The "Americans"

                                                           Hermosa Beach, California

"Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them this, 'Do not go into pagan territory. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.' Behold, I am sending you like sheep among wolves." 

Matthew 10:5-16

I could not have asked for a better group to experience this trip with. It's so cool to think that each one of us were placed on this trip for a reason and that each one of us needed each other. I can honestly say that I learned something from every single person and I don't know what I would do without them. We all had our own struggles, but without each other we wouldn't have been able to see God's graces through them. I knew from our first mass together in LA that this would be a crazy trip. Even though we have returned to our everyday "normal" lives, I know deep down that we all have a connection that we cannot explain to anyone else.

Introduction

"I have no hands but yours." 

About nine months ago, I had this crazy idea of going on a mission trip. I had no idea what it involved or if I would even be able to go but I applied through FOCUS Missions anyways. I have always wanted to go to Africa and so I put that as my "number one" trip. After about 3 months of not hearing anything, I finally got the call that I was accepted to go on the Philippines mission trip. I had no idea what the Philippines was like but I was up for the challenge. 

One of the many obstacles of the trip was fundraising $3,800 in a small amount of time. I honestly didn't think I would make my goal before the deadline but with much prayer and the generosity of so many of my family and friends, God made it happen. After the fundraising was over, I realized that this trip wasn't about me. I couldn't have fundraised that much money in a little over two months with my own power--that's a fact. During the trip, I realized that Christianity isn't something that you "do". No..it's way, way more than that. Christianity and Catholicism is a radical life of giving of yourself to every single person you come into contact with; it's a way of life. 

If I got anything out of this trip, it's that my life isn't about me. The world is so huge and we tend to forget that we are so, so, so small in it. Life isn't about the physical comforts or doing everything inside the box. It's about being scared but going for it anyways because God's got your back. 

I hope this blog gives you a glimpse into what my mission trip was like and the experiences I had while I was on it. I will be including quotes from my journal I wrote in while I was over there. Enjoy!!