It was summer 2002. My youth group trekked down to a border town in Mexico to serve with Adventures in Missions for one week. I don’t remember what we did that week, but I remember connecting with Papa each morning with a devotional and my Bible. I remember laughing with the beautiful women who cooked delicious meals for us. I remember that at the end of the week, the dear cooks gave me a pack of Mexican candy to take home with me (what a surprise to find it was covered in chile powder!).
I fell in love.
The next summer, I wanted to return with all my heart. So I applied to serve on a work crew with Adventures in Matamoros, Mexico for a few weeks. My sweet parents allowed their 15-yr-old to travel to a foreign country without knowing anyone with whom she was to travel (they’re great!).
On the work crew, our mornings began at 5:00am. Before a full day, our leaders wanted to make sure we had some time set aside to spend with Papa and draw strength from Him (that was also the summer I began drinking coffee).
Each day, our team of eight teenagers worked alongside the locals to prepare, clean, cook, and serve the youth groups and other teams who traveled to share the Gospel of Jesus and to serve in the surrounding community.
I remember making hundreds of peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. I remember my teammate Melanie’s endless cheer and willingness to finish the dishes, even at midnight. I remember playing in the mud in the parking lot after a rainstorm, and sleeping ten hours through a hurricane that passed through.
But most of all, I remember that that was the summer I began to tune into the voice of God.
Right before I left for Matamoros, I read a compelling story about a little boy who grew up in a monastery. He had learned to listen to God’s voice, speaking with Him as he would a close confidant.
“I want to do that!” I thought. So I sat myself on the living room couch, crossed my legs, and said, “Ok, God, I’m listening.”
Do you love me, Anna? I heard, whispered to my heart.
“Yes, Lord,” I affirmed: assured, but quietly.
Then feed my sheep.
The words with which Jesus challenged and encouraged one of his dearest friends in John 21 were the first words I heard Him speak personally to me.
My time with Adventures that summer honed and sharpened this practice of “Listening Prayer”: asking, “Papa, will You quiet my heart to listen to Your voice? Will You quiet any other voices of lies or distraction? And will You speak to me?”
And He has! Oh, He has. Often, through His written Word, bringing to mind quotes and passages we’ve read together over the years. Yet at times He also speaks through images, songs or the caring actions and prayers of friends (and strangers!).
Twelve years after Matamoros, my world was rocked with the invitation to “go” with Adventures again – this time, for eleven months.
I left on the World Race in 2015, amazed at how many things we managed to fit into our backpacks, and returned the next fall, in wonder of the true freedom that comes when we’re not worried about earthly things… only His Kingdom (see Matthew 6:25-34).
Shortly thereafter, it became clear to me that Papa was inviting me to give and to learn through Adventures’ second-year training program, the Center for Global Action. Though I arrived to the program late in the game, I left the program both enriched and inspired as our leader Bob commissioned our class to scatter across the world and bring the hope and light of God’s Kingdom wherever He would send us.
* * * * * *
So, after a 15-year span with Adventures in Missions, I want to say “Thank You”.
Thank you, Seth, for encouraging us and challenging us to rely deeply and completely on God’s strength and to listen to His Holy Spirit within us, to change the world around us.
Thank you, Clint, for showing us how Kingdom living can shine: by giving our lives away, we receive true fullness of life.
Thank you to my squad coaches, mentors and to all of my leaders – both in the field and back in the U.S. – who demonstrated the path of servant-humility in the way you both called us higher and showed us the Father’s heart.
There are many, many lessons you’ve shared which I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Thank you, Adventures.
