I've already told you that
I was away at the beginning of August for ten days. I was in Mallorca and I
spend a very good time there. But of course it wasn't as easy as me just hoping
on a plane, there is so much more story behind it all. I'd propose you'd take a
seat and just read ;)
First of all let me introduce
you to what we did and with whom. We went on a mission trip to Mallorca, an
Island belonging to Spain. We went there with an organization called Gospel
Tribe, which is based in Germany. They have a bible school and organize
outreaches to different places on a regular basis. This year was their third or
fourth (Sorry can't remember) trip to the Ballermann, which is the German party
zone on the Island. If you live in a country were german is a spoken language,
you know about the Ballermann. Also on the island is the English Party zone in
Magaluf. The goal of our project was to talk with people and pray for them if
they wanted to. But now on to my personal story.
I still remember when our youth
pastor told me about the trip for the first time. It was during the time that I
occasionally helped out in our church's office due to me not having anything
better to do. I just loved the idea straight away because unlike American’s we Swiss
have too little mission trips going on. What I liked especially was the fact
that we'd be a group of our church instead of just me as an individual having
to join a group of people I don't know. Back then I really hoped that I'd be
able to make it.
One evening in January, the
man who was organizing this trip came to our church to present what we were
going to do. Again I knew that I wanted to go, but I just realized then
that I couldn't actually go. I still didn't have a job after searching for about half a
year. How was I supposed to pay for it? There was no way for me to sign up for
it without having a plan settled what I would be doing by the time I left.
Would I find a job, would I get time off? There were just too many unanswered
questions.
You see, I gave up. But on
the very same evening I changed my opinion once more. A man from our church, a friend of mine,
got up to me and asked what I was thinking about that whole project. I was
honest and told him I liked the idea but that there were too many unresolved
problems, like the money issue. It didn't take him minutes to offer me the
money. I remember standing there, not sure what I was supposed to do. Should I
really accept that amount of money? Was that ok or not? I somehow wanted to go,
but was I really sure? And what about the job issue? I was confused and
overwhelmed, grateful for the opportunity. I got home and I was smiling,
thinking that maybe it would all work out for me in the end.
In the end I decided that I
would accept the money. I had to realize that if god organizes the finances,
then he would also organize the time and everything else. Of course he did. So
know we have a cut, I think it was in June when I started to doubt it all. I
started questioning myself and loaded a lot of pressure on me. It was not only I
going, but I felt like I was having more responsibility due to me kind of
having a scholarship. Generally spoken I felt obligated to achieve something
with all of that for more than just myself. Even though I'm quite talkative,
it's hard for me to approach strangers. What did I even think when I signed up
for going to Mallorca? I did not even like Germans!! There were so many things
that we didn't know and when I talked to a friend who was going to we both said
that we were not really looking forward to it. I started dreading the day that
we left; on the other hand I was still somewhat excited because at least I
would swim in the sea again and maybe tan a little on the beach, something that
I didn't think I would do this year.
Again I was calmed down.
The man who paid for my trip asked me if I wanted to come to his house group
one day, to tell them what we were going to do and so they could pray for me
and all. Of course I accepted that was the least I could do. What really
touched me then was that they specifically prayed for my free time. They prayed
that I would be able to enjoy my time, that there should be no pressure from
anyone for me to achieve anything. It was exactly what I needed to hear and
went from my ear straight to my heart where I felt relaxation all of a sudden.
I was ready for the adventure.
The thing is I don't know
what to tell you about the time we spent there. So much happened in these ten
days, there is not enough space left on this post. It was amazing. If I wanted
to tell you all you'd have to read a whole novel (or my diary, but then I'd
probably kill you). Let me just sum it up. I've meet amazing people, I had good
conversations, I barely slept, I cried out of happiness about three times, I
realized that my life goals are still as important to me as they were when I
was a little fourteen year old. I know that I need to fight to get what I want,
but that nothing will really stop me until I'm there. I got inspired to take
something up again that I abandoned about five times in my life, I changed my
mind about Germans (I now love them), and I just generally grew a lot
hopefully. I see my future in a different light and I have more plans than
ever, which is just fantastic. I'm going to have some marvellous adventures if
you ask me.
I promise to tell you more
stories shortly, but right now all you need to know is that mission trips
really form you. You go there for others, but you get so much for yourself.
Await part two of this instalment ;)
Cheerio.
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