to the ends of the earth...

Ten years ago when I was in 3rd grade, the YWAM seed was placed in my heart. In missionary club, we were introduced to YWAM Homes of Hope, an organization that builds homes for people in Mexico (and other places). I had the opportunity to go on one of their trips that year with my dad and some other friends from school. Little did I know that this was the beginning of a much larger story God had in store for me (and others).

I've had the opportunity twice since to go back and participate in a YWAM build, once in 6th grade and once about a month ago. Quick pause: anyone who is looking for an introductory mission trip or one for younger kids this is perfect! It's only 4 days long, you stay on a YWAM run base which is very nice and comfortable, and it is a relatively easy process. So go for it!

There were several lessons I learned while participating on this build. Here they are:

1. Smiles are universal. We built a house this last time for a family of 5. Blanca and Pedro were the parents of their three kids: Pedro (16), Carlos (14), and Lluvia (11). Reese (my sister) and Lluvia quickly became friends. While they couldn't speak to each other due to the language barrier, they sure could have fun. They laughed, they painted each other instead of the house, and they played with the cats that were around. Because smiles are universal. A smile says a thousand words.

2. Joy can be found anywhere in any situation. As we were doing the dedication ceremony for the house (a SUPER moving and cool experience that I hopefully will put on this website when I get them) there were these two little kids in this little basin of water about the size of a laundry basket down the hill just giggling and playing with a couple of dolls. And they were just laughing, and it wasn't that silly, semi funny giggle. No, it was that deep throated, full on, joyous giggle as if the funniest thing had just happened. And all they had was a little tub of water and some dolls. They didn't have a swimming pool. They didn't have ten different kinds of barbies with outfits. They didn't have a huge house or electronics. It reminds me of the Bible verse saying "faith like a child."They didn't have the most lavished lifestyle. But they did find joy in what they did have. Despite their apparently small, sad, and poverty stricken life, they laughed. And laughed. And laughed, and laughed, and laughed for probably 45 minutes straight. Because they had joy despite their circumstances in what they had right in front of them, the things that were going right in their life, instead of sadness for what they didn't have.

3. Thankfulness. Myself, Reese, and a few other people from our team had a chance to take the whole family shopping at a grocery store with more money then they had ever had the chance to spend. And when we asked what the little kids wanted, they picked out school supplies. SCHOOL SUPPLIES. There are thousands of kids in America (me) who HATE (hated) picking out school supplies. It reminds them school is about to start. And these kids could have picked anything. And they picked school supplies. (well, also some axe body spray and hair gel because I guess all teenage boys need that). It just reminds me to be thankful for the amazing opportunities I have here in America. Being thankful for what you have instead of being ungrateful for what you don't leads to a more fulfilled and joyous (like those little kids down the hill) lifestyle.

4. They don't sing Feliz Cumpleanos in Mexico. That's an American made Mexican thing. So is cheese on your tacos. They don't do that in Mexico either. HUGE bummer. But I guess I should be thankful for what I do have ;)

5. Hope changes generations. This house we built got the children off dirt floors and lowered the sicknesses they could have gotten. It protects them from weather. It shields them from crime and robbery. It gives them a clean space to work and eat and sleep. It gives them hope for a better tomorrow. It improves their place to do homework, helping them get more done and to keep them in school. It brings hope for not only them but for their generations to come. It also provides them with the opportunity to bless others in their community. Like a chain reaction, hope spreads out and down, planting roots for years and years to come.

My time in Mexico was exactly what I needed when I needed it. God showed me some things inside myself that I need to work on as well as an increased fire for my future YWAM adventure. I cannot wait to get to bring that same hope that this house brought this family and many generations to come to the rest of the world. This world is dying. People are dying without knowing Jesus. People are being sexually abused. Children are dying of completely treatable diseases. Hunger and dehydration take so many lives each day. Suicide rates are climbing. Hope is being lost. But it isn't gone. Spoiler alert: Jesus wins. He already has won. He has victory over sex trafficking. He has victory over abuse. He has victory over disease. He has victory over. He has victory over our physical needs. He has victory over suicide, shame, guilt, rejection, hatred, sin. He has victory over all the darkness that squeezes out the light of Hope in the world. And we have victory in HIM. We just need to bring that hope and victory to the world. How???? We can do this by prayer and spiritual warfare. From right where you are, declare Jesus' victory over disease. Over sexual abuse. Over suicide, shame, guilt, rejection, and sin. Pray for and stand on behalf of those who can't or don't even know. Pray for the hurting and sick in your city, your state, your country, and the world. Pray for those who are being abused daily that they would find freedom from their abusers in the name of Jesus. Pray for those who are thinking of committing suicide. Pray that they know their worth in Jesus. Pray they know how beloved, wanted, and treasured they are by Jesus. Pray for the sick and diseased. Pray that Jesus, Jehovah Rapha, the Great Physician, will touch their lives and heal them in miraculous ways. Pray for those who don't know Jesus. Pray that they would be extraordinarily touched by Jesus in a mighty way that they would find Him. Another way you can help is by going on mission trips. If you feel God calling you to go somewhere and do something, do it. You won't regret it. If He is calling you, He will get you there, and He will equip you in the ways you need. Take that step of faith. Or maybe God is calling you to give. I would like to challenge everyone who reads this to donate $20 to another organization. Ill list a couple links below of ones you can donate and support that bring Hope to the world. Leave a comment on what organization you donated to and I'll donate to that one too! Don't give up on the world. Fight for hope for the world, whether that be physically, prayerfully, or financially, it ALL makes a difference.

https://www.wateraid.org/us/?gclid=CjwKCAjwtO7qBRBQEiwAl5WC28ru_FXJO8y6pIZ4p0ZF5tPToHovPg9149VsfcfmXPSAEyVi8ZusOhoCVWwQAvD_BwE -----> build wells in Africa

https://www.unitedway.org/our-impact/featured-programs/end-human-trafficking# ----> fight to rescue victims of human trafficking around the world

https://www.restoredinc.org/ ----> fight to end human trafficking right here in Indiana

https://donate.unicefusa.org/page/contribute/save-children-from-famine-31975?utm_campaign=20190801_Brand&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_content=fhelp4thankyou1&ms=cpc_dig_2019_Brand_20190801_google_fhelp4thankyou1_delve_E2001&initialms=cpc_dig_2019_Brand_20190801_google_fhelp4thankyou1_delve_E2001&gclid=CjwKCAjwtO7qBRBQEiwAl5WC2xjpKNkvffZKRRwj5HzLyruIgW-OPBEWkhCW_B5ksRkj6s8CPaBctRoCRtsQAvD_BwE ----> fight to end famine around the world

and so many more organizations that could use YOUR help. Pick one the Lord is laying on your heart. Donate. Help save a life. You might not be able to change the world but you can change someone's world. Let me know in the comments what organization you donated to and I'll donate too!