This was our second mission trip with AIM as a family. Last year we went to Hilton Head, SC. We are so grateful that we were able to experience this trip that was especially kid-friendly and designed for families with young children. Last year God worked on my heart in a big way. I wasn’t “fired up” for missions the way my husband was. But even with 100% humidity, toddler meltdowns, an intense schedule, and David getting sick and puking in the car three times on the way home, God did wonders in my heart. A highlight of that trip was praying with a lady at the food pantry who had a job interview coming up. David also made friends with the only other kid on the trip (Maddie). That was a huge blessing, because we were then able to connect with this trip that Maddie and her entire family were on.
I really didn’t want to drive to Gainseville. We live in the northwestern lower peninsula of Michigan and after the sickness David experienced in the car last year, my anxiety was pretty high. I didn’t think there was another option until the mask mandate was lifted from the airlines (praise God!). My husband won two free plane tickets from a work Christmas party several years ago and we were able to use them for this trip for him and for me. David’s was the only ticket we had to pay for.
Unfortunately with free plane tickets (at least with ours), they put you on flights that aren’t the most convenient. We roused our three year-old at 4:15 am last Saturday to drive to the airport 45 minutes from our house. I fully expected him to fall asleep on the trip to the airport, but he chattered excitedly and stayed awake for two whole flights (we had a layover in Detroit) and didn’t fall asleep until we drove our rental car to the AIM base.
There are so many praises that I have about this trip. One of them is that David’s ears didn’t hurt too bad on the plane. He loved the escalators at the bigger airports. It was so fun to see his excitement. I should also mention that this was David’s first plane ride.
Unfortunately my heart wasn’t really in the right place for this trip either. I heard someone say once that certain experiences with God are “mountain top” experiences. There seem to be some lows in between and after that fire was lit in my heart at Hilton Head last year, the flame needed to be rekindled. Once again, I found myself not wanting to go. I was worried about how David would do in the heat and was dreading the heat myself (but it wasn’t nearly that bad, and much of the time we were indoors). I was worried about what other people would think of my parenting and my toddler who sometimes acts out. When the other families started arriving, I realized that other parents and kids are also human and that I often hold myself to an unrealistic standard. I struggle with anxiety and God shows me in so many ways that He is in control and that I can trust Him. I felt a surge of relief as I saw other families in their humanity and how God is able to not only use us and our children, but to do it in wondrous ways. He truly is a God of wonders.
On the first day of our trip, I was asked to drive to Park Hill apartments. I instantly got stressed out and irritable as I hadn’t planned on driving at all here (I don’t like city driving in unfamiliar territory). Once again, it was a breeze. Cindy (our project leader) prayed for me before I left and it all went smoothly. I am so thankful for how good God is to me!
The Park Hill apartments were by far my favorite location for outreach on this trip. The kids there are so precious. On that first day, there were some kids sitting on a porch and I started chatting with them. I asked them if they went to church and they said yes. I said, “So you know Jesus?” They nodded, but one little girl said that her friend Indigo doesn’t believe God is real. I suggested that we pray for her and I prayed that she would believe in God. I talked about why I believe God is real and began naming things in nature (like the trees and the sky) and how I know the world could not have just happened. It was a really special moment to be able to pray for one of their friends. So if you’re reading this, please pray for Indigo and that she would become a believer.
One of the other blessings of this trip was just listening to the children at the base laugh and play during our down times. David is an only child and is very social. God has an amazing plan for each child on this trip and He is already using them.
On the day we went to Park Hill (backing up), Jean Barnes was there and she prayed for me. It felt like a “sending out” prayer and I just felt so loved by God as she prayed. It is a really honoring and humbling thing to be prayed for by an individual who sacrificed comfort to be a missionary in Africa. I was able to see her the next day in the assisted living and pray for her and thank God for her life. I almost started crying as I was praying for her as I thought of what she has given for Jesus.
I was so blessed to be able to go back to Park Hill on the last day of ministry. This time my husband was able to come along and I introduced him to Margie (who I forgot to mention earlier from the first day there). I think she’s in 6th or 7th grade. We really connected the first day and this time I was able to get her phone number. On that day (Thursday), I took several trips to the CVS to take the kids potty. It was fun visiting with them in the car.
It was a blessing to have a piano on the stage here at the base. I don’t always get much time to play while I’m at home, but David was having such a good time playing with the kids or getting time with Doug, that I was able to get several opportunities. I had the idea of doing a worship song with two of the girls (Mia and Pip), so we sang “Lord, I Give You My Heart” for worship. The next night David led “We Believe,” which is a song we have been teaching him during family worship. That really touched my heart. He had the microphone and he said “God is real.” He also went up to the microphone earlier and said “Everyone, I love you.” It’s a wondrous thing to see God working in my little boy.
The food was so good! Mr. Kip was awesome and so was Mrs. Kip. She was a wonderful project leader and was so caring and helpful.
It’s so sad to say goodbye to everyone. I held it together until I hugged Maddie and I got all choked up. I told David that when Jesus comes back, we won’t have to say goodbye to our friends anymore. Hopefully we will see everyone next year.
There are so many things I could say about this trip. All I can say is that God is a God of Wonders. He does wonders in the hearts of our kids and in our hearts as parents. I know that Doug and I are now changing the course of our lives because of this trip. We don’t want to waste our lives. We want to live the rest of our lives serving the God of Wonders. All praise and glory to Him for every good thing that happened to this trip and for every opportunity to share Jesus with others. And thank you so much to AIM, Cindy and Mr. Kip!
