Live. Your. Mission.

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.