Hello. My name is Kylie Chung and I am a rising third year at UCSD. This past summer I was blessed with the opportunity to go to North India for short term missions. When I first heard about STSM, I thought nothing of it. I knew I wanted to go on a mission trip at least once before I graduated college; however, going through KCM wasn’t something I remotely gave any thought to. Giving up an entire month of my summer did not seem like an option for me. However, beginning in spring quarter, the more and more I began to ponder upon the idea of going on STSM. I knew that God was nudging me to go, even though I didn’t understand why. Therefore, one day, almost on a whim, I signed up – more by a sense of obedience than by genuine eagerness or excitement.

When I figured out I was going to North India, I was very overwhelmed. The idea of having to leave the comforts of home and travel halfway across the world filled me with apprehension. Adding to my unease were the stories I had heard about the hardships people face in India, causing many people to be reluctant to go. Nevertheless, despite these concerns, I understood that God had placed me in this position for a purpose, and I simply needed to trust in His great plan. As the trip approached, I noticed my anxieties gradually diminishing, giving way to a growing sense of curiosity. I grew to become almost too comfortable with the idea of going to India, failing to truly prepare myself for the challenges of the mission field. 

The reality of missions – the intense heat, challenges of sanitation, and vast cultural differences – hit me immediately as we arrived in North India. I found myself missing the comforts of home more than I expected, leading my heart posture to not be in the best place. My initial response to these obstacles was very far from the faith-filled joy I had hoped to carry.

However, as the days passed, I felt my attitude begin to change. I started to find genuine joy in serving the Lord, even in the midst of the discomfort and challenges. A huge blessing from the trip was the daily 5am morning prayer sessions that we had with the staff at St. Paul’s School, our home base in Jalpaiguri. Here, I was able to witness the unwavering faith of the local Christians, who sincerely lifted everything up to God in full confidence that He would answer in His perfect timing. Their faithfulness in prayer was humbling and inspiring.

This experience also deepened my understanding of what it means to really be obedient to God. I realized that as Christians, we are simply vessels for God to use in His plan. Our role is not to worry about seeing immediate or visible results to our labor but to trust that God is working through us in ways in which we may never fully understand.

From the beginning of the trip, I made an effort to journal each day, ending every entry with my prayer requests. Specifically, I prayed for a joyful heart while serving on the mission field and a heart that breaks for the lost, just as God’s heart does. When I look back, I see how God answered those prayers throughout the trip, often in ways that I did not expect. Despite my lack of initial faith, God was listening and working.

Throughout this mission, I have learned the true power of prayer and its necessity in our lives. Though I had grown up praying, I often struggled with it. Whether it was difficulty allowing the Holy Spirit to guide my prayers, finding the right words to say, or feeling self-conscious about how I sounded to others, prayer often felt like a challenge. I realize that God hears every prayer and responds in His own perfect timing. Once we lift our prayers to Him, we can rest in the comfort of knowing that He is working, even when we can’t see results immediately or in the ways we anticipate. 

Reflecting on the experience, I see that God used this mission trip to sharpen me in areas I was previously lacking. He revealed to me his faithfulness even in the times where I fell short. My journey in India was not only about spreading the Gospel, but also about God refining my heart, deepening my trust in Him, and revealing the profound joy that comes from resting in His presence. 

Moreover, this trip has opened my eyes to the importance of outreaching, not just in distant lands but here at home. I have come to understand that the people lost in America are no different from those lost in India. I now feel more compelled to be more involved in reaching out to those around me, sharing the hope and truth of the Gospel where God places me.