Missions

Today my husband and our youngest daughter are traveling to Mexico with our church for a week of mission work with the people of Ensenada.

What a broad title… maybe I should come up with something a little more clever?

This time of year has been a busy one for our family since 2014. That was the year our second son went on his first mission trip at the young age of 14. He traveled with Teen Missions to Australia and was gone for 8 weeks that summer.

Since then three of our children have followed his footsteps and traveled to 8 different countries (Australia, Madagascar, Northern Ireland, Mexico, Honduras, South Africa, and Cambodia). Each year has been a blessing in what they learned about God, the world they live in, and the strength they have inside of themselves to serve in some less than ideal locations. They have come home changed, closer to God, and with a confidence they didn’t have when they left.

Teen Missions, though, isn’t an experience for everyone. It is intense starting with a boot camp that prepares you for life without phones, flushing toilets, heat, and minimal food choices.

Our youngest is one such person that is not the least bit interested. Oh, she has a heart for God, but much like me, she’ll take running water (that is always warm when you want it to be) and a decent bed. God knows this about her and can still use her to further the kingdom.

This month she is traveling with her youth group to Mexico to serve for a week with the people of Ensenada. They will be doing various things though the mission Agua Viva Ministries. It was the perfect trip for her.

Will it be easy? I know better than to say that. She will be away from the comforts of home. She will see, smell, and hear things that will hit her heart in a new way. She will be challenged to spread her wings and find her faith deep inside of her.

We are excited about her trip. We are praying for her heart will be ready, her ears to hear his call as she works with the people, and that she will serve the people with love and kindness and leave them with hope while strengthening her own walk with God.