Missions
Ministry isn't just about studying - it's about going. Here are some of the places God has taken me.
Local Ministry - Trujillo, Peru
Serving the community around us
Ministry starts right where you are. In Trujillo, we serve families in impoverished areas, host events for children, and support local church plants. These experiences are shaping how I think about practical, on-the-ground ministry.
Children's Outreach in Impoverished Areas
Bringing hope and the Gospel to kids who don't have much. These events are simple but powerful - games, teaching, and showing these children that they matter.
Festival de la Luz
A celebration of light during the Halloween season - giving families and children a Christ-centered alternative. Games, music, and the message of hope.
Supporting Nearby Church Plants
Part of our training is helping established church plants. It's one thing to learn about church planting in a classroom - it's another to actually see it happening.
Chile - Calvary Concepción
Church planting through CBI
One of the most impactful experiences I've had was traveling to Chile to serve at Calvary Concepción - a church plant connected to CBI's network. Seeing a church grow from the ground up showed me what's possible when people are faithful.
Dominican Republic - Casas Por Cristo
Building homes, building relationships
After my first semester at CBI, I served with Casas Por Cristo in the Dominican Republic - a ministry that builds homes for families in need. It was incredible to actually use my Spanish and connect with the families we were serving. Seeing how practical service opens doors for the Gospel changed how I think about ministry.
The Cost of Saying Yes
I'm not going to pretend this is easy. Following God's call to missions costs something. Here's what I've had to lay down:
Time with Family
Being thousands of miles from my brothers and sisters and parents. Missing holidays, birthdays, and everyday moments. Video calls aren't the same as being there.
Comfort
Everything familiar - my bed, my food, my language. Living in a different culture means constant adaptation and stepping outside your comfort zone.
Career & Security
The "normal" path - college, job, 401k. Missions doesn't offer financial security the way the world defines it. You learn to trust God differently.
Relationships
Friendships that fade because of distance. Dating is complicated when you live in another country. Some relationships can't survive the distance.
Years of Your Life
The training, the preparation, the actual work. This isn't a quick trip - it's years invested in something that won't always show immediate results.
Reuniting with my brothers - moments like this are precious
But It's Worth It
Jesus said anyone who leaves home, family, or comfort for His sake will receive a hundred times as much. I believe that. Not because I always feel it, but because I've seen glimpses of it. The eternal weight of glory far outweighs the temporary cost.
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."- Jim Elliot
Want to Partner With Me?
Your support makes trips like these possible. Prayer, encouragement, and financial partnership all make a difference.