We were asked to write a blog about how we were called to this mission trip. Here's my story...

 

Well, when I was little I remember reading the bulliten at Church and seeing this trip to Acuna, Mexico a group of adults did every summer. At that time I was in bi-lingual elementary classes and I told my mom that when I turned 18 I would go on that trip and use my Spanish. During the years in-between, I was involved in various local projects and trips with my youth group. I of course always had a blast but would then go on about my daily life when we would return. Then one day my mom asked me if I was going on the Acuna trip this summer, I honestly hadn't even realized or thought about it since I had turned 18. At Church I kept seeing and reading about it but for some reason was on the lazy-side about seriously thinking about going. Then one day, kind of out of the blue, I felt like I needed to sign up for it right then, alone. I'm not the kind of person to step out of my bubble very often, so to be honest it was very different doing it by yourself with out your friends to "fall back on". It was definately an experience worth taking! I went without much mission trip experience with a group of adults; 40's and up and 3 other "young people", as we were called, that I had never really met before. During that time I realized that I needed to do something like this way more often. I absolutely loved every minute of it. Between meeting the people of Acuna, seeing God work His ways and making great friendships with the group; I didn't want to leave at all! It was during that week that I met a now really good friend of mine who told me about his upcoming World Race with AIM. He told me all about it, and I was sold. Although, I knew I had a few years to wait, I looked on the website and was blown away with the idea of spending 2 months anywhere. Something that I could do NOW and that I really felt called to do was absolutely amazing for me. I've always loved and desired to travel to forgein places to see how other people and cultures live and with lots of prayer I felt like Kenya was where He wanted me. God's timing is perfect; I needed to "do" something and he put this right infront of me and for that I am forever thankful!