by Sean Easley
ministry leader of student ministries

As Student Ministries prepares for our Summer Mission trip to Honduras, we can't help but look back to last year. In the summer of 2008, our students ministered to others and began to recognize God's voice in their lives. Students were pushed hard spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally—the end result was fantastic on all counts. 

This year the work continues as students return to Honduras July 18–31. Please pray for the provision of funds for this trip, and for the students participating in this mission. Leaders will encourage students to create their own vision for La Providencia, an outgrowth of Providence World Ministries. Last year was an incredible experience for the students who went. Please take a minute to read testimonies from Victoria Sun and Chris Heflin, who both had the opportunity to serve in Honduras.

Student Testimonies:

Victoria Sun

"It seems like so many missionaries come back and tell how thankful they are for the things they have, for the country they live in, and for the lives they live. But for me, returning from Honduras made me more than just a thankful person; it helped me recognize many firsts. For the first time in my life, I heard God talk to me. For the first time I felt like I had a purpose. For the first time in my life, there was something more.

The first Friday we were there was the night that changed my life. Earlier in the week, we had written personal confessions to God. We kept these confessions in our Bibles all week. Friday night, after we finished our devotion, our leader, Greg, began to talk about God's amazing love, sharing what He did for us on the cross. Greg then told us that there was a symbolic wooden cross outside of our building. He encouraged us to nail our confessions to it. With tears streaming down my face, I walked outside, barely able to see through the tears. In that moment, the truth hit me. My life was not mine—God owned everything in my life. So who was I to think I could simply follow my fleshly desires? God planted something in my heart that night, something that altered every plan and dream I had ever made. God showed me that I am truly happy serving Him and doing anything else would be in vain.

Thinking back to last year, I get chills. God used those two weeks to make me part of a much greater picture that included changing the lives of countless people in Honduras. However, the thing that gets me the most is God’s ability to not only change the lives of others, but His ability to take everything I held on to and create an entirely new story."

Chris Heflin

"Last year in Honduras, God did many things through our team's construction efforts, our ministry to the Honduran children, and many other venues. Words cannot do justice to the wonder of God's hand on our trip. While all these things (and more) made my experience in Honduras very memorable, it was the transformation inside that changed me most.

I saw and felt myself grow spiritually, and truly felt God with me for one of the first times in my life. This trip allowed me to see what my life looked like as a Christian before and as a disciple now. I went home changed, living my life for Him. I couldn't ask for a better experience than that."