Madi Midland - Ireland

During my time in Ireland, God spoke to me in ways I didn’t expect He would. He helped me understand things a bit deeper than I originally had about spirituality and the Kingdom of God. Sometimes during our journey of spirituality, we become ignorant that there is an emeny that exists to try to stop us from being close to Jesus and doing His work. As scary as that seems, it’s real and it’s important to acknowledge that. But it’s also important to know that God is bigger, and the reason the enemy may be attacking is because we are in the right place. It means we are threatening him with our closeless to Jesus and the potential of good we have to give to different people and communities, especially those who don’t know Jesus at all. Another thing I learned from the four weeks in Ireland is that God is so intentional with every single moment in our lives. It was easy to notice because it was only four weeks compared to an entire lifetime, but God had laid out things to happen on this trip that was so purposeful in helping us learn, grow, and understand better. He showed us brokenness and imperfection, but then He showed us light and hope. Moment by moment, things felt so intentional; and I realized God does the same even when we return from our mission trips. He is constantly laying down things in order to prosper us in the ways He knows matters. For someone who is thinking about going on a mission trip, my advice is to not feel like it needs to be some huge monumental moment in your faith journey and that you need to change so many people's lives. Mission trips are just about being examples of the love of Jesus so that different people can see. It’s about listening to stories and telling yours. It’s common for people in our nation to desire results, but sometimes God works in small ways that end up being huge understandings in your faith. And sometimes just your smile and the essence of your light is just what that someone in a different place needs to see. We are called to be lights, but a light that shines in someone’s eye will make them turn away. Shining your light in front of them will show them the path. Mission trips sound scary, but the joy of the Lord is free and it’s good. Let’s celebrate it and let’s share it!