High School Mission Trip

I have several experience that have helped to shape my decision to go back to school and finish my degree, however having to only choose one may be a bit difficult for me. I will try my hardest to only share one experience in my life. This particular experience took place in 2013. In the Spring of 2013 I had the opportunity to be a part of my very first mission trip. It was a relatively small group from the church that I attend, about 9 of us if I recall correctly. We were signed up, had fundraisers, and were all ready to fly to Los Angeles, CA and head to the Los Angeles Dream Center. During the week long short term mission, my heart broke into millions of pieces, not like any other time in my life. It shattered, at times I often found myself
The swarms of people lined up around the fence at the park, fighting to get free food because they couldn’t afford to feed their children and families. I could go on and on about the things that God allowed me to witness that week, the gang shootings, the single moms fighting to keep their children, the brokenness came in abundance, but so did the healing…God’s healing. When I returned home after that week that I spend in Los Angeles, I knew what I wanted to do for a living. I knew I wanted to empower, educate and advocate for the homeless. I knew that it was time for me to set forth what God has called me to do. I applied at a Non-profit, Consumer Voices Are Born (CVAB), for a Peer Counselor position and was offered the job. I have now been with the organization for three years, and have never experienced a more rewarding place of employment. Every day I am able to see God’s hand in the work that I do. Whether it is to help individuals find housing, gain employment, go back to school to gain an education or a place to volunteer where they are accepted despite the colorful background or barriers they may