Junior | USC

Deep inside my heart, I always considered short-term mission trips to be unnecessary and ineffective. I viewed them as ‘feel-good’ trips that were more beneficial to those serving than to those being served. However, in the process of deciding to go or not, the Spirit graciously moved my rigid heart to be more sensitive and obedient to His shepherding. God allowed me to see that even Paul the Apostle went on a short-term, three-week mission trip to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-4). Knowing that the God who powerfully moved in Thessalonica within such a short time is the same God today, I was convicted to let go of my own understanding and to go on STSM. One faithful response to His guidance led my eyes to recognize His holiness and my heart to grow for His people. 

The principal form of outreach that we engaged in Nicaragua was relational ministry. I had the chance to meet and spend time with many teenagers and adults. Although this was my first time meeting them and there was a language barrier, I still had the opportunity to engage in many intentional and deep conversations. Some of the people I talked with were Christian and others weren’t, but nevertheless, His presence was evident in every interaction. Just as Paul had written in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, I likewise began to care for the Nicaraguans so much that my heart was pleased to not only share the message of the Gospel, but my own life with them. I believe that even through our short time and conversations with them, God planted a seed of faith in each of their hearts. Even if the fruit of our labor may not have been visible during our time there, I know that God was and is still moving in their lives and I can find peace and comfort in that. 

Now that I’m back, God is continuously reminding me to live a missional life. Not only can I intercede in prayer for those in Nicaragua, but I can also reach out to the many lost souls here in the US through relational ministry in the form of simple conversations and interactions that I share with anyone in my life. However, I know that none of this is possible without His leading, so my prayer is that God can continue to align my heart with His and to break my heart for what breaks His.