I’m about to take yet another group to the City of Children in Ensenada, Mexico. It’s one of my favorite places on earth. Over the last 16 years I’ve been leading groups here. It’s an orphanage that’s home to 100+ children in Baja. And it holds a special place in my heart. For many of the students I take its a chance for them to experience the mission field & be the literal hands & feet of Jesus Christ. Perhaps what I love most is watching these teenagers “get it.” It’s that moment when they realize what they’ve been taught all their lives is more than a nice story in Bible class, it’s a calling into a beautiful story, an amazing adventure & a chance to make a real difference in this world for the sake of others & the glory of Christ.
I love that I get to lead our students on this mission trip. I love our students. And I love that I get to be a small part in helping them understand the glorious life God is calling them into. And I’m praying that our time serving at the City of Children & in the surrounding community will change them forever. Statistics prove that mission trips have a tremendous influence on the spiritual lives of teenagers. There’s no other “event” that has the same kind of impact on a teenager. So I always tell parents, if you can only pick one thing to send your student to — make it a mission trip. And even better, if you can go with them! The only thing better than a student experiencing Christ on a mission trip is seeing their parents live out their faith on a mission trip with them!
So join me in praying for our team as we go to serve. We’ll feed the hungry. Build a home for one family in need. Prepare a site for a church plant. Work at the City of Children. Teach them that God’s love changes everything (our nightly VBS theme). And share God’s love with lots of people. His great love has changed us & is changing us. May He let His love flow through us to change others. Yes Jesus, Amen.
