Last March, my husband and I lead a team of young adults from our church to Turkey over Spring Break. It was one of those unexpected delights as we spent a week in Instanbul exploring the city and culture. While we were there, I really connected with the team lead (it’s amazing what happens when you make coffee for 30 people and wash dishes together!). While there I asked how our church could come alongside them, which lead to a service trip to Berlin that we just returned from.
This was my first what I would call “real” service trip, where we worked pretty much six days straight. As we were there, I realized there is nothing quite like seeing your children serving God by serving others. And it filled my heart with joy to see our two youngest joyfully looking for ways to help. Filled me up, y’all!
And because I’m so excited to have copies of Flight Risk in the house, fill out the rafflecopter below and we’ll pick a winner in a week. I can’t wait for y’all to start reading it!
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I love to travel, but traveling with a purpose to serve is so fulfilling. Thank you for sharing your experiences. My daughter and I just returned from Atlanta where we served at Passion, a gathering for 18-25 year olds who want to raise the name of Jesus. We celebrated the New Year with 65,000+ in Mercedes-Benz Stadium and worked hard, but were also filled up. Great experience!
Looking forward to reading your new book.
That must have been AMAZING to serve at Passion! WOW!
I grew up in Germany and was fortunate to be able to do quite a few trips. A favorite was to Romania.
My daughter took a short study abroad trip to Romania last spring break. It is now on my must see list!
I haven’t been on a missions trip but I have served others in various ways. Enjoyed your pictures and experiences on your trip.
It was great.
I haven’t had that awesome opportunity, I hope to some day! Sounds like you had a wonderful time!
I have not participated in a missions trip, but I’m certain it fills a heart with joy and purpose!
My husband and I have gone for 3 summers to The Czech Republic to teach English to and mingle with the attendees of the camp. Two different summers we had the same adult class level and one summer a different level; all the campers were delightful and really nice people. The materials used in class were based on the Bible, but the English classes involved vocabulary development, a little grammar instruction, and conversational English. As a retired teacher, I was in my element while my husband was my helper. Each afternoon the campers could chose what to do in their free time–crafts, sports, naps, walks, or whatever. Singing and enjoying charades were part of the evening program along with one of the American team or one of the Czech church team giving his or her testimony. Of course, we did some sightseeing in Prague before and after the week of camp, which was held in the mountains at an off-season ski lodge. We drew close to the Czech believers who sponsored the camp and loved on the campers. We stay in touch with some of the church members as well as some of the campers. What a rich experience!
That sounds like a fantastic way to serve! I hope to visit the Czech Republic someday. It looks like a beautiful country. My friend Tricia Goyer has gone several times and I’d love do something like you did, Suzanne.
Sounds like a great trip. It’s good to get away and come back refreshed. It’s a plus when you share that time with family!
What a neat experience, especially for your children. I’m sure this will be a trip you all will remember for a long time!
I’ve served in local ministries, like helping another church repaint the interior of a building they were “gifted” and painting a house for a neighbor of this same church. That was an awesome experience! There were probably 25-30 people from two or more churches helping to scrape off old/flaking paint, filling cracks, and painting this house all at the same time. The house was finished from top to bottom in just a few hours.The home owners weren’t native English speakers, but invited all of us to attend their daughter’s quinceañera. They were so kind and appreciative.
The last time we were in Germany our youngest was 16-18 months. This time he had just turned 9, so I’m delighted he will now have memories of that country. And to do it with the service trip? Priceless. What an amazing way to serve your community, too.
Yes! I’ve gone to the Ukraine a few times to serve there. My favorite part washable doing out Bibles in their language ((so they could read it for themselves)) and my husband’s was being able to preach at the church and on the streets!
That is so cool!
I love how asking that one question, and building a relationship while serving together, opened up more doors for your team again. I think everyone should go on at least 1 missions trip…it completely changes our perspective & puts us outside our little box. Thank you so much for sharing!! 😍
It’s really fun to see how that developed. I try to live with an attitude of how can I serve? Never expected to have this trip come out of that question, but so glad it did!
I have not had the chance to participate in a mission trip, but every one of our cousins (family of 10 kids) has and they come back with such great stories! We’ve done many local service projects from helping rake leaves for the elderly to packing meals at Feed My Starving Children whose food is shipped to mission partners around the world. Thank you so much for the chance to win your latest book!
Local service is just as important. Sounds like you’ve found some great ways to do that.
Such a great opportunity to go and serve! Love it! I’ve been on two service trips to Germany and worked with children. Congrats on the big box of books!
no not yet but i hope too soon
That’s so awesome that you and your whole family were able to go on a mission trip together! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your adventure. It means so much for when you are able to connect with the local people and work along side them. You feel a true connection to the place you have visited.
I am looking forward to reading Flight Risk.
It was special. Hope all is well, Ruby!
I’ve not been fortunate enough to participate in a mission trip. When I was younger job and family prevented it. Now that we are retired, my health doesn’t allow it. I do try to help in ways I can for mission trips through our local churches and organizations.
Those ways are just as important, Kay!
I haven’t been on a mission trip. Raising 8 kids and various grandkids kept us pretty busy. Now that my husband is retired we are praying about possibly going with our church to an orphanage in Africa that we support. I would like to read your book. It sounds great!
Sounds like you’ve done a lot with your family that is just as important. Love your heart…and going to an orphanage you support would be so meaningful!
I went with a group from my church on a missions trip to Montana in 2017. We worked with a church in the poorest county in Montana cleaning, painting their soup kitchen, painting the outside of parsonage, sorting clothing for distribution, laid laminate flooring in soup kitchen (not me), loaded and delivered wood to needy and various other jobs.
How amazing, Joan!
In 2017, I participated in a missions trip to a Native American reservation in Wanblee, South Dakota. Our group helped to expand the mission chapel there on the reservation as well as held Vacation Bible School for the children/youth. The trip definitely opened my eyes and heart to the saddening lives led by the Natives we met and talked to.
My sister-in-law has participated in similar trips to South Dakota. Such a need.
I have not participated in a service/missions trip, but I really hope I get the chance to one day.
Over the last 10+ years I have been privileged to serve on several mission trips. Romania twice, Arkansas (an orphange/children’s home), Dominican Republic, and El Salvador. The trips do help change one’s perspective. My husband was along on the Dominican trip but I have not been privileged to go with any of my children. One of our sons has been on a number of mission trips with his circle of Christian brothers and sisters. Hoping one day to go on one with him. Many blessings to you in the coming year and thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of your new book baby!
Love your heart to serve, Anne!
I have not been on a mission trip.
I have been to Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and Trinidad & Tobago. We did a service project in these countries for 2 weeks. It was life changing.
I have never been on a service trip, but my husband and I have served in our own home state of Florida.
I’ve not gone on a service/mission trip. I serve weekly at the local food bank.
I have never been on a missions trip. So neat to read about your experience and see the pictures.
I have not been on a mission trip, as I’m not really able to travel, but I love praying for friends’ mission projects and hearing about how lives are changed on both sides–the missionaries and those being ministered to!
Sarah, prayer is such a key componant!
No, I haven’t. I was supposed to go to Central America one time, raised my support, had everything in order and my back went out and I couldn’t walk. I gave the money to a fellow church member that went in my place. Congratulations on your new book.
No, I’ve never been in a mission trip, but I’ve done service projects close to home.
When I was in college we were part of a children’s ministry in Belle Glade, FL. At the time it was considered the AIDS capital and also a very high crime rate area. Even though it was a dangerous place, the joy in those children that we would sing Sunday school songs with and tell Bible stories was amazing to see.
I’ve never been on a mission trip. Enjoyed reading about it.
My mission trip was to Haiti, unforgettable, even though I was young at the time. I suggested to my husband he was missing out on a life enriching event, so recently he went to serve with a well established group that serves the homeless in New York City.
I went on a mission trip to Acapulco, Mexico when I was in college. We worked at an orphanage doing construction, painting and gardening as well as VBS with the kids. Wonderful experience. Would love to go on another service/mission trip.
I have been on several mission trips with members from my church–all within the United States. It was a very humbling experience to be able to serve God in this way.
I have not been on any over seas missions trips, but paid for my oldest daughter to go on a missions trip to Ecuador! 🙂
We were on Guam for four years while my husband was in the Navy. When his tour was up, we stayed on an extra year as administrators of a live-in center, drug rehab facility.
I went to Costa Rica for a couple weeks on a missions trip. The biggest thing I learned was how much we have that we take for granted. One village had dirt floors…no ceilings…and the chickens were in the kitchen. They served us a meal that we were told we couldn’t refuse, but we were eating THEIR meal! They sacrificed eating to feed their “special guests.” I learned much on that trip.
I have never had the opportunity to do anything like that.
thank you for the giveawat