Participants:
Series Code: OTG
Program Code: OTG000050A
|
00:01 Scattered across the globe,
00:02 Adventist World Aviation has mission outposts 00:05 strategically placed in rural locations. 00:08 Often, aviation is the only way 00:11 to reach these remote villages, tucked away within jungles, 00:15 or scattered along rural tundras. 00:18 AWA connects the inhabitants of these villages 00:21 with the care that they need by employing aircraft. 00:25 Traveling great distances, 00:27 AWA missionaries become a lifeline 00:30 to those who are in dire need. 00:33 Adventist World Aviation is dedicated to saving people 00:36 both physically and eternally. 00:39 With aviation, 00:40 AWA can reach those off the beaten track 00:43 and share the love of Jesus 00:46 to the seemingly unreachable of this world. 01:34 One of AWA's mission bases 01:36 is located in the Philippines on the island of Palawan. 01:41 This mission aviation based was established in 2005. 01:46 The base is centrally located, 01:48 enabling missionaries 01:50 to reach outlying areas with aircraft. 01:52 The Philippine Islands are comprised 01:55 of over 7000 islands. 01:57 Some of these small islands are isolated 02:00 because boats cannot make the dangerous journey 02:03 to reach them during typhoon seasons. 02:06 Journeys that would take a week by boat 02:09 can be traveled in just a few hours time 02:11 with AWA aircraft. 02:14 For this reason, 02:15 AWA was established here 02:17 to be able to support 02:19 the smaller outlying islands with aviation, 02:23 and help carry aid supplies 02:25 and pastors to these remote islands. 02:29 The history of this project has not been a smooth one. 02:32 A couple years ago, 02:33 this project suffered some major setbacks 02:36 has been sitting vacant ever since. 02:39 The LaBore Family have been missionaries 02:41 with Adventist World Aviation, 02:44 serving in Guyana since 2005. 02:47 When the LaBores heard of the needs of this project 02:50 in the Philippines, 02:52 they prayerfully made the decision to relocate 02:55 from their mission field in Guyana 02:57 to this project in the Philippines 02:59 and in effort to revive 03:01 this much needed aviation outfit. 03:05 Our family started as missionaries in 2005, 03:08 we went to Guyana, South America. 03:09 And we spent over nine and a half years there 03:12 setting up a mission aviation program. 03:14 And we flew over 7,000 people 03:16 in our airplanes, 03:17 affected a lot of lives down there. 03:19 It was a great work. We really enjoyed it. 03:20 God, it was a blessing 03:22 and everything that we did there. 03:23 And it's amazing, really, that we did, 03:25 it was by His grace alone. 03:26 And when we saw the Philippines project 03:29 having some trouble a few years back, 03:31 I talked to the Pastor Rick Swaningson, 03:33 just mentioning that I would love to come down 03:36 and just see what I could do to help get it back on track 03:38 and he thought that was a great idea. 03:40 You know, and I felt the experience 03:42 that we gained in Guyana would apply here 03:44 and we'd be able to really put some knowledge 03:48 into how we might set up a good program here. 03:50 And now that I'm here, 03:52 I feel even more encouraged that we're on the right track. 03:54 This is really what God wants us to do. 03:56 And we know that we're gonna see 03:58 some amazing things happen in His timing 04:00 where we have to be patient, but I know that He has a plan. 04:03 And I expect that will be gradually revealed 04:05 as we progress in this project. 04:07 So we're pretty excited about it. 04:08 When the LaBores transitioned here from Guyana, 04:11 they left the Guyana project 04:12 in very capable hands of other AWA missionaries, 04:17 Bill, Laura and their family 04:20 are now ready to embark on a new adventure 04:22 of raising a project from the ground 04:25 and with God's blessings, 04:27 transform it into a very busy and active aviation base. 04:33 We're just really excited to be here. 04:35 We've been waiting for several years 04:37 to make the transition from Guyana to the Philippines, 04:40 we saw such a need here. 04:43 Our teammates are doing wonderful work in Guyana. 04:45 So we're really happy about that. 04:47 And we're just excited to be here in Palawan 04:50 and to pick up the project and take it to new levels. 04:54 The idea that, you know, we might be able to be involved 04:57 in some small way 04:59 of really bringing this thing to fruition 05:01 or maybe to the plan that God originally had for it. 05:06 It is emotional and it's, I think, 05:10 there's no better place to be than the center of God's will 05:12 and when you know 05:14 that this is where God wants you, 05:15 there's a sense of connection you feel with the Lord 05:18 and that to me it means a lot. 05:20 I just... 05:21 That's why I'm a missionary to be honest with you. 05:22 I just like that... 05:24 I like to see God work, 05:25 I like to be in situations where I know I can't do it, 05:28 but God's gonna have to work and do it, 05:29 and I can see Him do things that just, 05:32 you just don't get to see back home often. 05:35 Reviving a project does not come 05:37 without its challenges. 05:39 One of the first things that LaBores must do 05:41 when they arrive in the Philippines 05:43 is to find a place to live. 05:45 In essence, 05:47 it's almost as if they were starting 05:48 the project from scratch. 05:50 When they arrived, 05:52 the LaBores had no house in waiting for them. 05:54 They arrived knowing 05:56 that they would need to construct a house 05:57 on the AWA property which currently lies vacant. 06:02 Making the best of the situation, 06:04 the LaBores pitched a couple of tents to live in. 06:08 One for Bill and Laura 06:10 and the other for their two children, 06:12 Danny and Micah. 06:14 This is their living accommodations 06:16 for the next couple of months 06:19 until a new mission house is built. 06:22 Here in Sapangan, 06:23 we are starting out with square one. 06:25 We are building a house. 06:27 As right now we have nowhere to stay. 06:29 We're staying in a tent. 06:30 We're living out of a tent is kind of interesting. 06:32 I mean, you know, we've done it a lot 06:33 and we've been camping. 06:34 This is the first time I've actually had to live 06:36 out of a tent 06:37 where I have to work in there. 06:39 That's where I do my computer work 06:40 and my correspondence 06:41 and, you know, all that kind of thing. 06:43 It's exciting. 06:44 I think it's motivating. 06:46 I don't mind having to deal with living in a tent knowing 06:48 that things are going to change in the future 06:50 and the work we're doing now 06:51 will be a long-lasting legacy that we can leave here. 06:54 And efforts to help the LaBores transition 06:56 into more permanent living conditions, 06:59 Jud Wickwire, 07:00 Vice President of Operations for Adventist World Aviation 07:04 has arranged for multiple teams to travel to Palawan 07:07 to build a missionary house 07:09 on a vacant piece of AWA property. 07:12 This land will be the new mission base 07:15 and will have on it missionary housing, 07:17 an airstrip, 07:19 a hangar for the aircraft and farmland. 07:23 So the mission house that we're building here 07:25 is for Bill and Laura LaBore. 07:26 They are, 07:28 Bill is the project manager here 07:29 and Laura is the pilot for this project. 07:33 We know the LaBores very well, 07:35 and our family worked with them 07:36 in Guyana for five years side by side so we're, 07:39 of course, we're very good friends 07:40 and we just are so excited 07:42 to be able to help them get established here 07:46 with a home to be able to work out of 07:48 and to launch, 07:50 re-launch this work here in the Philippines. 07:53 And a huge step forward with getting the airstrip done. 07:56 A place for them to live. 07:58 A construction crew from the United States 08:00 volunteered to oversee the building project. 08:03 They were the first to arrive before the other teams 08:06 to begin laying the groundwork 08:08 for the construction of the mission home. 08:10 Before 08:12 the other volunteer teams arrive, 08:14 this professional construction group 08:16 needs to prepare 08:17 and make sure 08:18 they have the framework in place 08:20 before the others arrive. 08:22 The team of professionals 08:24 has dedicated their personal time 08:26 and finances 08:27 to traveling from the United States 08:30 to make sure that the LaBores do not have to live in tents 08:33 for very long. 08:47 I'm Jud Wickwire, I'm the Vice President 08:48 of Operations of Adventist World Aviation. 08:50 Right now we're in Barangay, Sapangan, 08:52 which is the location 08:54 of the Adventist World Aviation airbase 08:55 in the Philippines. 08:57 And we just have 08:58 a really exciting event happening right now, 09:00 we're building a mission house 09:01 for the mission pilot project manager family. 09:05 And we have two groups of students here 09:09 on two back-to-back mission trips, 09:11 to construct the house 09:12 along with a number of other volunteers 09:15 to get the concrete work done 09:16 and that sort of thing, 09:18 but it's just been an amazing experience 09:19 for everyone. 09:21 To encourage the mission mindset, 09:23 Jud Wickwire has arranged two separate mission trips 09:27 of high school students 09:28 who will be involved in the construction project. 09:32 And, of course, the mission trip for youth 09:33 is far more than just coming 09:34 and building something for someone. 09:36 It's also a rich spiritual, 09:40 cultural experience for them 09:42 and we want to make that 09:43 as abundant as possible for them 09:45 and a growth that they can take back home with them 09:48 for years to come. 09:50 The thing about these mission projects 09:52 is these young people are getting a chance 09:54 to do something with their hands 09:56 that is gonna impact God's kingdom and they, 10:00 I believe, often receive 10:01 the seed of missions in their heart. 10:03 When they see this happen, 10:05 I would not be surprised 10:06 if many of them come back to be missionaries. 10:09 You know, maybe not here but other areas of the country 10:12 because of the experiences they have here, 10:13 so it's pretty cool. 10:14 The first team of students to arrive 10:16 is from the Okanagan Adventist Academy 10:19 in Kelowna, Canada. 10:21 This group of students will arrive 10:23 to help construct the walls and framework of the home. 10:27 The students might not have all the knowledge and skills 10:29 that they need to construct a home, 10:32 but they arrive with willing and eager hearts. 10:35 The primary work for them 10:37 will to be assist the skilled construction crew 10:40 and help them lay cement, block, and mix cement 10:45 for the advancement of the project. 10:48 When we arrived here, the construction was, 10:52 it was just bare bones, 10:53 there were just pillars and a foundation laid, 10:56 just kind of basically showing us 10:58 the outline of what would be the house. 11:00 On the first day all the kids went out there 11:02 and every hand was busy. 11:06 But it quickly became apparent 11:08 that it would be a lot of work. 11:09 At first, it was a little daunting 11:11 because it was a bunch of tasks I hadn't done before. 11:14 But the guys on the job were really helpful. 11:17 And I learned how to work with cement 11:19 and I ended up laying some block, 11:21 which was really heavy, but it's really cool. 11:24 So I built a couple of walls. 11:27 So we got the foundation finished 11:29 by the time the academy groups arrived. 11:31 And the first one came, we're so happy to have them, 11:33 have more helping hands. 11:35 And they helped lay more block, mix more cement, 11:38 and we quickly built up the walls. 11:41 So God has provided just so many resources 11:43 to make this possible. 11:45 And it's come together as only God could plan. 11:49 Travis and Michelle Maloney came in advance 11:51 and began the groundwork for the construction, 11:54 got the construction far enough along 11:56 that when the students arrived, 11:57 they all had so many tasks that they could complete 12:01 and activities 12:03 that they could really sink their teeth into 12:05 and work hard mixing cement and laying block. 12:07 Just speaking from my own experience, 12:09 and I learned to lay blocks on mission trips years ago. 12:14 And it's a skill 12:16 that I don't necessarily excel at 12:17 but I can, I can do that. 12:19 And the only reason I'm able to do that 12:21 is because a leader on a mission trip 12:23 when I was younger took the time 12:25 to show me how to do that. 12:28 And so, in this case now with these young people, 12:32 the experienced construction people 12:34 are taking the time 12:35 to show them how to do some of these tasks. 12:37 We know, 12:38 they're not going to be experts at them, 12:39 but at least they can have the exposure 12:41 to some skills that maybe they didn't know 12:43 that they can do and hopefully, 12:45 they can apply that in something 12:47 that they do in future. 12:48 The work that awaits the students 12:50 is not an easy one. 12:51 Working outside in the hot Palawan sun 12:54 in the dusty field is exhausting. 12:57 When the students arrive, they met the challenge head on. 13:01 Each student excitedly takes a job 13:04 and faces the hard labor 13:06 that comes with working on a construction site. 13:09 This type of work is very new experience 13:12 for most of these students. 13:14 So we first got here, 13:16 it was definitely very flat and very, like, 13:20 looked like there's a lot of work 13:22 to be done. 13:23 But everybody was sure what to do 13:25 and we picked up on it pretty quickly, 13:27 I'd have to say. 13:29 And so we all just got to our jobs 13:30 and got to work 13:31 and there are people mixing cement, 13:33 there are people laying block. 13:34 And there are people scooping the mud 13:35 for the people laying block. 13:37 I think that everybody came together 13:38 really nicely 13:39 and worked as a team 13:41 to get the house to where it is today. 13:42 So when we first got here, we walked over to the job site, 13:47 where there is just a few pillars of cement, 13:50 and some piles of dirt and a cement mixer. 13:54 And then the next day when we went out there, 13:56 we found out that we had to use everything 13:58 and build a bunch of walls. 14:01 Although they are not exceptionally skilled 14:03 or experienced in block construction, 14:06 none of the students feel left out. 14:09 The whole construction team works together 14:12 as the older more skilled tradesmen 14:15 teach the young students how to do the brickwork. 14:18 Brick by brick, 14:19 each wall is laid on the mission home, 14:22 and students and teachers work together. 14:26 When I first came here, 14:27 I didn't really know much of what I was doing. 14:29 At first, I was just shoveling some dirt 14:32 and then just burrowing it towards like the floors. 14:37 But then I had some help with some of the adults 14:39 and they really... 14:41 they were really patient with me 14:42 and they helped me to like, 14:44 lay some bricks a little bit, 14:46 helped me to cut some outlets out 14:49 and all that kind of stuff. 14:50 Basically I just asked what I could do 14:52 and then they taught me as I was going along. 14:55 So, yeah, I'm really enjoying it though. 14:59 The LaBore Family are not by standards 15:01 during this process. 15:03 From the very beginning 15:04 they were out there working 15:07 alongside the construction crew. 15:09 Each day the family is out there 15:11 working on the house with the construction teams. 15:15 They too are learning construction skills, 15:17 but they join efforts with the volunteers 15:20 to work on their future home. 15:22 Each wheel barrel of cement that is pushed, 15:25 each brick that is laid in place 15:28 is one step closer to reaching their goal. 15:31 The family is encouraged by all the young eager hearts 15:35 and busy hands 15:37 that surround them on the jobsite. 15:39 It's been fun seeing the house built. 15:42 Just to start off with a piece of grassy dirty land 15:46 and just to see it come up in 3D form is been fun. 15:51 Fun to see that, 15:53 "Oh, this is where the kitchen is gonna be, 15:54 and the bathroom," 15:55 and sometimes you know, 15:57 we'll say our house was not really our house. 15:58 This house is gonna be here 15:59 for many, many, many years to come 16:02 and will house many missionaries 16:03 we're praying. 16:05 But it's been a lot of fun 16:06 just to see being built up block by block 16:09 and we're looking forward 16:10 to seeing the finishing touches go on too. 16:13 Having the groups out there working makes me very joyful. 16:16 It's just knowing that they're helping you 16:22 build your own house. 16:24 It's really exciting. 16:28 It's kind of exciting to get the... 16:30 see the house getting built so fast. 16:33 It's gonna be exciting to have my own room. 16:36 Just as the LaBores are encouraged 16:38 to see the students work hard. 16:40 The volunteers are also equally as blessed 16:43 by getting to know the LaBore family 16:46 and seeing their dedication to this mission project. 16:49 I don't know, 16:50 we just had to get started to get our hands dirty. 16:52 And once we did that, 16:53 then I think we were really excited 16:54 to continue our jobs, 16:56 and once we met the people and the families 16:58 and so, whoever, who you were helping, 17:00 then it was easy to be excited about it and to work hard. 17:06 The students worked diligently on the construction site 17:09 day after day. 17:10 Each day that passes, 17:12 the walls on the mission house raise higher and higher. 17:16 Slowly, the sandy patch in the middle of an open field 17:20 transformed 17:21 into a recognizable building structure. 17:24 The exterior walls now stand tall 17:28 as the shape of a house starts to form. 17:31 Interior walls are also beginning 17:33 to take shape. 17:35 Many hands work harmoniously together 17:38 to erect this mission house. 17:40 After a full day's worth of work, 17:42 one would think 17:44 that the students would be worn out and exhausted 17:46 from their hard day's labor on the construction site. 17:49 However, after construction, 17:52 the students' days are only half over. 17:55 In addition to the building, 17:56 we had the privilege of doing a vacation bible school, 18:00 and that ran for a few nights or almost an entire week. 18:06 And we sang songs with the kids 18:08 and taught them a little bit about Jesus. 18:10 We've been running VBS at a local school here, 18:13 an elementary school 18:15 with over 80 kids that come every night. 18:20 And we just share our, 18:21 the love of God with them in any way we can 18:24 through having fun through games 18:26 or crafts that symbolize God's love 18:29 for the story of the day, the lesson, the object lesson. 18:34 They're really pure and innocent 18:35 and they know 18:37 how to brighten your day so fast 18:39 after a long day of work. 18:41 When you get there and see all the kids 18:43 and see how happy they are, 18:45 it really does make it worth it. 18:47 No matter how exhausted you feel. 18:49 The Vacation Bible School is the highlight of the day 18:52 for most students, 18:54 any fatigue that they might have felt 18:56 after a hard day's work 18:57 is quickly erased 18:59 as soon as they see the young village students 19:02 waiting for them and for VBS to start. 19:06 Throughout the day, I mean, it's hot, very hot, 19:09 and we get tired and sweaty 19:11 and we feel 19:12 like we don't really want to do anything. 19:13 But then in the evening, 19:16 we get to go and be with the kids. 19:18 So I think that in itself just re-energizes all of us, 19:23 is such a great experience to be with the kids 19:25 and get to just be a part of what they like to do. 19:30 And they teach us games and we teach them games 19:32 and it's just a great experience. 19:34 It's nice to see all the little kids 19:36 have their smiles when they see us 19:38 and when they get to play games and make crafts. 19:40 So I'm definitely gonna take back their smiles with me. 19:43 The Okanagan students gain a renewed sense of energy, 19:47 as they happily conduct 19:49 each evening's Vacation Bible School. 19:52 Night after night, 19:53 they teach young village children 19:55 to sing songs about Jesus, 19:57 they play games with the kids 19:59 and most importantly, 20:01 they share the love of Jesus with these young children. 20:05 The Vacation Bible School program 20:07 not only leaves a meaningful impact 20:09 on the young village children, 20:10 but 20:12 also on the Okanagan students themselves. 20:15 Something that's impact me 20:17 has definitely been the kids again, 20:19 like when you tell them or ask them like, 20:21 do you know that Jesus loves you? 20:22 And all their hands go up and they're like, 20:24 "Yes, yes, we know." 20:25 And that is something that I think 20:26 I definitely remember for a really long time. 20:30 The young village children capture the hearts 20:33 of the AWA volunteers. 20:35 For many, this is their first international mission trip. 20:40 This experience leaves a lasting impression on them. 20:43 It's been a really like eye-opening experience, 20:45 to see things I haven't seen 20:47 and talk to people 20:50 where there's a language barrier. 20:52 I've never really spoken to anyone 20:54 who hasn't fluently known English 20:57 as well as a different language 20:58 if they did know a different one. 21:00 So it's been a really interesting 21:02 and eye-opening experience for me, 21:03 when I've been quite sheltered I feel like all my life. 21:07 This trip has taught me 21:10 that even though others may have little, 21:12 they have much if it's with God, 21:15 and that's a really huge concept 21:18 that we sometimes miss back home. 21:20 I am really enjoying that. 21:22 That is one of the highlights of this trip. 21:24 The smiles on those children's faces, 21:27 it just warms my heart every evening to see that. 21:30 I think they'll look back on this experience, 21:33 positively and, 21:36 you know, be proud of the fact that they've built a house. 21:39 I think they'll be quick to remember their time 21:42 with the kids that they spent 21:43 at the Vacation Bible School events 21:47 that was almost an afterthought, 21:48 the main project here was building, 21:50 but I'm so glad we were able to include that 21:53 because it was very memorable 21:55 and whenever we said it was time to go 21:56 to Vacation Bible School that night, 21:59 the kids, our youth were very excited. 22:01 So I think they'll take that away, 22:03 just the joy and the kids you have. 22:08 The students have built meaningful relationships 22:12 through the nightly VBS program. 22:15 At the week's end 22:16 all the students welcome the Sabbath. 22:19 On Saturday morning, 22:21 AWA volunteers gathered to worship in the community 22:25 in a small single room bamboo church in Sapangan. 22:30 The simple bamboo church is overflowing 22:33 as it is packed 22:34 with an internationally diverse congregation. 22:38 Curious members from the community 22:39 come together 22:41 as the Okanagan students lead out 22:43 in the worship service. 22:45 Worshiping together here, 22:47 it was easy 22:50 just having a commonality with the people 22:52 and we all know the same hymns 22:55 and even the kids at Vacation Bible School, 22:57 I don't even know how they learned 22:59 some of those songs, 23:00 but we all just sang together and worshipped together 23:02 and it's powerful knowing that there's people 23:05 around the world that we have a connection to 23:08 because we all love Jesus. 23:09 So I thought that was really, it's really powerful. 23:12 That's one of my favorite parts of mission trips, 23:16 especially for our young people to take them to a church, 23:20 an Adventist Church in a completely different place 23:22 and obviously, 23:24 very different environment and circumstances. 23:28 But it's interesting how many hymns were the same, 23:31 you know, and, of course, 23:33 we're reading out the same Bible 23:34 and we share the same message. 23:36 And so, to me, 23:37 that's one of the primary reasons 23:40 for mission trips, 23:42 is to give kids a glimpse of what God is doing 23:45 in His church around the world. 23:46 I really enjoy worshiping with other people 23:48 from around the world. 23:50 Even though there's a language barrier 23:53 or we're from different parts of the world, 23:55 we can still come together as one and worship our Lord. 24:00 One of the chaperones on this trip is Rob Folkenberg. 24:04 The Folkenberg Family has had a long history 24:07 with Adventist World Aviation. 24:09 In fact, 24:10 Rob's grandfather was a founder of Adventist World Aviation. 24:15 Rob carries on his family's dedication 24:18 to mission service. 24:20 As a minister, 24:21 he oversees the spiritual content 24:23 of this mission trip. 24:26 My grandpa helped found Adventist World Aviation 24:30 but until now, 24:31 I really haven't known very much about it. 24:33 I'm not a pilot, my dad isn't a pilot. 24:36 But coming here 24:38 has got me very excited about it. 24:39 I kind of want to go get my pilot's license 24:42 and I definitely want to keep hearing 24:44 what God is doing through this organization 24:47 because they're doing things all over the world. 24:49 And it's exciting to see how God uses different talents 24:53 and interests including aviation 24:55 to further the gospel. 24:58 As part of the worship service, 25:00 Rob delivers a powerful message 25:03 that is directed to both the students, 25:05 as well as the local villagers 25:07 that are worshiping here today. 25:10 The worship service here in the Sapangan Church 25:13 is a reminder 25:14 that no matter where you might travel 25:17 around the world, 25:18 fellow believers can always come together 25:20 and worship. 25:22 Despite language barriers, 25:24 believers have a way of transforming any obstacle 25:28 and worship together as one unified body of Christ. 25:46 For the Okanagan students, 25:49 this week of service is drawing to an end. 25:52 Their time here in Sapangan has been a fruitful one. 25:55 All of the walls on the mission house 25:57 have been constructed. 25:59 It is a stark contrast to when they first arrived, 26:03 where there was once an empty field 26:05 now sits a formed house 26:08 that will be used for mission service 26:09 for many years to come. 26:12 I feel happy that God has blessed us so much 26:15 to allow us to get so much done in so little time. 26:18 It's, yeah, it's quite amazing really. 26:23 Well, it makes me feel kind of accomplished. 26:25 Now seeing it standing and it's like, 26:28 you can tell it's a very good house, 26:29 it's gonna be standing for quite a while. 26:31 The house isn't complete when I leave right now, 26:34 but we do have all the walls up. 26:38 The house has come a long way since we first started. 26:41 It started out just as a foundation 26:43 and we've got all the dirt in 26:46 and basically the first floor is done. 26:49 It's ready to go on to the second, 26:50 so I'm pretty happy. 26:52 This house is now ready for the next team of students 26:55 to arrive to continue the work 26:57 that the Okanagan students started. 26:59 Although the house still has much work to be done, 27:03 the leadership, students, 27:05 and missionaries are all very pleased 27:07 with the progress made this week. 27:09 The impact that this trip has personally made 27:12 on the students 27:13 is equally if not more important 27:16 to the work that they accomplished 27:18 on the construction site. 27:20 While progress on the mission house 27:21 is always wonderful, 27:23 Adventist World Aviation always seeks to have 27:26 long term effects on individuals. 27:28 This trip undoubtedly has long term impact 27:33 on many of the students who came here to serve. 27:36 What impacted me personally 27:38 is just the whole concept of being a missionary, 27:41 going to people, 27:43 complete strangers that you don't know, 27:45 and stepping out of your comfort zone 27:48 and just reaching out to them 27:50 and telling them about how much God loves them, 27:53 especially the kids. 27:55 I love the little children. 27:56 Well, it's my first mission trip. 27:58 So I'm sure I'll take on a lot of memories of this. 28:02 And really, I enjoyed the whole time I've had here. 28:05 So it's been a good experience. 28:07 Mission trips are important too 28:09 so you can go out and reach out to other people in the world. 28:12 And it's not like 28:14 you're giving more than you're getting. 28:17 It's also you get a lot from this 28:18 and maybe even take back more than you have given. 28:21 This trip has definitely impacted me 28:23 in many ways. 28:25 I love spending time with the kids 28:26 and it just really puts into perspective 28:29 what we have at home, 28:30 and to just remind me personally, 28:33 to be grateful for what I have. 28:35 God has really blessed me while I've been here, 28:39 and He's opened my eyes 28:40 to see this is what I want to do. 28:42 I want to go places and help people. 28:45 I want to be a missionary. 28:46 Now I used to want to be biologist or something 28:49 but, yeah. 28:51 So that's one of the things I'm taking home. 28:55 God has a plan for me and this is His plan. |
Revised 2020-08-07