I won the Perspectives Class in 2005 when it was here at Bethel.  I loved the class, it was so awesome to read about all those from the past that have gone before us.  Although I haven’t had the chance yet, God has put it on my heart to go to Russia and I know in my heart I will someday.  The speakers were great and I really felt like it could be me.  The class really inspired me and I look forward every day for God to “Surprise Me” with something or someone that He puts in my life.  Thank you so much for giving me the class.  I plan to attend as many of the classes as I can as an alumni.  God Bless you and All that you do.

I grew up as a missionary kid in South America. One of the things that really changed my life was all the times my family was protected, especially my dad. One time he was taking a walk on the beach with another missionary they were robbed at gunpoint. Another time he was in a school bus with many of the church leaders when the school bus lost its brakes at the top of a mountain (in the Andes)… no one died and very few were injured.

When most people think of Jamaica they picture beaches, the sun, and just a relaxing time, this is also what I pictured when I signed up to go with my college on a trip there. As I arrived I saw the beaches but soon came to realize just how different the “true” Jamaica really is. I went with 14 other people to a boys’ home in the middle of Jamaica. There were no beaches near and relaxing was out of the questions considering there were 30 plus boys from age 6 to 17 years old. It didn’t take me long to come to the realization that material things can not buy happiness. These boys had nothing more than the clothes on their backs, which came mainly from Americans. They however were the happiest people I have ever known. A majority of the people in Jamaica are underprivileged yet they have an immeasurable amount of love and happiness that spreads to those around them. God has blessed me more than I can express with the past 3 trips I have made to Jamaica to visit this boys’ home. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think or and remember all the great time that I had as well as how God used that experience to change my viewpoint on possessions and life in general.

(His mom is telling his story because he is not able to go online at this time).

God had done a miraculous work for our family in selling a car that was not advertised, but simply prayed about. I was so in awe I wanted to “re-pay” him by serving as a leader of a team to China that coming summer. I wanted to do this for Him, but it did not work out that I could go. The week the team was gone I was at a fancy resort for business. The first night after dinner I went back to my room on a beautiful summer night and prayed. I couldn’t leave the room because I was questioning why was I here when I wanted to be in China. I remember pulling the covers up before I turned the lights off at 9:00, thinking rather harshly…”What do you want?” (The ‘you’ here being God.) To make a long story short, I had a chance to talk with several people from other areas of the country. Two ladies in particular shared quite a bit with me. We spent another beautiful summer afternoon inside talking about spiritual things. Before she left early the next morning I told her I had to ask if she would like to accept this Jesus into her heart? She nodded yes. So that morning, in the parking lot before she drove back to Chicago, this young lady accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. Her name was Hong…she is Chinese. God didn’t take me to China…He brought China to me. That still awes me.