Why High School Students?

In July of 2015, I led my first Ambassador trip for Adventures in Missions. Was I expecting it to be a breeze? Maybe. I mean, I had just finished the World Race – 11 countries and 11 months.  How difficult could one month be? So I went to the Philippines with one co-leader and 10 high school girls. And let me tell you, it was HARD.

 

Try taking ten 14-18 year old girls who have never met and are from different places, backgrounds, and stories and combining them into one team.  Now add two twenty-somethings who want nothing more than the best for them.  Throw in temperatures and humidity in 90s, 3 typhoons, and multiple 4-hour sweaty van rides, and you try to tell me that it can be easy.  Hint: it’s NOT. But that doesn’t mean it should not happen.

In fact, I believe so deeply that this kind of experience SHOULD happen that I came back to the U.S., packed up my bags, and moved to Georgia to work as the Mobilizer for the Ambassador program.

Why should teenagers have this opportunity? Can’t they travel with their churches, or serve in their home communities? (They should, but they should ALSO have a chance like Ambassador). Why can’t they just wait and do the World Race? Why do I believe in the Ambassador program enough to give part of my life to help these teenagers and their families experience the kingdom now?

Why high schoolers?

In my 4 weeks in the Philippines with my team (nicknamed Team Kankles, because we stayed swollen for a month), I saw a group of 10 strangers become sisters.

They learned to love and serve each other well. We laughed and we cried as they had breakthroughs of healing and forgiveness and new life.  I watched as God sparked new passions in their hearts, inspired new dreams, and refreshed old ones.  And I continue to watch as they take those lessons learned and live out a day to day life of ministry. These girls are walking daily with the Lord, and several of them have allowed Him to step in and redirect their lives.

 

If you’ll indulge me, I want to share some of their stories and plans with you.

 

Brenna – This spunky girl lives in Indiana and has a heart for every person she meets. She is passionate, full of life and laughter, and wise beyond her years. We had so many heart to heart talks about what a life of ministry looks like and how to seek and listen to God in every moment. I will never forget the day, during a sweaty van ride, when she turned to me and said, “Deb, I think I’m moving to Africa.” Now, she is planning a month-long trip to Zambia to work with a church her parents helped establish.  We still talk regularly, and I believe we both find a lot of encouragement in every conversation we have. At 18 years old, she is ready to abandon the American dream for a Kingdom dream, and she does it with joy.

 

Jenna – Jenna came to the Philippines as a second-time Ambassador participant. She had been to Guatemala with us before, and on other mission trips with her church, as well.  She came with her dreams and passions decided, with a long-term goal of starting a ministry for children in Belize.  However, Jenna wasn’t sure what her next steps were…how was she going to get from a senior in high school to running her own international missions base? During our trip, God spoke to her about those next steps – about school and investing in her family and community for the next few years, because He has things to teach her there before she is ready to move overseas. And in the last few months, I have watched her flourish at home and intercede for her community through struggle and tragedy.

 

Becs – Becs was the joy and laughter on our team, but beneath all of that she had depth and experience. Her hilarity isn’t a mask, but a gift from the Lord. Becs will spend her summer using that gift as an Emcee at Next Step Ministries in Ohio, leading the next generation of youth in Christ. I encourage you to check out her BLOG , which I personally love reading. In a recent post, she wrote “I’ve spent the past three summers around the world in Brazil, Romania, and finally the Philippines. In each place I gained a new sense of God’s glory, faced difficulties that tested my faith and character, and became a family with the team I served with. Missions are where my passion lies and this summer I felt lead to do more than just serve on another mission team, but to actively give and help lead others.”

 

Alyse – Alyse was another Ambassador alumnus. She is soft-spoken, an old soul, and emanates peace.  She is one of the most giving and compassionate people I have had the honor to know.  We spent much of the month talking about God’s provision, praying for her family, and discussing her future. In this season, she learned on a deeper level to trust in the goodness of the Lord in the midst of unsure situations and to hear His voice above the noise. What did His voice tell her? To move to Haiti for 3 months this fall. This is from her blog: “While I do not know exactly what my life will look like after this year, I am trusting that God will take care of me. He is totally worth every unknown and every step of faith. He is worth giving up my plans. He is worth all of my life.  After all, he gave up everything for me”.

Cassie – Cassie is a sweet, spicy, southern, Texas bell with big hair and a bigger personality. Her smile is contagious and she has the ability to make anyone feel like they are at home in her presence. Plus, she was personal hair-stylist for the month, always willing to serve me by braiding. We had long talks about strength and forgiveness, finding peace with the Lord when you are alone in your walk with Him, vulnerability, and the importance of an intentional community. Before Ambassador, her first mission trip, she had never been out of the country! But since returning home to Texas, she has found a great church family, was baptized last week (I cried when I saw the pictures), and she will return to the Philippines, as well as go to Albania and South Africa, on her next adventure – World Race: Gap Year. You can follow her journey on her blog, as well!

 

    

All this started in four weeks. All this, despite the sweat and conflict and discomfort.  All this, while trusting God in the fundraising thousands of dollars.  All this, with a group of relative strangers. All this, with high school students. And that is only half of my team.

High school students matter. Two to four weeks can make a difference. And in one of the most forming and fundamental times of their lives, these teenagers chose God.

The lives of these girls, and the entire team, are forever changed. My life is forever changed. The Kingdom is forever changed, and the impact of these girls will continue.

   

Not every participant comes back to become a missionary. Not every participant comes back ready to take on the world. For some, Ambassador is just the first step of many.

But every participant comes back changed.

     

I am asking you, maybe even pleading – let the teenagers in your life have this experience. In my opinion, there is NOTHING ELSE that will show them God’s passion for His WHOLE kingdom and how to love “the least of these” like an international mission trip. Nothing can show someone who they are in the eyes of the Father like stepping completely out of his or her own reality and comfort zone.

If you are in high school, you can start an application HERE. Check out our trips, get started, and I will call you. 

If you love some one in high school, pray about this opportunity for them. Present it to them. Be open if they present it to you. Allow God the chance to do the amazing things He wants to do in and through them. Because if anyone believes in the potential of high school students, it’s Him. 

 

“Last month was hard and sometimes it hurt but I was given the strength to keep going because the work I was doing was honoring the giver of strength. Despite the endless rice and various other challenges if you were to ask me if I’d do it all again my answer would be of course! As so often happens when you are serving the Lord, the joy you experienced outweighs the hardships you overcame.”

-Bec Meigs, Ambassador Participant 2015

 

 

 

 

 

---

I am still looking for $100 a month in financial support. If you are interested in joining my ministry team and supporting the work I do here at Adventures, please contact me or click the “Support Me” link on the left side of the page! All donations made to Adventures in Missions on my behalf are tax-deductible and non-refundable.