Adventures in Missions

But REALLY, What’s the Point of Being a Missionary?

As missionaries we often hear "Why, what's the point?" Is it for more passport stamps, to play with kids, to see the world? Or as we believe, is it to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and heal the sick? Passporter, Brittany Starr went through the same questioning, and you might be surprised at what she discovered. I get that question a lot, [why], but apart from God it's all just humanitarian aid. In the words of our contact Paul, "God is what makes missionaries different…" So, that being said, what is the point of being a missionary? To bring...

In Antigua!

June 4, 2013
Adventures
Guatemala

Hello Everyone! Team Guatemala is safe and sound in the beautiful city of Guatemala! Our amazing contact Luis picked us up from the airport and has been showing us around our new home. We've been spending the afternoon settling in and getting to know out surroundings. We will soon be posting more blogs about our time here. 🙂 – Team Guatemala Leaders Roni and Mark 🙂

How I Found Jesus Dancing on Moldy Cardboard

Robin Brooks searched for Jesus for years in the comfort of small town America. It wasn't until she stepped into his world, amongst the hurting, dirty, and dying, that she could see him with clear eyes. It was there that Robin, in the weakness of her own heart, finally found him. I spent six years looking for God. I looked for him in my high school. I searched for him on my college campus. I poured all my free time into ministries. I hopped on a plane and prayed that he would be in one of the 11 countries I’d visit during the World Race. I thought maybe if I served enough...

Join Us in Bringing Hope to Moore: Relief Trips Now Available

It's been just a week after the devastating tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma, and we know many of you are ready to act. After identifying areas where we can best serve our Oklahoma neighbors, we are sending relief teams out beginning this weekend. We are working alongside local authorities, agencies, and churches to determine the most strategic use of your time in the affected areas throughout the summer. You can sign up for either a four- or eight-day trip, where you will respond to physical and emotional needs. Be a helping hand and a listening ear to those...

Break My Heart, God

Disaster Relief Update: We are offering 4-day and 8-day relief trips to Moore, Oklahoma throughout the summer, starting in June. Click here for trip dates and details. Alyssa Benson and Allison Gudeman worked in two different kinds of ministry during their Passport 2013 experiences. Alyssa loved on and cared for orphans in poverty-stricken Guatemala, while Allison walked the streets of Thailand, reaching out to women in prostitution. Though they served in different environments, Alyssa and Allison were given a new perspective and challenged to see those they...

You Can Help Oklahoma Heal and Rebuild

On Monday, May 20, the community in Moore, Oklahoma was torn apart by a devastating tornado. In difficult times, no words of sympathy can ease the grief, the loss of family members, homes…lives are destroyed. During times like this, those of us watching feel helpless. But we are not. You are not. You can be the hands and feet to meet needs that matter. You can sift though the debris to recover precious bits of history. You can help Moore, Oklahoma rebuild. We are working alongside local authorities, agencies, and churches to determine the most strategic use of...

Cry, Dry, and Repeat

In a culture so commonly linked to fiestas and joy and celebration, an underlying hopelessness lingers. Puerto Rico is a place of life and joy and family, but deep down people crave healing. There is a constant pain that doesn't seem to go away. Connie Rock has led multiple trips to Puerto Rico, but the lasting change in her own life surprised her even more than the changes she saw in the people she came to serve. True story. A man was born blind. The disciples asked Jesus what he or his parents did wrong that would cause the blindness. His answer below… John 9:3...

Are You Ready for Your “Yes”?

In May 2012, Lexie Saxion packed her bags and left on a mission trip to Thailand. Immersed in the redlight culture of Bangkok, she found herself questioning the reasons God led her there. Was her presence actually making any difference? Why did she say "yes" to this trip? The first in night in Thailand, we walked the noisy streets of the redlight district and prayed. We prayed for freedom from oppression and strength for our own hearts. The next night was our first time in the bars. We sat and talked with girls, buying them drinks and giving them...

Wooing Love: What an Orphan Taught Me About Being a Beloved Daughter

The greatest purpose of our love, is for those around us to know the truth of where it comes from. Passporter Alyssa Benson shares of her recent heartache, and revelation of this lesson at an ophanage in Guatemala. We stare into each other’s eyes, but she does not move. She sits, observing, but not being affected by the joy, the screams, or the tears around her — emotionless. No matter what I do she doesn’t react. But I know I'm not supposed to leave her side. There's a greater purpose — even if I don't understand it. The time comes...

When Love is Enough: A Revelation for God’s Children

It's easy to lose sight of what we, as a community of believers, do for the Kingdom. Whether it's volunteering locally or taking the leap to serve overseas, sometimes the moment seems underestimated and even insignificant. Passporter Brittany Collins experienced the same struggle, and eventually revelation, in the Philippines. Brittany's breakthrough occured in the simplicity of James 1:27, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." Everyday in the Philippines I got...

Thy Kingdom Come

May 6, 2013
Adventures
Guatemala

"Where do I go from here?" a question haunting me for the past three weeks as we come to a close here in Guatemala. Do I go to school? Do I go back to playing ball again? Do I stay home? Work, and save up for another trip? The possibilities are endless. Here's what I really wanted to know "Where will I find the most purpose?" In all honesty, that was all spurred by fear. Fear of not having purpose. Of me being a nobody. I want to be somebody, we all do. I want to feel like I'm a part of something. Something bigger than...

Happy Birthday to me

May 6, 2013
Adventures
Guatemala

Today, on May 5th, was my 19th birthday. It is also my last day in Guatemala. So, it is time to tip my hat to this season, and invite the next one in like an old friend. What this season has shown me is that love is a choice. Love is something Christ knew so well. Christ was the embodiment of love, and He made sure to teach that to the people He met. So, what are we doing? Besides that, what am I doing? When people are around me, do I love them like Christ? Do they feel the love of God? Do they feel a general tie to my spirit? These are questions I ask myself while...

Author: Adventures