Angela Aston, a long term missionary to Guatemala, and a friend were hanging out in the Central Plaza of Antigua, Guatemala, discussing a program for reaching the teens of the city, when they heard worship music. Curious, they followed the music and discovered a group of men from churches all over the city, who were worshipping God in the town square. Angela and her friend decided to join in, and what happened next is amazing.  Sometimes I forget that there is literally ministry all around us, that Jesus has called us to love our neighbors, and that does not stop just because we have a...

While she was on the World Race, Rachel Martin didn’t want to teach English in Romania. She begged God to change her ministry. When He didn’t, she knew she had to obey. So she taught English the entire month, using the Bible as a textbook.  Rachel had no idea this simple idea—and her reluctant obedience—would have so great an impact. Often with short term mission trips, you don’t always see the fruit. At least, not immediately.  While on the World Race five years ago, I spent month six in Draganesti-Old, Romania.  Leading up to Romania, I had three...

While visiting our Guatemala Base, Adventures Staff Amie Beth Beadling met a little girl who she will never forget.  My heart is overwhelmed upon meeting 13-year-old Francesca, a little girl staying with Kellie and the crew at the Adventures Base in Antigua, Guatemala. Kellie met Francesca almost four years ago when her World Race team helped tear down Francesca’s family home to rebuild one with a better foundation. Francesca’s mother recently had to have surgery forcing Francesca and her 10-year-old brother to drop out of school and become the breadwinners for the...

Every Thursday, Kristin Fuller and others from the long-term base in Nicaragua head over to the Granada jail to share the life-giving power of God’s love and forgiveness. Thursday morning is perhaps my favorite morning of the week since I have moved to Nicaragua.  It’s the morning when my team and I put on matching green shirts, pray together, and head over to the Granada jail for ministry. This is my favorite ministry that I’ve joined in so far . . . and I hope this blog will explain why. Each Thursday morning, we are allowed to enter the jail and meet in various...

When Adventures Staff Angela Aston encountered unlikely opposition to her love of dance and her desire to share it with young girls in Guatemala, she saw God move in a way that brought her new life and spoke directly to her heart.  I’ve never thought these words would be spoken over me. When I was younger I wanted to be a dancer. I loved to dance. As a teenager I struggled with an eating disorder. I was obsessive about my weight. I remember sometimes weighing myself 10+ times in a day, praying I had lost weight. I looked online to see how much a ballerina should weigh, and I...

A teen girl talks about her family’s umbrella repair business with longterm missionary to the Philippines, Chelsea Ray.  I climb into the jeepny and sit down quickly. I dig into my backpack, rummaging around looking for my wallet. I finally find it nestled in that one corner of the backpack that seems to hide everything and, as I sort through the coins looking for the right ones to pay the driver, I feel a light but intentional tap on my knee. I look up and see Jenny, one of the girls in our care. “Jenny!” I squeal and she comes to sit on the seat next to me. I am...