I suppose my interest in missions started when my oldest sister went to Panama when she was sixteen. I watched her prepare, sent her off, and I saw when she came back a new person.
Since then, both of my sisters have been to multiple countries on mission trips. I’ve heard their stories and seen the overwhelming emotion come over them when they repeat God’s work that they witnessed.
So last summer, I went through the Experiencing God bible study with a group at my church. Let me just say that God spoke wonders to me through that study. I couldn’t get Him to shut up! 🙂 I had just recently received the very last issue of the Brio magazine, and I had, up until then, been hoping to go on a mission trip though them. So I got on the internet, looked around and found AIM. I talked to my parents and prayed long and hard about applying for a trip. A major conflict with me was authenticity. I needed to know if God was really calling me to the missions field, or if I merely wanted to go to follow in my sisters’ footsteps. So I prayed some more. One night, I had forgotten to do my study, (it was a school night, and I really should have been in bed), but I went ahead and began. First, I prayed my usual prayer that God might show me wether I should apply for a mission trip or not. Then, I opened my Experiencing God book and that day’s lesson was titled, “On Mission to the World”.
I took that as a sign. So, with much more prayer and my parents’ consent, I applied and here I am. God has greatly provided me with financial (I’ve reached my goal!!) and prayerful (There are some amazing old ladies at my church!) support. I’m so very excited to go on this trip and get to know everyone, as well as see what God has in store for our team and the Bolivians!
In Christ,
Livvy Runyon
It’s going to be amazing to see how unique your experience will be from your sisters. I’m so grateful that I’ll be a part of this journey with you.