The 2024 Twenty-Somethings Greece mission trip was such a powerful and impactful time! Serving 150 Greek high schoolers at camp and serving alongside the Greek leaders was so fun! Not only was it fun to serve and experience the trip with folks I have the privilege of shepherding, it was cool to see God working in each of them and growing them throughout the trip. As we often say, mission trips can often be as much about growing those going on the trip as it can be for the people they minister to. This trip was no different.
A particular moment on the trip illustrated this for me. After preaching for the camp, a young Greek camper began to ask me many questions about the existence of God. He and I talked about many evidences for God’s existence. After a little bit, I told him that the best way to see evidence of God’s existence was to see how Jesus had brought about transformation in the lives of people. I shared some of my testimony with him.
After hearing my testimony, the young camper turned to a PV Twenty-Somethings young woman who had been listening to our conversation. She is incredibly shy and has a very tough life story and testimony. The camper looked at her and said, “How has Jesus changed your life?” The young woman’s eyes got big and you could almost hear her inner dialogue with herself: “Am I really going to share my testimony? That’s scary! I’m not sure if I can do this!” But suddenly I watched resolve take over and she proceeded to share her full testimony in beautiful vulnerability. Her words had a profound impact on the Greek camper and so much more so than any sermon I could’ve preached!
I watched my team member take a big spiritual next step that day. God used that step in a powerful way in the life of the Greek camper. That moment in itself made the whole trip worth it! God was gracious to provide us countless moments like that. We all came home from the trip tired (2 weeks of 4-5 hours of sleep and heavy physical labor is tiring!) but deeper in love with Jesus!
– Caleb Eissler