Biola University First Year Student Journals

India Missions Trip

November 21, 2005 | 6 comments

When I was in high school my youth pastor founded an orphanage in India. When I was a senior he took some people with him to preach the word and visit the orphanage. Back then I was scared - I was frightened to death of telling anyone about God. I can't even tell you exactly what scared me. It was probably the fact that I didn't believe I knew enough about Him or maybe that they would just laugh in my face. After hearing so many amazing stories from both my pastor and a friend that went along, I considered going on a future trip but never thought of it too seriously.

A few weeks ago, while I was in the Junior High room of that same church, talking to the 8th grade girls about our current chapter in The 40 Days of Purpose, the high school students were being informed about the next trip to India. That night, when I met with some of my friends in the group, they told me about the trip this summer and how lucky they were to sign up since a chance to go to India was in such high demand among the congregation. Slightly disappointed, I hoped that somehow I would be able to go - if not this summer, then sometime in the near future.

Sunday was the end of our Purpose Driven Church readings and meetings, and the congregation celebrated with a picnic and festival. After grabbing my hot dog and potato salad I sat down and within minutes the High School Pastor came over and asked me if I would like to go to India with him this summer. So there you have it! I am trying to get to India by the end of June. I am going to have to raise funds, get shots, and fill out all kinds of paper work, but I get to do it all for God’s glory. This is probably one of the most exciting opportunities of my life. Getting the money to go will probably be the hardest part, but I have already seen God perform monetary miracles for me when it came to affording Biola.

I am not going to pretend that I am not completely unafraid. A friend of mine got really sick when he went to India last year. There are a lot of risks when it comes down to it, but they are also dangers the people in that country are forced to live with everyday. I remember watching a slide show of pictures last year after the missions group returned. There were people with horrible diseases and physical disabilities who had to go without what we consider proper medical care. There were children who didn't know how old they were because their parents left them at such a young age. It would be awesome to be able to experience a culture like that. Looking at the photographs changed my thinking when it came to material possessions - imagine what changes could occur if I were submerged in that way of life!

I would really love to go to India next summer, but if it somehow doesn’t work out, there are plenty of opportunities for short-term missions work through Biola. A friend of mine is trying to set up a mission’s trip to downtown Chicago for the summer after next. That would also be a great experience, but for now I am setting my sights on India and waiting to see where that experience will take me.

Journal Entries

• A Swinging Balance
• Red Shirting
• UCLA Game
• India Missions Trip
• Longest Week
• Winter in California
• Initiation
• March Madness
• Countdown

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