All my life I’ve been an on and off churchgoer. Never did or said anything that would make me stick out. I felt like church wasn’t really my scene. Then I went to Honduras.

We went to a church one night filled with people I couldn’t even communicate with. When the service began we sang and we danced. Everyone together as one family. During the service the speaker asked “if there was anyone there who hasn’t accepted God into their life and wants to let him in?” One Honduran lady walked past me to go up there. Then I walked up there. When I got up there I felt a missing piece of my heart be filled.

I found God that night. It was the best feeling in the world. I felt that unending love. I felt everyone around me. That was a night I will never forget.

– Connor Weissinger

I wrote down in my journal on July 6, 2016, that I wasn’t sure what to expect once I left for Honduras. I kept repeating how I was nervous because the journey I was about to embark on was one that was unfamiliar to me. First of all, I’m the type of person that likes to be prepared for my surroundings and I like to think I’m always ready to react in certain situations. Well, nothing could have prepared me for the most amazing, eye-opening and spiritual week of my life.

I say the words “amazing” and “eye-opening” because I witnessed God’s love and grace in the most unique way possible. I knew our mission team was going to Honduras because the people over there were in need of a lot of things. Whether it was food, shelter, or clothing, I learned what they were longing for the most was love. The people I came in contact with barely had enough food to make it through the week, and yet they were so full of joy and love for Jesus, that it hit me like a ton of bricks when I stopped to reflect on my own situation. I actually was able to take a step back and look at my life in a different way. Through serving others, God opened my heart and put my life into perspective for the first time. Suddenly all the worries and stressful things I had weighing on my heart melted away, and all I saw was how truly blessed I am and how faithful our God is.

I say “spiritual” because while in Honduras, I reaffirmed my faith in Christ and was baptized. John Hugh and I were standing in this beautiful creek on Sunday after we had a great hike, and I asked him where exactly do the baptisms take place? He pointed straight ahead from where we were standing and I looked over to see the sunlight hitting a part of the water where it looked so peaceful and still. He then turned to me and asked if I have ever been baptized before, to which I responded, “yes of course as a baby, but hadn’t thought about it much in my life.” In that moment something in my heart stirred and I felt the Lord calling me to be baptized. I can’t explain the feeling that I had once I came up from under water, but it was one of peace and pure joy.

I can’t say enough how thankful and happy I am to have been a part of this 2016 mission team. I will never forget this experience and I hope to return next year to continue serving the Lord.

1 Peter 4:10-

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various form.”

– Riley Busching