So, I was reading a friend's blog and he was discussing his first missions trip (which was overseas) had greatly impacted his life. It made me remember that every time I have gone on a service trip someone makes that statement that the trip will change your life.
I have been on 4 overseas trips and a couple of domestic trips. However, only one of those trips (a domestic one) would I have stated changed my life after returning. Yet, looking back over the past 7 years that I have done trips, I can remember each trip. And each one did impact my life in some way. The trips might not have greatly changed plans in my life (or might not have done so immediately). Yet, each one has had their moments in time to influence my life.
Summer 2004: El Salvador.
I did not think the trip changed my life. I left El Salvador confused out of my mind about a possible calling to go to Chile someday, possibly full-time. I realized that there was a lot more to my life that needed to be figured out. The confusion continues about Chile. However, I hold on to a burden that I know God once gave me.
Summer 2005: El Salvador.
I had forgotten about Chile to some extent. However, I know that I ended up standing in the same spot as the previous year and felt a serious pulling towards Chile again. To me this was a confirmation about going there someday. However, something that I find extremely interesting is something
written in my journal. I wrote that I was looking forward to "Children's Ministry and pastorship." Ok, I mean, I know I had always thought about Children's Ministry as a volunteer or "side job" kind of thing. Yet, when you throw the word pastorship in, it really makes things more full-time and permanent. I didn't realize until FIVE years later that I was considering full-time ministry at this point in my life. Because to me it wasn't until my sophomore year of college that I started thinking about full-time Children's Ministry. After this trip is when I started collecting flags from other countries, which I started with Chile (for some reason I didn't get El Salvador until much later).
Spring 2008: Macedonia
This trip I presumed that I would be leading the trip the following year (which I did). However, this is the trip that truly introduced me to Europe's Children (formerly known as Save Europe's Children). I still have it in the back of my head that I will work with them someday. This trip was one that stretched me and helped me to grow a TON. I have been attempting to not be a picky eater since this trip. And it helped birth a passion for the children of Europe that still grows in my heart today.
Summer 2008: Pittsburgh
I went with a team of 4th and 5th graders. I was an intern and one of the adult staff of the trip. This showed me the ministry capabilities of children. It was an honor and pleasure working with these kids who had a passion to serve. Now, in Grad School I find that it is so important that people of all ages are ministering together and with each other. Reinforces what I saw on this trip.
Spring 2009: Romania
I led this trip. And I sometimes state that it was my least favorite service trip so far. However, I definitely grew and was prepared for future events through this experience. It was a tough, but good trip. We felt like tourists just as much as we did ministers. However, God still used these experiences to shape me and my view of service trips.
Spring 2011: Chicago
Life changed. I was a co-leader for this trip. As a grad student leading a team of undergrads was a truly amazing experience and God worked in my life a lot on this trip. It is the only trip that I left knowing that God changed my life. And God is still using events, people, and conversations from this trip in my life. There is a blog in my blog purgatory that I need to write about this trip so I won't write much here. Yet, this trip was phenomenal and I will write about it soon, even though it was months ago. I know I need to.
So, I can look back (and recognize even better than I did here) and see that each trip I have been on has changed my life. Maybe I didn't feel a huge shift in my spirit. Maybe I didn't see a huge change in my life right away. However, each trip has shaped some aspect my life to create exactly who I am right now. So, next time I question something influencing my life, I must remember the words of my best friend Steph: Everything will change your life.
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