I went to Ethiopia in the summer of 2013 when I was 17 years old. It was only a week long, but my life wasn't the same after that. It was my first international mission trip with the church I attended growing up. 

While in Ethiopia we:

-got to know the culture, the people and the language 

-worked in orphanages 

-played with kids in the community

-went to church 

- visited Carry 117. (check it out www.carry117.com) We got to know the women making the products and pray over them. 

-the team had a fun bowling night 

-and so much more!

Soon after the team and I got back to the United States, we had a meeting to talk about our experience in Ethiopia. Being so young and not really experiencing culture shock before, it was hard to adjust back; to make sense of how my life here is so different than life there. How I have been blessed with a family, a home, education, food, material possessions and so much more. It was hard to leave when it felt like we just arrived. I knew that we could have done so much more if we stayed longer. All of these things were the obvious emotions I was feeling, but there was something I didn't realize till I was back in the states sitting in a circle with the team talking about our time in Ethiopia. I realized in that moment that God isn't done with me and missionary work. Yes, I was heartbroken to leave, but I knew in my heart that going to Ethiopia was not my last mission trip, but the very beginning!

 World Race January 2021, here I come!