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For those who do not know, I am now a junior in high school and I have just recently been allowed the great opportunity to go to Panama on a missions trip that changed my life!....
The Road Leading There
.....Although my initial intent of going on this trip was to serve God, and grow closer to Him, my intentions changed. Only weeks before I left for Panama, my life seemed to fall a part, and I slipped away from God. I had thought of calling the trip off but I couldn’t do that after so many people gave me support. Instead I used the trip to get away from a hectic life.
Getting There
The thought of going on a trip to a different country, without knowing anyone I was going with, was exciting and scary at the same time. I have relied on friends being there for me all my life, and I felt I could use this event to pull away from my friends and have only God there to rely on. And that is exactly what God had in mind for me to learn on the very first day.
.....I won’t confuse you with all the multiple cancellations, missed, and rescheduled flights I had on the way down.
.....I felt lost and scared, with no one to help me figure out what to do next. It was then, after many tears, that God showed me He would be there for me even when no one else can be.....The multiple changes of airlines and flight plans had lost my luggage. And when I would normally be completely annoyed and frustrated with all that happened, God gave me a peace I still can’t explain.....
God’s Messenger
One day I was having a horrible day.....And the thing that made the day even worse was, although we had Internet access I told myself that I wasn’t going to email friends because I would end up venting on them and I needed to learn to depend on God. I bottled up emotions, trusting that as I leaned on God that He would support me.....One of the girls from my team, that I didn’t really know too well, came over and asked if I wanted to talk. Although I declined, she insisted on going outside and talking.....the first thing she said was “I don’t know why, but for some reason God told me to come and talk to you. I normally don’t do this, this is all God. So is there anything you need to talk about?” At that moment I knew God was there waiting for me to lean on Him, and He knew and understood my needs. God answered a prayer before I even prayed it.....
God Has a Plan!
After I got back, I gave Brad a summary of the trip. One thing he mentioned was that he knew I was going through a rough time before the trip, but for some reason God told him not to approach me about it.....God knew what He was doing all along!....He brought me to a place where there was only one thing to do, and that was to lean on God and God alone. I was scared as I went through it, but as I look back it fits together like a puzzle. God wanted me to learn that I can lean on Him with my problems. He took everyone else away, and through my pain I learned a lesson I will never forget! God’s there, and He wants me to lean on Him!
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