When I was a freshman I had an opportunity to go on my very first mission trip. Until that point, my perception of mission trips were that they were only for “older” adults, and that really that just meant going to the Holy Land during the fall for a sightseeing tour of the faith or that the main goal of mission work was to plant churches. That’s just the image I was given at the church I went to in high school. Not at all the image I was shown when I entered college. You see, I went to the youth group at a Southern Baptist Convention mega church. Complete with televangelist series, sports arena, ball fields, and a coffee lodge on the campus.
I will say, despite my views differing in many aspects from then, I have some incredibly found memories of my time at First Redeemer and have some wonderful friendships that were built during the days of youth group as well as my time doing my senior project with There’s Hope for the Hungry.
Needless to say my involvement in the United Methodist Campus Ministry was a bit of a different experience than my youthful foundation where missions is an extreme focus in a hands on manner. Wesley was my home during my time in Auburn and I am forever grateful for my time and expereinces there. Soon I will do an entire post on just how special Wesley really is to me. But for today, back to missions and where it all began.
“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” -John Wesley
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The summer after my freshman year, 2005, I went on a week long mission trip to Juarez, Mexico with Wesley through Hands & Feet Ministries. There was a team of us (15-20 or so college students) that went to do construction and VBS for the kiddos there where we were serving. We made a lot of concrete, played a lot of soccer, and blew up a lot of balloons! I was able to use my knowledge of Spanish to have meaningful conversations with the kids and the parents that we were serving together with to build a house for.
We did a lot of dancing, passed out soccer balls and cleats that we had donated, and basically just loved on the kids during our break times of construction. We made a trek to the top of this mountain where there was a cross and watched the sunset. We had devotions surrounding every meal that were organized by team members and each person rotated who wrote in the team journal for the day to document the trip.
While I had done several “mission” related things back in Auburn, this was really this first time I was able to see what a difference it makes to live out “loving your neighbor” and sharing the love of Christ. There was one little girl that for whatever reason became attached to me during this week. Her name was Cielo, which is Spanish for “heaven”. And that’s just what she was – a view of heaven. A perfect image of childlike faith and abundant joy whatever the circumstance. I know that I learned more from the people we served than they could have ever gathered from my presence. My love for other cultures and others languages took on such a new meaning with this trip. It was here that I felt the Lord tugging on my heart, guiding me how to use this passion that I had to glorify Him.
This trip was the catalyst for the remaining time I spent at Auburn and how the Lord had used all of my past travel experiences to bring me to this point or service for His Kingdom. It’s such an incredible thing to see the fruit of what you have experienced in the past bringing you to right where you need to be in the present.
Have you ever had a moment like this?
I love that quote by John Wesley. Really profound and great rule to live by!
In answer to your question, yes, over the past year I have had many moments like this. My moments, though, are based on past struggles that God has gotten me through, which led me to where I am today. I'm grateful for his redeeming love!
xoxo,
Gayle | Grace for Gayle