1. How long have you been involved in Missions work? I took my first mission trip to Mexico when I was a freshman in High School, and I have been going to Mexico ever since; around 7 years.

2. Where did you go on your first trip? To Acuna, Mexico. But now I minister in Juarez, Mexico.

3. What other countries have you visited? I haven’t visited any other countries.

4. In getting prepared to leave for Missions, what did you find to be your greatest obstacle? Having everything taken care of at home in order to not worry about it while I am gone.

5. What motivated you to go? The opportunity arose, and the idea of getting to give to those who are in need had always been in my heart. Simply the act of giving of myself and what little I had to those who were in greater need was a greater blessing than anything!

6. Describe your first thoughts on arriving in a foreign country. The culture there is very different than what it is here in the US. Learning to adjust to some of the differences has been quite an experience, but the warm, inviting hearts of the people that we get to work with make me feel right at home.

7. What is your favorite memory or most poignant moment? One of my greatest memories is when we were praying over a little girl, and she had a sty on her eye that had caused her not to be able to open it and see. We gathered as a group around her and began to pray. I was able to take a picture of her as we were praying for her. The power of God came on her and she began to weep. We prayed with great faith that the Lord would heal her eye fully and completely. When we saw her the next day, the Lord had fully healed her eye and we were so amazed at the power of the Lord’s healing touch! What an amazing testimony of faith!

8. Have you ever gotten ill or experienced danger on a Missions trip? No, the Lord has been faithful to show us favor and give us divine protection when we are there.

9. What shocked you the most about conditions you experienced or cultural differences in a country you have visited? The difference in the pace or speed of life is so different than what we are used to here. Life is much simpler and not rushed at all. They like to take the time to savor each moment, and definitely try to avoid the complicated things. It has been a big adjustment, and I am still learning how to move at a slower pace.

10. Do you fund the trips yourself, or rely on contributions from others? I serve as an interpreter and team leader and coordinator on the trips that we go on, so my trips are funded by Streams of Water Ministry.

11. Do you plan on going on another trip, and if so, where? Yes, we are in Mexico at least twice a month.