My first experience of what missions work is was in my freshman year of college. I had started doing street evangelism with my campus ministry, Launch, and learning how to share the Gospel with those I knew personally. I had heard about a mission trip coming up over Spring break. I was reminded of our call in the Great Commission to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” I decided to go. Through that experience I learned so much about what missions work looks like, as well as its importance in addition to everyday evangelism.

As I’ve been preparing to go on that mission trip again this Spring, I remembered hearing about a mission trip in Senegal last year. I felt like this was where God wanted me this coming Summer. It was well aligned with the gifts God has given me, teaching English to Francophones, and it would show me what long-term missions may look like. As I look ahead to this mission, I hope to be able to form strong relationships with those in the English classes and be able to share God’s love and truth with them as well as those in the greater community. I hope to be intentional in my everyday life there and gain clarity on whether God is calling me to missions long-term.