My Mentorship Bible Study

Before hearing about the need in different parts of our world, I never considered going on a mission trip. Last summer during show choir camp, our choreographer told us about a charity called Thirst Project. Thirst Project is an organization that builds wells in Africa so the citizens can have clean drinking water. Knowing that there are people out there drinking brown, gunky water filled with animal feces breaks my heart, because there are steps that we can all take to help solve that problem. For me, one of those steps is going on a mission trip. If I could help even one person live a higher quality life, I will be satisfied, knowing that I have made a purpose to my life. Another time that my eyes were opened was this summer. One of my friends went on a mission trip to Haiti with her church, and seeing pictures from their trip moved me to have an even stronger desire to go on one myself. Both the children in Haiti and the people serving them were both so joyful,

What particular aspects of this chapter have improved your understanding and appreciation of intercultural learning?

At church, in addition to my participation in the worship services, I volunteered at our church’s soup kitchen, medical camps and elementary school for underprivileged children. These experiences opened my eyes to the deprivation of love and care in the world and a dire need of God’s grace for people at large so they could receive forgiveness, healing and restoration in their lives.

I was born to a Christian mother I had 7 brothers and sisters we wasn’t perfect but we all loved the Lord. I went to church every time the door was open I loved Sunday school and loved to sing the good ole songs that Baptist Churches sing. I am now 52 and my mind has never changed I love the Lord with all my heart and soul he has helped me so much I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for him.

I found this chance to help people a way to get to know the people in my youth group, but I learned so much more than I thought I would. What amazed me the most out of everything on this trip was the willingness of kids my age to help those around them. During that week in Denver, I also had the chance to meet some of the other youth from other cities in Missouri. A lot of them whom had remarkable stories. Their reasons for helping out during this mission trip were much greater than my own, I was astounded. They had told me about their past, the struggles and valleys that they had gone through that lead them to help those who are going through the same situations or worse. One story struck me the most. One about a boy and a past fight with drug abuse. He said that one day he felt this indescribable jolt and he just lost it. He broke down and asked himself what he was doing with his life. After asking around and seeking help, he went to the local church one Sunday. That was when he met the youth leader that helped him through his

Here I interacted with similarly aged Christians and did learning activities together with instructors. As I got older, when I attended LaSalle Springs Middle School, I began to participate in Vacation Bible School as a teacher and would give out activities for the younger children to do. Shortly after, I went through conformation to officially become a member of the Church. During this time, I was also baptized because I wasn’t at birth.

My trip to a third world country opened my eyes to see that everyone is not as blessed as we are here in America. Nicaragua is a very poor country. People in Nicaragua are robbed of the luxuries we Americans have. Such as, simply, having three meals a day. Most people have to travel far just to find food to bring home to their families. I felt like God had called me to go to these people not so I can bless them, yet so they can bless me and my eyes would be opened.

It gave me the chance to vanquish my fears while also realizing that it is God’s plan for me to help out my community. However, I am not surprised that there are still unanswered questions in my head such as: Why is there such a big hunger problem? Why is this problem not spoken about more often? Is there any other way I can help stop this problem? This service has made me more knowledgeable and aware of my community. In addition, this service project has made me take matters into my own hands. Currently, every time my family goes grocery shopping I make sure they get at least five canned goods for donating. As more of my friends volunteer and more donations come in I think we can end this fight for hunger in southern Louisiana. In addition, I believe that we should all take a step back and be thankful for all that we have because some people don’t have such luxuries. God is omnipresent, He would not want to see His children starving. Finally, I see it as a mission that we volunteers get more people involved to volunteer for the greater

There is a great quote by Blake Mycoskie about mission trips that says, “Trips like this aren’t vacations…they are so much more. These experiences show you what’s possible and challenge you to examine the paths you’ll take in the future.” Claude and Kelley Nikondeha have spent five years running a community development mission in Burundi, a landlocked African country. Kelley Nikondeha tells of how they prepare their mission teams for the week and when they return home after a short term mission trip experience in Burundi in an article entitled, “Story-telling and the Short Term Mission Trip.” Kelley Nikondeha elaborates on the four points she expresses to all groups, “Give me a word. Tell me one moment. Take a break to rest. How was your trip?”

We have spent some unbelievable time in Brazil, Nicaragua (X 5), Honduras (X 5), Africa, and Hungary. We are rolling to Mexico this June, and I am looking forward to serving in Haiti in the very near future. During these trips, my ministry focused on women and children. I have been called to be a carpenter, painter, roofer, journalist, photographer, teacher, evangelist, pharmacist, concrete mixer, story teller, clown, softball/soccer coach, and singer to name a few. God called me to be an ambassador for Christ, and He has never failed to be my provision. Any menial task that was my responsibility, He smiled as I enthusiastically performed my calling. From dodging scorpions and poisonous toads to running from a brood of chickens, I never had a dull moment on mission with God. My travels began in 1999, and the following pages are stories

My first stop was a place where we had to pack a lot of bags and give them to the hungry that walked in. Even though it was a lot of work, I had so much fun. That second day already made me feel a lot better about this whole mission trip. I was also the only kid who went there that day, with 3 adults. All of the other kids went other places. Being with the 3 adults, Lesa, Debby, and Steve, made me build a better relationship with them. I also got a feel of what it was like to work just for the hungry for almost a full day. Even though I didn’t interact with the people who got the food bags that day, I still felt good that I was helping

In spring of 2016, my youth group and I began planning a trip to a neighboring city. This wasn’t just any trip however, we were going on a mission. Each of us there were bound and determined to

Being raised in a Christian household was such a blessing, but my committed relationship with God really took off the summer of my junior year in high school. Growing up, there were multiple times where I prayed to give my life up to God. I had a wonderful youth group down the street where I grew up, and my youth pastor really inspired me to explore Christianity, and what it means to walk with Christ. The summer of my junior year I was fortunate to be a councilor in training at Camp Firwood, located in Bellingham, Washington. It was hard work but it gave me the opportunity to spend me summer devoted to working things out in a supportive community that really solidified my relationship with God. That summer I gave my testimony in a huge stage setting for the first time. That summer really gave me the confidence to share my faith with others and initiate conversation to grow in faith and take in other perspectives. I believe that Jesus Christ is my personal savior, and that it is a continual relationship and it doesn’t just end when we declare that we are followers. There are so many people that have come into my life and shared their experiences with me and that has really grown my faith and I hope to do that for others.

Since the day I was born my parents took my sister and me to church ever Sunday. I grew up in a loving Christian home and was encouraged at an age where I could fully understand, to purse a relationship with Jesus. I accepted Christ into my heart when I was in the second grade and was baptized in the fourth grade at age 10. Growing up I have always been super involved in Church. I have a heart for people and love serving. Since 3rd grade until now, my senior year of high school I have been on the leadership team with my youth group. I can not imagine my life without Jesus as the center. I have been pushed to step out of my comfort zone and because of that I have grown in several different ways. For example, I am an extrovert and enjoy getting new people, but never liked public speaking as I felt nervous and intimidated. By the many adult leaders, and pastors coming along side of me and encouraging me to step of on my comfort zone I now highly enjoy speaking and spreading the truth about The Lord in big groups of people. I am so thankful for the many God loving people that have come in my life and helped stretch me. Jesus is my entire life and I am nothing without him.

It is a blessing to have a Christian family. They had prayed for me even before I was born. As I became three months old, I was brought to my family’s church pastor to be baptized. It has been a sacred rhythm for me to attend a church on Sunday since then. All my family are faithful members of a Methodist church in South Korea. Sunday was the most exciting day of the week that I earnestly waited for. Although I sometimes could not understand Bible stories, just being at the church gave me abundant joy and peace. In this reason, I made my best efforts to bring friends to my church. When I was in fifth grade, I was deeply touched by Bible stories, songs, memory verses and other activities during the Vacation Bible School. The Holy Spirit came into my heart that I confessed with my mouth for the first time that Jesus Christ is my savior. God was present and actively working in my life although I didn’t recognize it. I actively participated in not only Sunday worship service but also children’s praise meetings, revival meetings, camp meetings and Bible study. I responded to his first invitation to be in