The back of a cop car with handcuffs, the cop has an ounce of weed that I had just been caught with. I am in the back high out of mind, laughing to myself not again. This is not the first time this as happened, thinking to myself and most likely not the last. I never thought that God could use a guy like me, but yet he did. God uses people that never thought they were worthy! I never wanted to go on mission, because I did not want to be labeled as “One of those Christians”. But when I gave my life over it was never my choice.
It was the summer of 2002 fresh out of school. I had been in a BD school or a school for “Bad Kids”, and after the summer I had planned on going to the top cooking school in the Midwest. For the summer I had been asked to be a part of a mission trip across the Midwest. First I was like why? Then I said ok but in the back of my head I was thinking who does missions in the US? I never would have thought that a small town in Nebraska would change my life forever! Before we left someone told me a quote they live their life by “Where he leads me I will follow and what he feeds me I will swallow!” Boy did that ever become true.
Everyone on my team had never been in trouble, they all were good kids. I knew a couple of people so they knew how I was. They helped make it a little easier, I still had a label of a “Though Kid.” And then we get to our first stop North Platte, NE, how could God use me here? And then it all soon became apparent. We would be working at the Corp and also at the Youth Home. At the Youth Home we would be fixing a garage or so I thought. It started out as fixing a garage until one of the teens starting talking to me. He found that I had a lot in common with him. So more teens started to talk to me, and this was the easiest thing in the world for me to do! I had done day camps before, so I knew I could do it. But I wanted to be a cook, so this would just be something for the summer, like day camps. These teens respected the fact that I had been like them and I had changed, it gave them a hope of a better life! I did not realize what was going on, but God was working in me!
My teammates joked behind my back and said “He is going to be a chef right? Oh wait till God tells him different!” One of the teens asked me to pray for the when we were going to be leaving so I did. I think that was when it first hit me that my life was not really for me to say what I want to do with it. On the way to our second stop we were in a hotel and doing a debriefing. My teams all talk about how they did not do that well at our first stop. And said to me how well I did, I was like ok. Then one of them said to me we have all been saying this about you “Are you sure you are going to be a cook?” It hit me hard I was not listening to what God wanted me to do. I realized missions and youth work is where god wanted me to be. So when I got home I changed schools and started working to get a job in the field of Youth Work or missions.
But God works in his own time, and it did not come right away. In fact it took several years. The journey that changed my life would take me to more than just a small town in the far Midwest! That next summer I went to Nigeria, and that as well changed my life.
Nigeria helped me realize that even when poor you can rejoice for the lord. It was great seeing smiles one people’s face that had nothing! Yet they still rejoiced in the joy of the lord, they taught me more than I taught them. They taught me to put all my faith in the Lord and he will provide everything I need. I ended up giving away all my clothes but the ones on my back. I came home and my family and friends even saw a difference in me. It brought me joy to give something so simple, even knowing I did not have much to give. I will always remember the faith of the people of Nigeria.
The summer after that I was asked to be a part of a team going to Bolivia. Little did I know that Bolivia would take my heart away. We worked a lot doing painting in the day and VBS at night. The people were great and caring. One of our last stops was at a Boys Home in the Mountains of La Paz, the capital city and the highest capital city in the world. Once again the kids that no one else wanted anything to do with are the ones that took my heart. It was like they were family to me. Something simple that made us become friends was my love for Hacky Sack. These kids also had nothing but had joy knowing someone cared enough to just play a simple game with them, and paint their rooms. I know some day good will send me back to play a game of Hacky Sack with a whole new group of Bolivia’s young people.
So missions made me look at my faith and see that it is all I need. It changed my life knowing that it was no longer mine. So my challenge to you is just allow God to use you and I promise you will have and adventure of a Life time. It may not be missions or youth work but God has a adventure for your life.
“ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. “ Jeremiah 29:11
Missions it really rocked my world and changed my life. But it was all part of my plan, go find yours and seek what God wants for you.
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