Fifth Trip With Many Firsts - Zack

Well this trip has been one to blow all expectations out of the water for me as my maiden voyage as a leader on a major mission trip. There have been many comfort zones crossed and some destroyed (mine included), spiritual bonding, and group bonding ending in giant hug fests and many the red eyes.

Today was all of our first service day and despite it being my fifth time going on a mission trip it seemed completely different, new, and a little bit stressful honestly. This was my first time truly leading a group as the group leader from our church even though Sara was in my group as well. The night before Sara asked me to take the lead on this one in order to give me some valuable experience as a leader and I am not going to lie I was terrified to do so. I was afraid that I was going to mess up or not know what to do or say or even how to behave necessarily, but when we arrived to the work site I had little time to even think or worry about my adequacy as a leader. Things could not have gone more smoothly and there were no real problems and only a few moments of awkwardness on my part for how weird it felt for me to direct so many others besides myself. The most amazing part was being able to observe the youth that were in my group. Levi, an old time veteran, was the backbone and made sure everything gone done timely and orderly. It was Anna's first time ever going on a mission trip and I was taken back at how natural and comfortable she seemed to be helping others and volunteering. It was Alyssa's first time as well and she absolutely loved being a productive member to a team, and even said she enjoyed talking to strangers actually (which she admitted to be a fear of her's). Max was the one that I was most afraid would not do well, but he shocked me the most when he told me that he actually had a good and fun day (this is very much not a thing Max would normally say in a serious manner).

All in all the service part of the day was eye-opening and reinforcing to for me. It has given me so much confidence and has encouraged me to continue my pursuit to be a DCE. Seeing the youth so happy to serve touched my heart and I have not been so close to God in a long time and is exactly what I needed to recharge me with God's grace and love.