Why and How I went on STSM:

To begin, the possibility of going on STSM was unknown. From my first mission trip with my church in the Summer of 2023, God revealed many things to me: the omnipresence of God, the universal church, agape love. Because Guatemala was so impactful to me, I knew I wanted to go back the following year. After going to Guatemala, my friends wondered if I would be willing to go to STSM. As I thought about it, my heart realized that both short term mission trip opportunities were weighing on my heart. I figured it was best if I would allow God to decide for me. Therefore, I planned on applying to both to see what doors God will leave open or closed. 

STSM was the first to release their applications, so I finished that application and turned it in. By the time Guatemala applications were released, training for STSM had already begun. Amidst the busyness of school, training, and KCM, in addition to my negligence, I missed my chance to go. Fortunately, my negligence did help by leaving me no choice. Leading up to the trip, I continued to ask myself why I was going on STSM. Every time I would say I want to go and participate in God’s work across the world, and experience the omnipresence of God, the universal church, and His love. However, this answer felt incomplete. This emptiness is one way that God worked throughout the trip.

Overview:

The month of staying in India was most definitely an impactful and memorable one. From the skits and dances we performed, the meals we had, the ministry we did, even the rest we had, it seemed as though everything had a purpose, a God-centered purpose. Now as some time has passed since the trip, I feel that while I was able to get some things quickly and directly revealed to me, some were left for me to unravel more back at home. 

The Quick and Direct Answer:

As I had mentioned, I wondered why I was going to STSM. After coming back, God has given me a complete answer. I went to STSM to participate in God’s work across the world, experience the omnipresence of God, the universal church, His love, and to encourage the missionaries, and our brothers and sisters for their faith and obedience. 

Unraveling back at home:

Coming back, God provided me with two challenges: to lead my family spiritually, and to tithe my life. After the early morning prayer time at St. Paul’s School, we would be given a sermon by the missionary there. One morning he had emphasized the importance of prayer, especially within the family. Immediately, I thought of the many times that my mom asked me and my sister if we could pray as a family. We would both immediately ask why and push it away because it seemed awkward and abnormal. I came to realize my hypocrisy because I understand the power and importance of prayer, yet I am not acting the part. In addition, as a believer that has personally accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, I have the duty of leading and encouraging the people to God. Therefore, instead of straying away from my mom’s requests, I will partake in initiating them at least three times a month, in hopes that praying together as a family would be normal and looked forward to.

Next is tithing my life to God. This also came from the missionary at St. Paul’s School. During dinner, he asked the team if we would be willing to give a 1/10 of our life to God on the mission field. Seeing that we were hesitant, he decreased it to a 1/40 of our life. Assuming that we live to 80, 1/40 would be 2 years. After the change I did find it easier to say yes. Throughout the trip I asked myself would you be willing to give a tithe of your life to God for the mission field? As I kept on thinking, I started to ask further questions. Why would you only give a tithe of your life, shouldn’t you be willing to give your whole life? Does the mission field have to be in a foreign land? Shouldn’t everything be a mission field? Then I realized this question was a test of mentality. As Christians there are many times we say we want to give our lives to God. However, when we say these words, we tend to treat them lighty. When we say that we want to give our lives to God, we should think of it as leaving everything in the hands of God. That we would trust Him as He leads us through the unknown and focus on glorifying Him day by day. Therefore, in prayer and in conscious action I want to continually remind myself, would you be willing to give up your life to God?