on the trip rather than the experience of helping a person in need. My attitude towards the trip completely turned around when I met my resident on that Monday morning in the middle of July. Coincidentally, her name was also Theresa. She was an elderly woman with many severe health problems and desperately needed her house painted and work done in her garden.
I was moved tremendously by this experience.Theresa, who had so much to be angry at God or just upset in general about, was so faithful to the Lord and often spoke of how she was so blessed by Him with this life. She had a caring heart and a warm spirit that I was amazed by. I decided on that trip that I wanted to be like Theresa, and appreciate my life and count my blessings even when things were hard. From this experiencce, I gained a whole new understanding of my faith and grew miraculously in my relationship with Christ. Being that I was an incoming senior in high school and I had to chose a career path soon, this experience truly guided me in my desicion to pursue a career in social work. This mission trip also allowed me to grow substancially as a leader. Following this trip, I was very active in my youth group and became a strong leader to the younger girls in the group.
The following summer, my youth group packed up our bags and headed to Pochohontas, Virginia in July of 2015. A recent high school graduate and a well-respected leader, I was given the responsibility and expectation of setting a good example and being someone for the younger members of our group to come to. I was very nervous, especially because I had so much going on in my personal life, but I felt comforted in my strong relationship with Christ. I was ready to take on any challenges that the week threw at me.
This trip was unlike any other I had ever been on. My resident, Margaret, was an elderly widow living on her own in a valley between mountains. She was fearful that she would slip and fall in the steepness of her yard, so my work crew was assigned the task of building a ramp from the flat part of her yard to the back porch that was ten feet off the ground. It was an extremely challenging job on its own, but the weather and geographical location of her home did not help us at all. Our workspace was a steep hill, slippery from all the rain Virginia was getting, and infested with snakes near the bottom of the hill. I had never been challenged like this before; however, we got the job done and we did it well.
Margaret was beyond thankful for our help. The expression on her face when she walked on the ramp for the first time was unforgettable. I was so moved by her gratitude and kindness. My trip to Pochohontas was the most meaningful I have ever gone on. My faith was made stronger than I thought possible, I made amazing friendships that will last a lifetime, and I took part in changing a woman's life beyond what she thought was possible. I am so blessed to have had this experience.
By the time many of you will read this, I will be serving on my 4th mission trip in Cidra, Puerto Rico. My resident will not speak English, it will be 85 degrees and 87% humidity every day, and I will be extremely far from home. I am incredibly nervous for this trip, but I am more than prepared to serve the Lord and serve a family that is in need. I am hoping to strengthen my faith and relationship with Christ and and a strong spiritual experience. After several months of planning and praying, I am ready to go! I am asking you as my reader to send good thoughts and prayers for my group on this trip. Please read next week's article in which I will describe my experience!
