This January marks a year since I started Immersion and went
on the most exciting, frustrating, and unpredictable journey of my life. Like
these teams that are leaving now (by the way, add them to your prayers), we had
no idea what we were getting into. I’ve never been with a group of strangers
with whom I have laughed harder, prayed stronger, lived life fuller, and loved
more than my 12 plus or minus team. And even though there are some of them that
I don’t really keep in contact with, they are always in my thoughts. We went
through some crazy stuff together. But we all made it out alive and that’s what
really counts!
Experience Mission has the phrase “live your mission” as
kind of like their motto. The dictionary defines mission as “a task or job
someone is given to do”. To me, a mission is something you are willing to do
whatever it takes and sacrifice whatever you must to accomplish it. If your
mission is to be the most successful, then you are probably going to sacrifice
time with those you love and miss out on a lot of the little things because you
keep looking ahead. If your mission is to be the most popular, you might have
to sacrifice some of your interests that not everyone thinks are cool. If your
mission is to get the best grades, you are going to have to sacrifice a lot of
sleep.
Recently I have been thinking about what Immersion 2015
meant for me and how it has changed me. Not all the ways are obvious like I
maybe thought they would be. I still can only speak English. My diet hasn’t
changed because of it (I will probably never consume as many plantations and
pounds of rice and beans as I did during those six months). I don’t physically
look different (well except for the scar and dent I have in my head. But thankfully
you can’t really see that). I’m still me. I still enjoy the same kind of music
and movies. I am still obsessed with Dunkin and will never fully understand
anyone who isn’t. I still love my Seminoles. I’m just as awkward. Hanging out
in the Caribbean for six months didn’t make me any cooler. The biggest change
is the one you can’t see.
My mission has changed since I went on Immersion. Making a
ton of money has never really been a big motivator for me. I’ve realized that I
don’t have to be popular to feel loved. School is obviously super important for
me but not THE most important. In fact, before this trip, I didn’t even really
have a mission. I didn’t know what I wanted out of life. But I realize now,
that was because a pretty crucial piece was missing. God can’t just be a small
part of our mission. He needs to be the center of our mission. He needs to be
the focal point of all of the decisions we make. I’ve chosen to pursue a career
in physical therapy for two reasons: one because I love God and I have prayed
and trusted that He will lead me in the direction He wants me to. And second
because I want to love people. I want to help give someone strength back in
their leg but also strengthen their self-worth by showing them the love of
Christ. I want to show people that walking again is possible. And with God, all
things are possible.
So what is your mission? Is God the center of it? If He isn’t
or you don’t have one, maybe you should consider a break in the Caribbean for
six months. It might change your perspective.
