Bro. Hattabaugh, I would just like to say how honored I was to be apart of the YOM trip. It has impacted me in so many ways. With meeting certain people on the trip they have showed me so much and I took a little of each of them back with me home. Raquel is so precious and I am so glad you bunked us together we have became such close friends and keep in contact. I have felt that the worries and stress that were waying me down I let go when I came to concepts with my past, accepted and was able to share that with people I did not know. I prayed so dearly that If it was meant to be to share my testimony to let it happen, and that day I remember you asking me. Thank you!! The power of prayer is so amazing. As just finding out I may have thyroid cancer I know God is in control and am continuing to pray daily. He will not give me anything that I can not handle and will not take me before my time. I hope to be able to see everyone one again soon, and to experience another trip. May God bless you and your family through out the holidays and new year! With love Sierra ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Growing up not knowing the truth really changes ones perspective on what is out there and what your NOT missing. But on Youth on Missions I was given a chance to see the hungry people, people like me at one point. I saw people that were desperate for an out of this devil infested world, a chance to start anew with joy and peace. My focus on my first YOM trip (Hong Kong) was to impact souls, to be a witness, to help the local church and to be a servant called on a mission, because there was no way I was going on that trip with out divine Spiritual intervention. My intentions were met, but what I received was so much more than what I planned and expected. I left feeling as if I was the one with the better deal. So in light of that, I feel a personal debt unto God, a feeling of conviction to impact everyone around me with the love of God, whether it's a backsliding friend or my next cashier at Publix. I've been called a servent, but I feel that there is so much more I can do for my God, the one who took me in when I had no family to love me, the one who made a way when there was no way, the one who loved me when I was yet a sinner. God's blessings upon me during YOM is an encouragement every single day, it was a promise God gave me, a promise and a calling, and like the holy word says, He keeps His promises, He will never leave me or forsake me, if God with me who can be against me. Stephanie ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I have grown up in the church environment. My parents are both heavily involved with our church in Lakeland, Florida. My father being the assistant pastor and long Time youth/college career teacher and my mother being over the children's ministry, I have gained a lot of knowledge about church ministry in general. I knew it was important for the church, but I didn't know how important until the age of 12. It was then that I started playing for my church more often, helping out with church event, and becoming who I am today within my church. My parents are committed to the work of God and they have taught my sisters and I the importance of it. The work that is done in the church whether it is setting up for a church function, vacuuming the floors, using the talents God has given you on the platform, or even saying hello to the new comer it all works together to God. It's God's way of showing you who you are to become and your way of showing God what you are willing to do for Him.My first YOM trip was to Costa Rica 2011. The months prior to leaving for the trip were the toughest for me both spiritually and mentally. I had just graduated high school and college and I was playing the piano for church nearly most of the time. I didn't really think that there was anything wrong. I lived by day to day, I prayed all the time, but there was something still missing. After YOM 2011 I felt changed. We may have only had four services, but each one was a renueing of the Spirit not only for the Costarican people but also for each one of the YOMers. I was full of joy at the end of the trip, my eyes were open to the full potential of God's grace. God has blessed me since and I can say that my relationship has grown because of the missions trip that I went on and the people that went with me.Youth on Mission is a great thing. I've heard said that it doesn't matter how may trips you may go on, you can't get enough of it. God is doing mighty things in this world and He is giving you the chance to be apart of it and He will bless you mightily for it....Thanks Bro. H, you are awesome! I pray that God blesses you and your team as they prepare for this next journey :)Love you all,Lexi D :)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~YOM has established in me a yearning for excellence from the example of the leadership and missionaries abroad to work hard at everything and trust that God makes all things good for those who love Him. I've learned from two years of YOM that some cultures are less fortunate than our own but they are full of heroes in waiting; and we can and have been used to plant seeds for a harvest of heroes everywhere. I've always been committed to the work of the Lord since I became an apostolic but YOM taught me to look at everything around us and to work hard at everything and to show love to everyone all the time. I used to get so busy doing things in church, working for the Lord, but I forgot about why I was doing it and YOM definitely plays a huge roll in helping me to remember it's for the Glory of the King and for the loving and reach of souls for His glory. Since my first year of YOM I began seeing people as souls rather than just faces in crowds and people I meet on the street. YOM has given me a burden for outreach and in part because of YOM I think to myself every time i leave my home or church 'I am now entering the mission field' Thank you Youth On Missions leaders and UPCI for allowing it. M. Briggs~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~How YOM Changed my Life: I can honestly say that YOM changed my life! When I first decided to go on YOM in 2004 I was excited about being on a Missions Trip, but I was equally excited about traveling through Paris and London! I didn’t realize what God had in store for me! The Missions Trip opened my eyes to the world, and all the people that are hurting and lost that we have the privilege, better yet obligation, to reach out to! I came home a different person! I wanted to be closer to HIM! When I returned I became involved with the music in my church. I began praying and thinking about what I was suppose to do with my life. I always thought I would get a secular degree and be set for life, but God had something else in mind. Bible College was where I was lead. Four Youth on Mission Trips and two years of Bible College later I am now working as a full-time music minister at my home church. From the first YOM where I felt God’s initial calling, to all three after that, they each have a special place in my heart. They gave me strength, and vision. Youth on Missions is truly a life revolutionizing experience! Alison ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~YOM completely changed my life, upside down. I will never be the same. Not only did we impact them but they had an incredible impact on my life. Their worship is incredibly phenomenal!!! They have sooo much energy and can just praise Jesus all night. As I watched them worship and pour their hearts out before God out at the altar I began thinking....if they can truly worship God like that so passionately with all their hearts and they have nothing, absolutely nothing, why can't we. We are SO spoiled, we have it all. We have awesome music, powerful services and lovely fellowship and it's easy to just play church because we are comfortable. But, when I was in Costa Rica it was something that was just unfathomable. One night, I was praying for this one young girl and she was truly seeking and you could feel the anointing and power of God all over us as we prayed.God visited us in such a powerful way. Praying for those girls just made my heart melt because they were so sincere and humble and so desirous. They weren't satisfied as ordinary church as usual but they wanted more. We danced, cried and interceded at the altar for each other. I will never forget it. After church was over, I have her my hair clip and she gave me such a big hug, I became overwhelmed with it all. After youth on missions I made a new commitment to God and promised that I was going to be a worship, a true worshiper...unhindered, unrestrained! There's no reason that I can't worship just as hard as I did in Costa Rica as I can in the US, its the same Holy Ghost Power that was there and ministered to us in such an incredible way. Since then, I've prayed my hour daily, not only at night when I am half asleep but in the morning also. Prayer time with God shouldn't be rushed and I am committed to glean all I can from God and do whatever it takes to get to the next level. I began to teach home bible studies and I am a Sunday School teacher. I absolutely love it, getting in and getting active, being apart of a five fold ministry. After YOM, God has opened up so many doors it's been insane. I also realized that you don't have to be on the mission field to impact lives. We have a whole mission field at our church, people who are desperately waiting for us to pray for them and we just pass them by. We can pray with them. We have that apostolic anointing. But, I am so glad I had the opportunity to go to Costa Rica. I absolutely love missions. I've already made a commitment to God that if I would save all my money and do my part that he would provide a way for me to go to South Africa. I love being a part and impacting someone's life, it's something that will stay with me forever. Shelsie ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Hand of GodMy life drastically changed June 2008 when I traveled to Peru. At the age of fourteen, I had a yearning for the things of God but didn’t know what I was capable of doing. My parents understood my desires and an opportunity opened that I could go to Mexico with a non-denominational church. The idea appeared wonderful and plans were made. When my pastor learned of my plans, he consulted with my family and I about the dangers of the trip. He commended me on my desire to be involved with missions but admonished me that he thought it would be best if I traveled with people of the same faith. He left me with the decision and I decided to follow the advice of my pastor. That advice led me to a Florida Youth on Missions trip. I was the last entry on the trip, due to a late cancellation. His input that day changed my life forever.During those two weeks of outreach, church services, street ministry, and prayer walks I felt closer to God than I had ever been. The desperation of needing God was written on the people’s faces. Tears falling freely from their eyes showed they were unashamed. My heart ached for these people. They had nothing, their churches were bare of what we call necessities, and yet they gave all they had for God. After this trip, I was on fire for God. I regularly sought God’s will for my life.Since 2008, I have been a part of great teams of people going on missions trip to Peru, Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, and Costa Rica. These trips have taught me that I am blessed beyond measure. Every country is different but their hunger and passion for God is the same. Seeing their desire and hunger I wanted what they had. No longer would sitting back and seeing what I could be doing satisfy me. I wanted to be a first responder. My eyes were opened to foreign missions and the call God has given us for this dying world. These trips have helped me break out of my shyness and go to the uttermost part of the earth with a renewed holy boldness. The ministry opportunities are incomparable. I was given the chance to testify, sing in a different language, connect with people through prayer, and preach a service in Hong Kong. Never again could sitting in a pew satisfy my commitment to God.Throughout my time spent in various countries, I have seen poverty, sickness, and despair grip the people. But somewhere deep inside of me I knew I was meant to be a part of the foreign mission. That mission is simple, to freely commit yourself to God and the work of His kingdom in order to spread the gospel to all nations. I learned an important lesson of humility and submission. God needed me to be a vessel from which He could pour from and use without my selfish desires getting in the way. Youth on Missions has made my commitment to God grounded on the rock.So, had I not heeded my pastor’s advice in 2008 who knows where my walk with God would be today. I may not have had the opportunity to meet our YOM leader Bro. Hattabaugh, who has such a passion for the world that he bleeds missions. Wonderful friendships may not have been formed, which have changed my life. The call of God may not have been received had I not been in an alter praying for other children of God. When I look back, I see the hand of God in every situation. Youth on Missions has taught me to listen to the voice of my pastor, to follow the leading of God in my life, and no matter who you are you are a minister to the worldCORINNE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ People are my passion; souls are my burden. That statement pretty well sums up the reason why I decided to go on YOM. Before embarking on the journey with Bro. Hattabaugh and all of my other YOMer’s, (Yes, I claim them as my own.), I was already embarking on my journey with the Lord. When I say that I am on a journey with the Lord, I truly mean it. Just like a journey through the woods or a journey around the world, both take time, energy, and wisdom, but most of all, commitment. You will not get around the whole world in one day, nor will you be exactly where you need to be with God on your first day walking with Him. It is all a process with Jesus and I have only just begun. All He wants is obedience and commitment. Being committed to God is sometimes overwhelming but well worthy what lies for us in Heaven. Before going to Costa Rica on YOM, I had already been heavily involved in ministry at my church including, but not limited to: praise singing, playing piano, teaching, leading worship, outreach, and other such things. Staying busy in the Kingdom will often times be very tiring, but it is very rewarding. Although we can busy ourselves with the THINGS of God, we sometimes struggle to find the HEART of God. I was in this predicament when I headed off to Costa Rica. Upon arriving at our destination, I was ecstatic, but in my soul, I felt very weak. I felt as though I had been putting God on the back burner of my mind. I really needed His strength to make it through the trip. I truly believed He heard my earnest prayer because that night Bro. Hattabaugh asked me to give my testimony. At the time, I did not have a clue as to what I was going to say, but as soon as I walked up to the microphone I felt empowered. I began to talk about how I had struggled with thoughts in my mind about not being good enough for the ministry and how I started to believe God did not love me. I then went on to say how God had truly changed my viewpoint because if He did not love me, why would He choose to be crucified on a cross for my sins. That night was the beginning of a fresh anointing in my life and I owe it all to YOM, and of course Jesus. The last night of our trip had finally come, and I was a crying mess. I realized how privileged I was to be able to journey through Costa Rica with all of my wonderful friends, whom I know consider family. As Bro. Hattabaugh is passing out awards to all the YOMer’s, I am the last to be called. As I walk to the front, Bro. Hattabaugh has everyone stand. (By this time I was beginning to think I did something really dumb on the trip because everyone else basically had funny awards.) He begins to tell me and the other YOMer’s that this is a very special award (and some other things that I do not remember because I started bawling like a baby). He handed me the award that read, “YOMer of the Year.”I was, and still, am truly humbled because everyone of the YOMer’s could have received that award but the faculty chose me. I have said all this not to brag on myself, but to brag on the King of Kings. As stated earlier, I was feeling spiritually weak upon arriving in Costa Rica, but God’s strength is perfect in all of my shortcomings and failures. Just when you think you are doing everything wrong, God has a way of showing us that we are doing something right.If you are a young person who feels a call to ministry, or even someone who doesn’t but wants to be involved in the Kingdom of God, I would strongly suggest going on YOM. It will change your whole perspective on life and the world. Most importantly, you will never be the same again.I leave you with this Scripture: “And [Jesus] said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15 KJV) Jesus’ last words were commanding and earnestly pleading with us to go tell the world about Him and what He had done for us on the cross. What are you waiting for? Go. Your world is waiting for someone just like you. Adrian ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The “Side Effects” of Y.O.M. It was a Tuesday morning on June, 7 2011, when I received a phone call from my pastor’s wife. When I answered the phone I heard the words, “YOU’RE GOING!” at first it took me a second to realize what that meant, then it struck me. After many focused prayers and fasting, God’s will was clear. Just seven days till departure. I was moved from the waiting list to the “Go list”. All the necessary paper work and personal information needed fell right into place without a blip on the radar. Within the next six days my bags were packed, all expenses were paid for, and I was the last person cleared for Youth on Mission (YOM) to Costa Rica. I was ready. Six months prior to the acceptance phone call I was looking for more, more of what? I wasn’t sure. I was raised in church, got the Holy Ghost when I was nine, signed up for the Armor Bearer program when I was 16 years old and became the Armor Bearer Director at 17. Serving God and the ministry were the focus of my heart. I prayed and read my Bible and had my share of spiritual bumps and bruises along the way, but that’s how we learn and grow, right? Eventually I got sick of the same bumps and bruises and I knew there had to be more to this Christian walk. So, I began to analyze my life. The old Sunday school lessons and teachings started coming back to me, little by little, day by day. The things of God that had been taught to me my entire life were echoing in my mind and my spirit in scripture form but in small unreferenced segments: “…love, peace, Joy…”, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you…”,” …love thy neighbor as thyself…”, “…Love the Lord thy God…”, “…even as you have done to the least of these, you have done unto me…” and even though I didn’t know it word for word I knew that it was in the Bible somewhere and it was of God. The message became clear. It was the love of Jesus Christ that I was searching for. I felt His love, but I wasn’t sharing it. I knew how to serve the ministry like nobody’s business, but I didn’t know how to serve everyone else. I didn’t love my neighbor as myself. I wasn’t reaching out to those in need or praying for the sick. God wanted to show me more and at HYC in December of 2010, God used Pastor Hattabaugh to sow a seed of interest in my heart for YOM, and soon after friends were asking if I was going and I told them I would pray about it. Well Praise God! A few months later I found myself leaving the airport and bound for Costa Rica. Upon our arrival I was immediately charged with the responsibility of team leader, room leader, all medical incidents, and as member of the security staff. Needless to say my faith was boosted at the fact that our fearless leader, Mark Hattabaugh, saw me fit to place me in leadership. I had a team of 12 people, but that was nothing compared to the 96 wild and excited young people lead by Pastor Hattabaugh. Not matter how stressful and aggravating it may have been to quarterback and keep us on schedule he kept on dishing out the love. I met many people on this adventure, and was given the opportunity to bless and have an impact on many of those who live in Costa Rica through prayer, giving, and encouragement. What caught me off guard the most and had the greatest impact was how God used me to council, uplift, and heal those that were part of the YOM team. The love of Jesus took me to a level of selflessness and love for other people that I had not experienced. It’s a love that you can’t help but share with everyone around you. It’s one of boldness without reserve or fear. My relationship with God has been strengthened through the building of my faith and the teaching of His love and how great it is. My Christian walk has been forever changed because of the mission of love and edification that I was able to experience and operate in. I have greater expectations, greater love, greater faith, and the greatest teacher. I was informed by God Almighty that He is listening to my prayers, watching my actions, and is always speaking. I just have to be willing to stop and listen.CHRISIf there were anything in this world that has helped to prepare me for ministry and a close relationship with God, it would have to be Youth on Missions. Through my four YOM trips, I have grown to see that life isn’t all about me. I have come to understand that I am never more blessed than when I am a blessing to others. Youth on Missions taught me to look at people through the eyes of Christ.I took my first YOM trip to El Salvador and Honduras in 1999. To be perfectly honest, my original intention was to just get out of the country and do something cool for the summer. I was a young, immature, selfish, 20 year old young lady at the time. I thought that if you didn’t look like me, smell like me, worship like me or have anything in common with me that you truly weren’t worth my time and effort. Even though I am Hispanic and love my heritage, I didn’t have a clue about the way they live outside of my four walls. Somehow, God saw beyond my childlike ways and used me. On one day in El Salvador, our group was taking a hike up a mountain to a village church service. Not accustomed to the altitude, I became sick and, along with 2 others and the bus driver, stayed at the village in the valley. Our bus driver, Mario, knew of the church in that valley and we went to visit. Their pews were 2x4 wooden planks sitting at top of turned over 5 gallon paint buckets. There were no windows and the building was made of adobe bricks that smelled like feces. Even though what they had looked like so little, they worshipped God like they had everything. After the service a young man came to us and asked us to come to his house and pray for him. The young man looked visibly disturbed and completely disheveled, but we decided to go anyway. I was the only bilingual person in the group that stayed so I was able to translate back and forth what he needed. The young man began to tell us how his wife had left him after he converted to the truth and had since returned to her family who believed in Santeria (a form of witchcraft.) The wife’s family had gone to the town’s witch for them to put a spell on him and since then he had been tormented by devils and unable to sleep. We began to pray throughout his home and took authority in the Holy Ghost over every evil and foul spirit that had been tormenting him. We immediately felt the chains of oppression break and peace began to reign in his home. Shortly thereafter, our group came back from the mountain church and we left. As we exited the village, we saw the young man we had prayed for waving to us on the side of the road. He had showered, changed his clothing and was radiant with the peace of God upon him!I could tell countless other stories of how God uses young people on YOM trips every year. Stories of healing, miracles, signs and wonders wrought out of the ministry that YOM provides. Beyond allowing youth to experience Apostolic ministry in a foreign country is the ability for youth to understand that regardless of their age, God wants to use them NOW. Prior to a youth on missions trip, I thought I had to be in my 30’s for God to have anything to do with me. Now that I am a married woman in my 30’s, I’m so thankful that God allowed me the opportunity to understand that I was always anointed and CHOSEN.Thank you Bro. Hattabaugh for your vision to create thousands of troops of CHOSEN people throughout the years. You have left fingerprints upon my heart that will go on to impact many others in years to come. As a minister’s wife, musician, teacher and child of God, I can honestly say I would not be where I am today without your influence.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It is hard to walk when the lights are low and your eyes haven’t adjusted to the darkness yet. There may only be one road, but because you are not sure of where you are that one path can split into a dozen real quick. That was me last year. I was walking. I was ready, willing, listening with absolutely no idea where I was going. I knew who I was. I am a servant but a servant with no duties isn’t much of a servant is she. It only takes one moment, one event for you to realize that who you are and where you’re supposed to be can change in a minute.The change took a while. I can’t say I was the most patient but I waited. Then that moment happened. God spoke to me. I know we tend to use that phrase loosely but I truly believe that one night when I had almost given up on seeking, God whispered in my ear and gave me purpose for that moment. All He said was Guatemala. I had never heard of Guatemala never even thought about it but here I was on the prayer room floor pouring my heart out for the country and the people of Guatemala because God said go. And I was going! I found out Youth on Missions was going that summer and I knew I heard the voice of God. Then all of a sudden I wasn’t going. Nobody was going. Guatemala was canceled and we were rescheduled for Costa Rica. You know what is harder than walking in the dark? Walking on the path you thought was right and all of a sudden you start to think you took a left when you should have taken a right.It took a lot of strength and a lot of trust for me to keep walking after my neat little secure world changed. The only thing that is absolute is God and I rested my faith on that. I kept walking.The road that was once marked Guatemala was now Costa Rica. And Costa Rica reshaped my life! I thank God every day for Costa Rica. He allowed me to not only touch other people but He touched me in the process. I learned so much in a few days. I saw what joy looked like. I found out that sorrow and hurt have their own language and we all speak it. I saw me for how God sees me. We too often put God and ourselves in boxes. Write labels on the outside and tell everybody else to not put anything else in the box besides what’s on the label. I thought I was the assistant. I help people do what needs to get done. But everybody is meant to serve. However we are not meant to be “just” servants. We are to lead, to be examples. We are to pray with all of God’s love not just the pity we often give people. We are to be fearless. And we are supposed to have fun in the process. Being a Christian should be fun and if you’re not having fun you’re doing it wrong.My eyes never did get adjusted to the darkness. And I’m glad they never did. A year after Youth on Missions a wise woman told me and some other young people that when we are not sure of where we are going that we should just keep walking in the way we know is right. I didn’t realize it then but that’s what God wanted me to. He wanted me to walk in the way I knew was right blinded, because if I could see I wouldn’t be trusting in Him I would be trusting in me. Today because of one moment, one very special moment I know that I am chosen. Because of that I choose to walk long and steady blindfolded. MORGAN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I made up my mind a long time ago that God is and will always be my Everything and as long as I have breath in my body I want to experience and do all He wants me to. Being raised in church, I have had the privilege to have had many experiences in my life that have continued to strengthen my commitment to my Jesus. One of these experiences is the Youth On Missions trip hosted by Pastor Mark Hattabaugh. I have always had a desire to go on a mission’s trip to a foreign country but never really knew how I would ever get the opportunity to, until one day a small group of girls from my church heard of YOM and said they were going. They went and came back so excited and lifted the faith of everyone when they returned. I determined that I was going to do my best to try to go on one of these trips as well. As soon as I graduated high school, I decided to use my graduation money to go on the next YOM trip. That summer I went to Argentina. During this trip, my eyes were opened to God’s global plan for Revival. I always knew that God’s plan for revival was bigger than my local church, but never had personally experienced it until that trip. Also, this trip was a crucial part of revealing and bringing into revelation God’s plan for my personal life. Allow me to take some time to share my background so that I can explain this statement. I was born into a Hispanic home, but never really spoke Spanish myself. To be honest with you I never really wanted to. I saw no need for it. After graduating I began attending a local community college just because I felt it was the right thing to do, but not really because I had a desire to. I had no clue what to major in because I had no desire for any particular career. Praying one day at home right before bed, not really asking for anything just simply entertaining His presence, I heard the Lord speak to me “Spanish”. Somehow I knew exactly what He meant and what He wanted me to do. I began pursuing a degree in Spanish and year after year, my Spanish would improve little by little, but my confidence in speaking was extremely low partly because I had no need for it. At first I didn’t understand why God wanted me to take Spanish, when there was clearly no need for it in my personal life, but I trusted He knew better. In the meantime, I kept attending YOM trips every opportunity I could. Would you believe that every YOM trip I have attended has been to a Spanish speaking country! God knows what He’s doing. During every YOM trip, I would find myself speaking more and more Spanish. I felt as if every trip was God’s way of giving me my burning bush experience. It was as if He was taking me aside and allowing me to see and experience with the way He was going to use me, like He did with Moses and his staff before he returned to Egypt and do what God called him to do. I have been blessed to be on four YOM trips. I recently just returned from Costa Rica.I cannot fail to mention the miracle God has been working in my extended family who are all Spanish speakers. My family has always been important to me. I told God that Heaven would not be Heaven to me if my family was not there with me. This may be a harsh statement, but I cannot bear the thought of going to Heaven without them. After every YOM trip God would always give me the opportunity to share my experiences about the trip with them and it would always open up doors for conversations about God and His Spirit. Just in the past two years, I have seen five of my cousins filled with the Holy Ghost and four baptized in Jesus Name! I still believe God that He is going to save my entire family and who knows what they will do through Him for His Kingdom! I now recognize the need for Spanish in my personal life, in my family and in my church!At the beginning of this year, God laid it on my Pastor’s heart to start a weekly Spanish service in our church. Just last week, I ministered in our Spanish service for the first time completely in Spanish! Everything that was planted into me during the YOM trips is now currently coming into fruition. You cannot imagine how thankful I am for YOM. Without a doubt it has played a crucial role in God’s developing plan for my life.With much appreciation and excitement of more to come,Raquel~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~From Alisha In June of 2011, I went on my very first YOM trip. On this trip, not only did the 96 Chosen People touch the lives of the people from Costa Rica, but we also touched each other. Count less hours were spent down at an altar praying for one another and touching God like never before. From the start to the end of service God's presence was poured out on all flesh and even though we did not speak the same language as the Costa Rican people, we serve the same God and He did wonders through every person. Testimonies were shared, friends were made, young people recommitted their walk with God, people were filled with the Holy Ghost, and every life was changed. Those 10 days were like nothing I have ever experienced before. From the crazy times on Bus 2, to eating very questionable food, staying up all night with new friends, and chasing bugs around the hotel rooms, everything added to the trip. There were fun times, serious times, and stressful times, but it all was worth it. Going to another country really made me stop and appreciate what I have. God is so good to me and this past YOM trip brought me to a deeper level in Him. Seeing for myself just how life is like for the people in Costa Rica and how they manage with what little they have opened my eyes to the good things all around me. Youth On Missions is deffinitely a life altering experience. My walk with God was strengthed by attending this trip. There is nothing like getting out of your comfort zone and waiting on God to work through you, and when He showed up His anointing fell on every person. For me personally, YOM helped bring me closer to God. I am so thankful for all He does for me. I HIGHLY recommend this trip for anyone! :))
