A Summer Missions Experience by Jonathon Johnson

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    At the beginning of this summer, I was blessed with the opportunity to serve on my first international mission trip in Guatemala. As I was preparing my heart and mind to go, I had to humble myself before the Lord and realize that I did not know what to expect because at my core I am a planner. But what I came to realize on this trip is that God’s perfect plan is so much greater than my plan or what I expect to happen. He had a specific plan in mind for each home visit we did, each child we interacted with and each church member we encouraged. His plan is always greater than my own, because He went before us all throughout the city of San Pedro La Laguna. 
      Our ministry in San Pedro was really two-fold. On some days, we would teach and work with students in Getsemani Baptist Academy. We would also go around the town and deliver food baskets to the community. Both of these required a translator because none of us were able to speak Spanish fluently none the less the native Mayan language that many of the townspeople spoke. At one point in a conversation, all three different languages were being spoken at the same time which is a beautiful picture of what heaven may sound like. Before I left, one of the expectations and worries I had was the language barriers we would encounter. But as I said earlier, His plans are always greater than my own. God broke down every barrier that I could have ever imagined.

 For the first time, through personal experience, I learned that the Gospel truly knows no language or cultural barriers.  Acts 1:8 has always been one of my favorite verses, and for the first time in my life, I got to be a witness to the Gospel that has changed my life in an entirely different place.
​      Because of this trip, I learned for the first time through the experience that the Gospel knows no boundaries when it comes to it being shared. I had a passion for reaching the lost of the nations before this trip, but that passion is burning even more now. I am thankful to the BCM for the support in allowing myself and my team to go, serve, and love.