Jesse didn’t want anything to do with God.
An addict for 30 years, Jesse had recently been released from prison for selling drugs and trafficking illegal immigrants into the United States. “I didn’t believe there was a God because I thought I was going to die as a crack addict. I even had thoughts of killing myself because I thought I could never be forgiven.”
So when a friend asked if he’d be interested in translating for a Christian missions team to his hometown of Granada, Nicaragua, he wanted to say no.
But he needed the money to purchase crack. So he reluctantly agreed.
The team was a group of teenage girls from the States, part of the Ambassador program of Adventures. Throughout their trip, they did children’s ministry, outreach, and evangelism in both Granada and at the dump, sharing the Gospel wherever they went.
Over the course of their month in Nicaragua, Jesse became their friend, protector, and a father-figure in addition to their translator – so much so that the team nicknamed him “Padre”.
The teens had prayed to see salvations. But they didn’t expect one to be their translator.
It was while serving alongside this team and sharing the Gospel from his own mouth, Jesse committed his life to Christ.
Now Jesse works with Adventures Long-term missionaries in Nicaragua, sharing his story with anyone who will listen. In fact, Jesse says that’s his life’s purpose:
“The reason I’m here now is to show people what God can do.”
Ex-cons and high school teenagers, soccer moms, shepherd boys, and accountants – God uses the willing to accomplish his purposes. After all, it’s not about us at all.
It’s about Christ and his glory.
It’s easy to think short term mission trips don’t make a lasting impact. After all, how much can a community change from a trip that’s only a few weeks – or days – long? Sometimes it can seem the trip was more for the people who went than the people they went to help. But the truth is, our God is not bound by time. All God asks is for us to be willing; willing to listen to his voice, go where he leads, and love the people he puts in our paths. It is through the life-giving power of his name that real, permanent heart change happens.
God can use anyone, in any place, whether for one day or a lifetime.
Just ask Jesse.
Do you feel called to go on a short term mission trip? Click here to see where God could be calling you!
