My Choosing #1

Being involved with missions can be one of the most rewarding experience for a person. Growing up in my church, a common topic of conversations was the annual missions trip to Fairmont West Virginia. This trip has been close to the hearts of my entire church community for years as we were one of the first groups to ever take part in this, one could say we built it. Hearing about what a life changing experience this trip has been for so many people in my church really made me curious and have a calling that was drawing me to this trip. When I was finally old enough to go, I jumped on the opportunity. To be honest, being in 8th grade and not having electricity or phone service was not going to be a very fun experience for me being a teenage girl. But once I got there, we were assigned houses in one of the most run-down, poverty struck parts of Fairmont. It was honestly a culture shock. It really made all of us realize how much we take for granted in life. We, as well off fortunate human beings compared to them, would throw a a tantrum if the air conditioning didn't work for a few days. These people's houses had roofs caving in, rotted, mold infested walls and floors, trash covered streets, and these are the most genuinely sweet, loving, generous people I have ever met. No matter how little they had, they would offer it up for us in a heartbeat. These trips not only made long lasting relationships and life lessons with our host families, but with our church family too. These trips brought all of us together on a level that is truly hard to comprehend. A group of people, from all different backgrounds, all having different stories, become almost one body; functioning and working for the benefit of others, and in the process improving out lives and hearts in the process. These types of experiences are each a once in a life time chance, that will forever be engrained in your heart and mind.