A SUMMER BLESSING

This past May, I had the privilege of traveling to the Philippines for a mission

trip focused on hosting youth camps. The timing of the trip was a clear

blessing from God, as it fell perfectly between the end of my academic year

and the start of my summer internship. Because my internship began later

than most of my peers’, I was able to participate without the scheduling conflicts

that might otherwise have prevented me from going. I can’t help but

see God’s hand in the timing.

During our time there, our team, made up of Jayden Johnson, Warren Coffman

(Dub), and myself, led four day camps that served more than 200 children.

We also hosted the first-ever “older youth hangout” for college-age

participants. This gathering allowed us to answer their questions about the

church, spend time together in fellowship, visit the local market, and even

enjoy some delicious treats from the new Starbucks.

The focus of our day camps was on God’s character and attributes. We

brought scriptural stories to life through

skits, including Jonah and the whale, Ammon and the Lamanites, and Joseph and the coat of many colors.

Warren used a science experiment to illustrate how Jesus cleanses us

from sin. Jayden led an activity highlighting how the Holy Spirit serves as

our guide, and I led an activity on the story of Nehemiah, emphasizing the

importance of working together. We concluded each camp by encouraging

the students to share what they had learned about God with others. We are

all missionaries, after all!

We also shared personal testimonies of times when we or our family members

were able to share the gospel, discussed the distinctives of our church,

and explored practical strategies for sharing our faith.

Looking back, I can honestly say I had the time of my life on this trip. This

was actually my second time going to the Philippines for mission work. My

first trip, two years ago, was a very different experience. While I was grateful for the chance to go, it wasn’t what I would call “fun.”

I was dealing with medical issues and external stress from school, including the pressure of completing assignments while traveling. Mission work isn’t about comfort or entertainment, but I felt as though God honored my willingness both then and now, blessing me abundantly on this visit. We even went on a couple of hikes down to baptismal sites, something that reminded me of the old-time missionaries I’ve read about, traveling great distances to share the gospel.

To anyone considering a mission trip, I wholeheartedly encourage you to take the opportunity and trust God to handle the details. You may find that He uses the experience not only to bless others but to bless you in ways you could never have anticipated.

And if you’d like to see more of our trip, I made a vlog that captures it all. Please reach out if you would like to watch it.

By Ginger Murnieks