Christian Bunch went on a 2 week Ambassador trip to Jamaica in 2010. And that trip changed his life.

My first encounter with missions was on an Adventures Ambassador trip to Jamaica in 2010. My life was completely changed as a result.

It began when I saw the power of God in a tangible and physical way for the first time. A severely lactose intolerant teammate accidentally ate cheese at Training Camp, one of the Adventures staff prayed for her—and she was healed as a result.

I was shocked by this because I didn’t think God did those kinds of things.

Then, the night before my team left for Jamaica, a girl named Emily came up to me and said, “Are you Christian?”

Confused, I said, “Yeah. Why?”

“Well I was praying yesterday and felt like God told me to tell you something, so I asked around and finally found you.”

More confused I said, “Okay. So what’d He tell you?”

“He said to tell you that you were going to do huge things for Him.”

“Who? Me?”

“Yes. Stick with Jesus and He will do things through you that you never imagined possible.”

The next day, we left the country. And my life hasn’t been the same since.

*Christian with his team in 2010

My trip to Jamaica was my first glimpse of a poverty-stricken country. I realized Americans can be very self-centered without even realizing it. Everything is about us all the time. When I left materialism, I was hooked.

That two week trip changed my life and inspired me to continue a life dedicated to serving God. It taught me that, as James 1:27 says, truly living for God means living for someone else.

It really is better to give than receive.

Since then, I have been on 6 other short term mission trips and I am currently spending a year at an orphanage in India. I feel so much joy and peace while serving the Lord outside my comfort zone. Being away from familiarity has grown my faith immeasurably. I wouldn’t trade the experiences I’ve had or the relationships I’ve made for the world.

I still don’t know what “huge things” entails—I’m content with hanging out with 13 orphans everyday or leading kids on short term trips. Whatever God’s will is is a “huge” calling, and I’m ready to step into it.

I still keep in contact with some of my team members and leaders even though we haven’t seen each other in five years. What God did for and through me during those two weeks in Jamaica will continue to impact me for the rest of my life.

Are you between 14-18 years old and want to go on a 2, 3, or 4 week mission trip to the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, or Southeast Asia? CLICK HERE to find out more!

For 1 week adult mission trips to Jamaica, CLICK HERE.