Domestic ministry has come to an end and it was such an incredible experience! We served at a camp called Camp Adrian, and helped prepare the camp and staff for future campers! Our ministry consisted of a large variety of different tasks, but we also had some down time for fellowship and other activities. I spent the week with Big Sam and some other guys in my squad, and we got busy on the landscaping. We trimmed and chopped down trees, cleared a ton of brush, and relocated it to a giant brush pile. Some others were organizing storage spaces, power washing buildings and sidewalks, remodeling interiors, painting, or preparing meals while on kitchen duty. The people at Camp Adrian were so amazing and hospitable, and even though we were there to serve and pour into them it felt like we were the ones being poured into. I am so grateful for the experience we had and it gave me a taste of what international ministry might look like, and I’m even more excited to go into the nations!

One of the ways I have been blessed the most so far during this trip is with the people I’m surrounded by! Even though I’ve only known these people for two weeks, they’ve become like my brothers and sisters and my heart is so full. I feel an immense feeling of comfort when I’m around them and it’s so easy to be vulnerable and open, because I know they are here to walk alongside me and carry my burdens with me. I try my hardest to pour out into others, serving them and pushing them to be more like Christ, but one thing God has been trying to tell me is that I need to be willing to accept that kind of thing as well, not just give it. I’ve learned so much from my peers, and seeing my growth and all of them grow has made me so excited to see how God will continue to work in and through us in these next nine months!

We are officially less than a week away from reaching our first country, Jamaica, and things are starting to get real. There is a lot of stress and anxiety that comes with that, but I think I can speak for everyone when I say that God is preparing our hearts and asking us to simply lay it all down at His feet, and he’ll take care of it. It’s hard to do for sure, as I like to try to do everything and solve every problem by myself, but we all have to start somewhere. God is so good in His provision and protection, and I know He is going to work everything out for my good and His glory!

As I stood there, I couldn’t help but reflect on the little moments during our mission trip that seem so simple yet are filled with profound meaning. The way the team rallied together to support one another, even in the most physical tasks, felt like an encounter with God.

“Look at that! It’s leaning so hard,” someone pointed out, a reminder of the obstacles we faced together. We didn’t want to leave it in that precarious position. With a warm sense of camaraderie, we counted down—3, 2, 1, push!

With each push, I felt a rush of joy. The effort was challenging, but through our collective determination, we experienced spiritual growth. “Let’s do it one more time!” we encouraged each other, and again, we pushed—3, 2, 1, push!

In those moments, amidst the laughter and the sweat, I realized that this journey wasn’t just about the work we were doing. It was about the relationships we were building and the faith we were nurturing together. It was so much fun, and I felt blessed to be a part of this incredible journey.