By Lydia Dunlap, Freshman at Central Baptist College

Ever since I was five years old I’ve been called to be a foreign missionary. In fact, before I was even saved, I was telling people that’s what I wanted to be when I grew up. This past December, I went to El Salvador to pass out Everlasting Smiles shoeboxes. We left about two weeks before Christmas, and I left America thinking of all the things still left to be done: presents to buy, the family Christmas calendar, and all the other things for the busiest time of year. When I stepped off the plane in El Salvador, I had no idea how different I would be when I boarded the plane back to America. 

I had often heard the stories that began with, “This mission trip changed my life…” or “I’ll never view America the same way again…” but that wasn’t my experience. Our group of twelve consisted of six ladies, a young married couple, a security consultant, and three teenagers. It was the most unlikely bunch you’ve ever seen. You see, before this trip I had only done VSM trips, so I had only been on trips with kids my age. 

It’s an understatement to say I was worried about the dynamics of this team when we were first introduced. Along with that, I had never been out of the country. I was used to having Oreos right down the road at Walmart when I needed them, and for a picky eater like me, that was essential. This trip was looking like something I had never known before, and I’m the kind of person who loves to take adventures…once I’ve carefully scheduled them. 

Every day our team hopped in a van and drove to our destination. We visited churches and villages across El Salvador, ranging from a thirty-minute drive to almost three hours. The first place we went was my favorite. I still close my eyes and dream of being there. We parked the van and walked up a little dirt road filled with large black rocks that I later found out were from the volcanoes that had erupted. As we walked along the road, we eventually came to a clearing, and all of the sudden there were hundreds of children. How unexpected! Just a moment before, I only saw the beautiful scenery of El Salvador, but suddenly my sight was flooded with children with large eyes, holding on to our every move. 

As we moved closer into the clearing, our team gathered together, but I felt like I was on a stage. When I turned my head, people were taking pictures of us and little kids were inching closer. They came in their nicest clothes–dresses and fancy shirts–yet I could see how little they had. It didn’t take long before I had moms asking me for a “pho-to” (the only English they knew) then passing their babies into my hands. How humbling to be trusted so blindly. 

The gospel message was given, and we began passing out shoeboxes. These kids had come from everywhere by car and on foot. They had waited for us to arrive, all for shoeboxes that many American kids wouldn’t even like as a gift. We stayed there long after most kids had left, and I couldn’t help but be in awe of what I had just witnessed. God has never been louder in my calling to missions. I tear up just writing this and feeling the certainty of my future as a missionary.

The next village was where we passed out shoeboxes, and some people from our group came across a little girl with a jump rope. They told her to play with it, but it was evident she didn’t know how. They called me over to show her, and she watched with amazement as we all took turns showing her how to jump rope. I remember her laugh as she first started jump roping then saw her mom walk up behind her. Her mom couldn’t have been much older than me, but she didn’t know how to jump rope either. So we taught her, too. Eventually Pastor Rigoberto got a long rope from his truck, and we started inviting everyone to join in. 

I was on the end swinging one side of the jump rope, and the mother of the girl was on the other side. I looked over and it was like seeing myself in a mirror. But how different were we? Two young women, so different but so equally loved by Christ. Our arms eventually grew tired, but the joy of everyone jump roping was greater. This was the unity that I longed for in America. 

These experiences changed me. Not in the way I had always heard it described but in the way that the Lord changes you through something you’ve prayed over. Something you’ve longed for. If the Lord has ever given you the desires of your heart, you know what I’m talking about. The peace of resting in God’s plan for my life was peace like I’ve never felt. Joy that I’ve never known.

When I came back to America, it was just as busy as I had left it. People were rushing to do last minute Christmas shopping, and my family was wondering about my trip. But I sat there just thinking of the week, knowing I could never fully express what I experienced. Longing to be back with my new friends and dreaming only of when I could return. God had put in my heart from the beginning that this was his purpose for me, but getting to live it is a blessing I can never comprehend.