The campus ministry that I have been involved in since freshman year has so many great opportunities but one of the best is the opportunity to go on a summer mission. I have personally been on two summer missions and they were the best summers of my college career.

In honor of #GOVEMBER I have compiled a list of reasons why everyone should spend at least one summer on a CRU Summer Mission and if you aren't convinced after reading I will gladly meet with you in person and tell you stories and show you videos. I am very passionate about summer missions because of how valuable the two I went on have been to my walk with God.

1. They are so much fun

College is the best time of your life right? Well you know what you don't want to do during your college summers? Go home and be bored! There's an easy solution, just go on a summer mission.

2. They look great on a resume

You know what most people can't do after their freshman year? Get a good internship. You know what I did after my freshman year? Went on a summer mission! I still haven't gotten a good internship, or one at all for that matter but let's not focus on that. Summer missions are unique and also a level playing field. You don't have to have a stellar GPA or research hours to be a great fit for a summer mission, but they provide you leadership training, relationship building, and conflict resolution opportunities.

3. They are absolutely unique

There is no other place where you will drive ten hours, meet fifty new people, be randomly assigned to a small group of a few of them and then have to share your life story on the first full day after you arrive. There's also no other experience that involves spending a summer in another state to work in the convenience store of a large surf store counting cigarettes but I can proudly say I did that on my first summer mission. Summer missions are composed of many experiences that would not happen in any other circumstance, and it is great.

4. The community is unrivaled

When you share your life story and hear others share theirs after knowing each other for less than 24 hours you make fast friendships. ANd not surface level friendships either. Lasting ones.

5. They *may* include a dream job

Some people find internships in their field in a location of a CRU Summer Mission (and some people count cigarettes every day). I'm kidding, I'm kidding though that is what I did for the summer. But the next summer I got the opportunity to go on another CRU Summer Mission to Fort Collins, CO where I got to hold babies for 40 hours a week. Which is indeed my dream job, diapers and all.

6. It will be the best summer of your life

I don't say this lightly. Both of the summer missions I went on were such eye opening experiences. I wouldn't trade a single part of either of them because the good and the bad truly made up the most wonderful summers full of adventures, first time experiences, and the best friendships I have ever made.

Now that you are ready to experience this for yourself go ahead and apply now! You can apply on Cru's website.