It changed my life forever!

Nassau, Bahamas Mission Trip – It changed my life forever!

Last winter I was extremely doubtful this trip would become a reality. We had planned on going to Monterrey, Mexico to teach little children the gospel message through the means of a colored soccer ball. I was so excited to finally use my Spanish speaking skills and truly carry out the Great Commission:

Matthew 28:19-20

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Unfortunately, my parents were becoming increasingly worried due to the "drug wars" occurring throughout Mexico. As they watched the news explain random American kidnappings and murders, they would not let their only daughter risk her life just for one week of mission work. I saw their point of view, but was too eager to think clearly. And plus, if I died, I'd go to Heaven. I really didn't see where the problem was… But I was being selfish. My parents, family, and friends would be devastated, and it was not worth it to take that large of a risk – regardless of what the Great Commission said. I'm only 16 years old!

So I prayed about it. God is always faithful and true to His promises, according to His perfect and glorious plan. He would not let my enthusiasm dwindle. No. He just had something different in store for me… After my parents kept sending e-mail after e-mail of news stories regarding Mexico and some specifically Monterrey, my youth pastor called for an emergency meeting. You see, we had a back-up plan! Well, God did. J For the safety and well-being of the youth group mission adventurers, we decided it would be best to move the trip to a different location. Since we didn't want to miss out on the "foreign country" experience, we booked flights to Nassau, Bahamas!

None of us really had a clue what we'd be doing in Nassau. Actually, we didn't fully find out until we got there! At first we were told we would be building and repairing houses for Haiti refugees that fled to the Bahamas. Then we were informed we would be working at an orphanage with children kindergarten through 6th grade. We assumed we would be repairing the orphanage and doing a sort of VBS (vacation Bible school) with the children. When we arrived at the hotel, we learned that we would be painting the orphanage. And when we finally got to the orphanage, we discovered they were not "little" kids. The youngest was 8 and most were between 13 and 15 years old! We were surprised to be working with children our own age, but God used this as an advantage to connecting with the kids.

We painted the orphanage Monday through Friday 10 in the morning till 3 in the afternoon! It felt like such an accomplishment when we finally finished painting the entire exterior of the building. From 3 to 4:30, we played with the kids and got to know them. On Wednesday, we had 4 hours with them due to an orphanage meeting. During this time, we had a gigantic water balloon fight! We met many new children and got to know most of them on a first name basis. Throughout the week, some even helped us paint! We used this opportunity to talk to them about God and learn about their circumstance. These kids felt alone, rejected, and abandoned. Some had 8 or 9 siblings and their parents just couldn't take care of them. Others had deceased parents and some were in the hospital, paralyzed or diseased. There were a few "outcasts" of society – thrown into an orphanage by their family because of mental illnesses. Yet, with all of these feelings of anger and confusion, these kids were still quick to love. This shocked me most of all.

We would arrive at the orphanage and immediately kids would run up to the bus and once we stepped foot we would be drowned in hugs! I have never experienced so many hugs at once! Everyone was so friendly and yet they had nothing. They weren't allowed money of their own and were bored most of the day. Most stayed in their dark rooms sleeping the day away. When we got there, everyone was watching movies from portable DVD players – the only technology they were really allowed. What a monotonous, boring life! I felt so sorry for those children. The adult workers didn't treat them very lovingly, either. For the most part, their lives were void of any love! God sent us there to try and show them His love – because only God's love can fill the void in all our hearts. Yes, they were fatherless, but God is the perfect Father. Yes, they had enough food to eat, but most were unaware that Jesus is the bread of life – that truly satisfies all hunger. Yes, they had a roof over their heads, but God is the ultimate shelter and place of refuge. He comforts all!

John 10:10

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

I was expecting God to give me opportunities to witness to the kids and share the gospel with them. Although He did let me share the gospel message with everyone on the last day, He had a separate and unexpected mission for me. You see, during the water balloon fight on Wednesday, I met this 14 year old boy named Damian. I asked him to come paint with me on Friday and he agreed. We started talking and found that we had so much in common! For example, he had a dog named Shadow and I had a dog named Midnight, both completely black with white chests and paws. Anyway, we had many similar interests, but most importantly, we were both Christians!

I was praying for courage to talk to the kids about God all week, and I finally got the chance. God gave me boldness and bravery to ask Damian if he "considered" himself a Christian. He said, yes and went into detail as why. This guy had seriously committed his life to Christ! I was enthusiastic and shared my testimony with him. Supposedly, he once memorized the entire book of Philippians – my favorite book of the Bible! As I was talking to this brother in Christ, we shared each others' hopes, dreams, and struggles. I told him about how I lost my only friend in 6th grade because I had tried to share my faith with her. Little did I know, he was struggling with the same issue! He explained how he was very lonely and didn't have many friends because of his faith. The orphanage is a Christian orphanage. All of the children are required to attend church every Sunday. All of them have heard the gospel message and understands the concepts. However, few actually consider themselves Christians. Few live their lives for Jesus. And those few are persecuted! God used me in the most unexpected way by encouraging Damian to share his faith despite the persecution. I encouraged him to pray for courage and told him I am convinced God put him in that orphanage for a reason – to be a light in that dark place and proclaim the good news. He looked at me with a skeptical look and doubted that! I told him I am and would continue to pray for him. I shared so many experiences and stories and told him about my blog. At the end of the day, after many pictures, I gave him my e-mail and told him to get a Facebook. I haven't contacted him yet, but he remains in my prayers.

I am so thankful God gave me such a great opportunity and learning experience. It taught me that witnessing and carrying out the Great Commission as a Christian is important, but only half the importance. The other half is encouraging each other, as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Hebrews 3:13

^"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

God even proved his point to me while on the airplane. He purposely sat me next to a born-again Christian woman from the Bahamas on her way to Atlanta for a shopping trip. She and I also had so much in common! I desire to major in communications, which she majored in! She's a counselor at a Bahamian university and gave me advice on my future. She encouraged me by telling me God would use me to do great things in life and how I would be very successful. She told me that all of us impacted those children's lives at the orphanage in more ways then we'll ever know. We both agreed that God placed us seated together on that airplane for a reason. It was the perfect way to end my mountain top experience. I will never forget this trip. It has impacted me so much. I feel blessed. God has blessed me and my family with so much! I have parents who love me dearly, and yet take advantage of them. I take for granted my family and my God. I am so fortunate to have the God of the universe as a best friend. I am so thankful to know that my eternity is in Heaven, in fellowship with Jesus Christ, the Savior of my life. My desire is that each of those children might experience that and know that God loves them. My desire is that Damian and the other few Christians might be encouraged to be bold and pray for courage. My desire is that I will use this experience to be a better daughter, sister, friend, and follower of Christ.

Psalm 36:5-7

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.

How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men
find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

-All nature pictures taken by Bubbly ;) in Nassau, Bahamas. Pictures of orphanage kids with me taken by youth group friends or other orphanage kids.