Adventures in Missions

Celebrating Unsung Heroes – Epoch Awards 2013

February 19, 2013
Adventures
Missions (General)

Celebrating Unsung Heroes Unsung hero n: a person who makes a substantive yet unrecognized contribution; a person whose bravery is unknown Epoch 2013 honors the unsung heroes; the people who cross the boulevard or the world to serve where poverty, drought, HIV/AIDS, sex trafficking, homelessness, and fear reign. For these heroes, this is more than planting churches and discipling – this is life. This October, we're hosting presenters like Jon Acuff ("Quitter," "Stuff Christians Like"), Bob Goff ("Love Does"), and All Sons &...

The Best of #AdventuresInLove

February 14, 2013
Adventures
Mission Trip Stories

Last week we asked you to share stories about how you fell in love on your mission trip. We asked you to post them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram so that we could showcase all that God is doing all over the world. And you responded. You told us stories of little ones who captured your heart. Stories of the elderly that spoke wisdom into your life. Stories of countries that became home. We've been keeping track of your stories – and have been unexpectedly blessed by your hearts. So we wanted to share our favorites of #AdventuresInLove. Love really is an adventure,...

We have Friends in Low Places

February 14, 2013
Adventures
Guatemala

Today, I truly felt the Father's heart being my only substance. I have always had problems showing emotions or truly feeling anything. It comes from a long time of suppressing and thinking that emotions and God are not what should fuel my tie to my Creator. But, that's the thing, God has created emotions for His glory. Be praying that I am continuously vulnerable to the Holy Spirit and not just open to what He does. But, back to my story: There is a lot of children at this dump that we do ministry at, and a special muchacho named "Igner" or "Egner" (his...

Ignorant Consumption vs Keen Reception: How Glitter Came To Spell ‘City Dump’ For Me.

February 14, 2013
Adventures
Guatemala

I am looking down at the glitter speckling my arms, however, I don’t know that I really want to wash the flashing spots off. The sight brings up images of dear children who let their emotions flow free; who have a deep, raw love for anyone who gives them the time of day. This annoyingly adhered glitter reflects memories of a mother and father sorting garbage as a means to an end. This is the Puerto Barrios Dump. Outside the sister towns of Puerto Barrios and Santo Tomas is the dump that serves the surrounding area. Of course, this is a fact of life...

17,000 Words from Nicaragua: A Passport Photo Journey

Nick Johnson is a member of our Passport Immersion squad, and he spent the first three months of his trip living and serving in Nicaragua. If a picture’s worth 1,000 words, Nick’s recent blog post speaks volumes. Vision Nicaragua was the ministry that hosted us while we did our outreach. We also ministered at the base in Chinandega, Nicaragua. We lived in the yellow building in the distance. The mountain in the back is an active volcano just miles away from the base. On our second day there the volcano erupted. And spearing giant mutated bugs became a daily...

“I have set my love on you”

February 11, 2013
Adventures
Guatemala

"Therefore, behold I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her." Hosea 2:14 Listening seems to be the more passive part of a conversation when in actuality it takes much more effort to listen than to speak. Furthermore, it is essential to actually having a conversation. Yet for some reason when praying I often think I'm conversing with my Lord when in actuality I don't pause to listen to what He has to say. I make my requests and give him my burdens then go on my merry way. Last week the team went out on a prayer walk...

A Broken Heart for a Hopeless Man

February 9, 2013
Adventures
Guatemala

Hola? Donde? Que? Como se llama? The Spanish words are swirling through my head, every day all day here. I can never put all these foreign words together to make a reasonable sentence let alone understand what anyone is saying to me. It would be an understatement to say that I’ am beyond words frustrated with the language barrier. One thing that doesn’t require understanding of words is seeing deep into people eyes and looking into their heart. Yesterday in the market I became haunted and forever marked by piercing eyes that I will NEVER forget. As we walked...

We are Called

February 9, 2013
Adventures
Guatemala

I've begun to realize how called we really are to give up everything for the kingdom, the gospel's sake, and for Christ. Paul talks about us being crucified to the world and that ties with how God sent His only begotten Son for this disgusting world, but He still loved it. I was reading the story of Bartimaeus in Mark 10, and Christ is walking around in Jericho. What Christ's does next is completely out of the ordinary: "So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called", Jesus called Bartimaeus to himself even though other people were trying to keep him...

How To Find Love in Unexpected Places

While on a prayer walk down a bar-filled road of one of the most visited places in Thailand, God nudged Abby Dapron and her teammate, both Passport participants, to get in the ocean. Not dressed for a swim, Abby and Nikki decided to obey God anyway. Who did the meet when they jumped in the water? “Ok, here we are, God. We’re swimming. In our clothes. By this kid. And we don’t know why. So if you wanna tell us, that would be great.” After 20 minutes of waiting in the salty ocean, Abby and Nikki were tired. Drenched in wet,...

The keys are in HIS hands

February 7, 2013
Adventures
Guatemala

When we went to church last Sunday night, I stood from my seat and watched as the church community and my teammates all went up to the front of the church and were singing, jumping, and dancing for God. Everyone was so pumped up and excited, and all I did was stand there. I felt lifeless, energyless, and emotionless. I knew something wasn't right. I mean I'm not usually one to go crazy and dance around like no ones watching, but to do it for my king isn't something I felt timid about. My problem was that I didn't even feel like I should have been up there at all. I...

Together as One

February 7, 2013
Adventures
Guatemala

We are now in the 4th week since this trip began. Having been surrounded by a different yet vibrant language, culture, and landscape, and people group, i know i have already been changed forever. My peace and security is challenged as i am i introduced to new and thought provoking experiences. Yet when i am weak, Christ can be made strong. He alone is my real security, peace, and power. As a christian family we often have times of feedback. Every person must speak encouraging or constructive words to another out of love and care. I...

Nazareth (Pt. 2)

February 6, 2013
Adventures
Guatemala

Before I left the fickle weather of my home in the northeast for the thick, warm, bay air of Guatemala, the Great Father told me something about children. A dear friend of mine had a cousin pass and leave behind a six-month-old child. As I was praying for my friend and the family, God said, “You’re going to see a generation where 12-year-olds walk in the authority of their Father. Dear little Nazareth is living that. As she sat in my arms I noticed a puckered scar on the inside of her arm. I was told later that during a cooking accident...

Author: Adventures