1) How long have you been involved in Missions work? About 4 years.

2) Where did you go on your first trip? The first mission trip that I went on was in 8th grade. Our youth group went to our church camp El Porvenir outside of Las Vegas, NM to help build some things but we got buried under 42" of snow! So I guess technically my first hands on trip was to Dallas Inner City.

3) What other countries have you visited? I have been to Mexico and Chile

4) In getting prepared to leave for Missions, what did you find to be your greatest obstacle? The greatest obstacle to overcome is realizing that no matter how much you think you're in control of a situation...you're not! God has the entire trip planned according to how He will be most glorified and what will advance His kingdom the most from the time one considers being a part of a trip and of course, forever after. Completely surrendering every part of yourself and every aspect of the trip can be difficult; one must let go in order to have more control.

5) What motivated you to go? A part of me has always been naturally curious about what the rest of the world is like, and as I have gotten a little older, God really has laid it on my heart to serve Him in other countries by being a part of the mission trip opportunities that the high school ministry at church offers.

6) Describe your first thoughts on arriving in a foreign country. Crossing the border into Mexico for the first time, my mind was very confused as to what to tell my body to feel. It was the single most scary and exhilarating moment of my life. Each border crossing since has felt like that, but I know that whatever happens, God will get us all across one way or another. Landing in Chile was very surreal, and even once the group was out and about in Santiago, I could not fathom that I was no longer in the U.S., much less not on the same continent or in the same hemisphere!

7) What is your favorite memory or most poignant moment? The last Friday the group spent in Chile, we went to an orphanage. It was July, but it was their winter break, and at the orphanage, families from the community were able to take some of the kids home for break, but there were still many left behind. We just spent the afternoon hanging out with the kids, making crafts, singing songs, dancing crazy, and just spending some quality time with them. The funniest part was when we handed out candy, and among the candy was Pop Rocks. We tried our best to explain what would happen when they ate it, but being very limited in our Spanish skills, the children (having never previously experienced the gloriousness that is Pop Rocks) were completely taken by surprise! Their initial expressions of shock and then pure enjoyment were and continue to be absolutely priceless.

8) Have you ever gotten ill or experienced danger on a Missions trip? Well does Hillside Christian Church have a story for you! On our last high school mission trip to Mexico, the night before the Friday we were to come home, many of the kids got sick. After a long wait in El Paso, numerous other bumps in the road, and many more getting sick, I was one of the last of the group to get sick and begin throwing up on the way home. Out of 75 people, over half got sick in some form or fashion on the way home...not very fun, but certainly a growing experience.

9) What shocked you the most about conditions you experienced or cultural differences in a country you have visited? The destitution in Mexico is something one must see to truly comprehend, and even after seeing it, it is still difficult to grasp that there are people in the world who live on absolutely nothing. A cultural thing that doesn't really bother me, but that I find interesting is that in the U.S., generally your "personal bubble" is respected...well once you go to another country you can just kiss it good-bye, but it really is neat to experience another culture.

10) Do you fund the trips yourself, or rely on contributions from others? Some of the smaller trips that are not as expensive my family and I go ahead and fund, but for the overseas trips, it is incredible to see how God works through his people to provide you with everything you need.

11) Do you plan on going on another trip, and if so, where? This summer I have been blessed with the opportunity to go on a ten day (July 18-27) overseas mission trip to Ecuador. After high school, I would love to still be involved in mission work. I have no clue where or when, but I am certain God will open up doors and provide opportunities that will lead me to where He sees fit.