Josiah Road

The Ultimate Mission Trip

posted by Mikaela Diel 18Feb

The ultimate mission trip will take you overseas to huts made out of sticks and mud slabs, or at least that’s what I thought until April 2008. A Spring Break mission trip that year changed my life.

Before we left, our middle school pastor, John Steen, told us we would be doing light construction, canvassing the town, and cleaning. We were headed to one of the top ten most impoverished towns in America: Lynch, Kentucky. I expected to help a few people, do some light work, and head home—nothing big.

In Lynch, we were introduced to Terry Burkeen and Chad Morgan. Terry set high goals for us, enough to entertain the thought of a real mission trip. In comparison, our expectations were mediocre.
The first afternoon started work on Club180. This club allowed teenagers in the town to hang out in a safe place. The downstairs of the old building was a game room with a stage, pool tables, video games, kitchen, and booths. Occasionally, they would hold Bible studies and fun, Christ-centered games. We started the process of turning the upstairs into offices for the founders, a classroom for homework or tutoring, a hair salon for girls, and a room called Ester’s Closet where women can earn a degree.

John Steen asked us the first night, “Are you going to let anyone this week look down on you because you are just middle schoolers? Or are you going to step it up and face the battle of this town?” I will never forget it. He was referring to 1 Timothy 4:12, “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” From that moment on, my friends and I kicked it on! We knew we couldn’t let that happen. It’s like someone put ants in our pants for Jesus Christ, and we couldn’t get them out. Ideas started making their way around the room, “John, can we paint another coat on the wall?” “Are we allowed to go prayer walking?” “Can we make this yard we are cleaning any cleaner?”

In the six days, we cleaned the park behind the club, led sport camps, cleaned homes, organized boxes for a clothing store, took up an offering for a family who wasn’t going to have dinner, and fed the town. Many more opportunities came, but most of all we served Him with the Holy Spirit at our side.

I came back from Lynch with a new definition of the ultimate mission trip: Jesus Christ lives in me and I will spread the great news—wherever, whenever. A mission trip can be simply defined as a trip with a mission to accomplish. Our one mission is to share Christ’s name. Mission Trips can last minutes, months or even permanently.

Lynch, Kentucky changed my life. I’m ready to fight the battle. My limit is set to the end of the Earth. Next, I’m taking the things I learned in Lynch to Columbus, Georgia. Are you ready? Where is your next mission trip?

Mikaela Diel is a 15-year old freshman at Beech High School in Hendersonville, Tenn., where school pride is key! In her leisure time, she enjoys making pointless videos with her friends, scrapbooking, reading, watching the NFL Network, movies, babysitting, youth group functions, traveling, and “facebooking.” She likes meeting new people and, of course, shopping for new clothes.