Put in Charge the Night Before Opening!

I went to Central Asia for the first time back in 2019. I had been on mission trips before, and thought I knew what it would be like this summer. What I didn’t expect, was to have my heart forever changed for a group of people I couldn’t even speak to. 

This summer (2022) I got to be a camp supervisor for a camp in Central Asia, in the same country I had previously worked. I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. I was a little more prepared having taken a year's worth of Russian lessons. However, due to being short staffed, the camp put me and my translator in charge of most of the camp at 10 p.m. the night before the kids showed up, including all of the spiritual discussions. 

A theme in my personal devotions this past year has been that God is already working; we just have to be submitted to how he is already moving. In John chapter 6, Jesus says “I have come down from heaven not to do my will, but to do the will of him who sent me.” If Jesus joined in how the father was already working, then surely I had to be submitted to him. I remember praying as I went to bed at 2 a.m. that night, “Lord, help us see how you are working and help us submit to your Spirit, so that we can join you.” 

As the week progressed, we shared the gospel story. My translator led the message. On the night he shared the gospel, the Spirit led him to ask kids to accept Jesus as their Savior. I might not speak much Russian, but I did come to understand what was taking place, when around 8 kids raised their hands to accept Jesus. It is a moment I don’t think I will ever forget. 

If anything, it just grew my heart for that part of the world even more. It was so cool to see the kids want the truth that Jesus is.

Through it all, the Lord used this trip to confirm my passion that I do want to serve him in this part of the world. I have spent roughly 6 weeks of my life in Central Asia now, and I am currently pursuing full time work on that side of the globe, so that the whole world can hear the truth of the gospel.

I am so excited for what comes next!