Peru Rising: Going On My First Mission Trip

So, when I first met Fred, he was preparing to go on a mission trip to Peru! We talked through his entire trip there and man, it was intense. I had never experienced something like that before. I had such a wonderful burden to pray for him the entire time. He really made me feel like I was there with how he described each day to me.

I knew, after we started dating, that we’d probably end up on a mission trip together because the Peru trip wasn’t his first time being in the field. That’s when I decided I needed to get a passport. I haven’t had one of those in 14 years.

Actually, I wasn’t sure when or how it would even happen. I knew Fred’s church was planning on going back again and they confirmed it early this year. I gave the idea a cursory thought, but once I heard about how much it was going to cost, I knew it wasn’t going to be possible so I told him I wouldn’t be going. A bummer, but we knew we’d be on a mission trip together at some point.

Right before the boys and I headed back to Minnesota for Easter, it was brought up again and I just couldn’t really see a way it would work. Fred just asked me to pray about it and I agreed.

I also figured I’d be able to start doing tangible things to see if it was possible to go. First, I asked Fred to talk to the pastor leading the trip to see if he thought it would be a good idea for me to go. If I recall, his response was along the line of “if we can’t do a mission trip together, what were we doing together?” Those aren’t his exact words, but I think that was what he was meaning. Ok, so fine, the pastor said I could go.

Second, I emailed my boss. If I couldn’t get the time off then that would nix it right there. My boss came back saying she was thrilled I’d be able to go. lol Ooook so things were definitely looking good toward going. It was getting hard to think that I might not be able to go on the trip.

So, on our way home from Minnesota, we get on the plane, and I open the magazine they always have in the seat pocket. What’s the first page I turn to? This:

I sent Fred a text immediately and of course, he felt like it was just another confirmation. I mean, c’mon, really? I wonder if God could be any more obvious?

Ok, next, I needed to figure out how to come up with the cash to go. Fred and I talked about how to get that by the first deadline. He had a plan. I didn’t quite understand that plan until quite a bit later. Let’s just say, “God’s ways are not our ways.”

Needless to say, the ticket has been paid for, and the balance will be coming up shortly. So I’m going with the team to Peru. Fred has been giving me ideas of what to expect and after having talked with him and praying with him on his previous trip, I know it’s going to be extremely emotional. I know it’s not something I can really prepare for.

I’m excited to see what God will teach me on this trip: how he’ll grow my faith in him, stretch me out of my comfort zone and how much he loves the people we minister to!