One Collective 5/15/25 One Collective 5/15/25

Loving Like Jesus: Ministry Lessons from Cowley

From Iowa to Oxford: How stepping into the unknown deepened Brayden’s faith and revealed new ways to serve with purpose and in the ways of Jesus.

Episode 21 | 12 Minutes | May 15, 2025

In this episode, Brayden Dirks, a Northwestern College student, shares his experience serving at The Jungle in Cowley, Oxford. From tea time with locals to conversations with recovering addicts, Brayden reflects on what it means to love others like Jesus—through presence, patience, and genuine relationship.

🎧 Listen on Spotify | 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

In this Episode:

Brayden Dirks shares about his first overseas service trip to Cowley, Oxford through Northwestern’s Spring Service Partnership.
He describes volunteering at The Jungle, a community space focused on relational ministry over religious messaging.
The team conducted community surveys to help locals discover their gifts and how they can support each other.
Brayden reflects on the power of presence-based ministry and the importance of meeting people where they are.
He offers advice for students considering service trips, emphasizing flexibility, openness, and trusting God to move.

Brayden Dirks is a junior at Northwestern College majoring in Biblical and Theological Studies. Originally from Marcus, Iowa, Brayden is passionate about church ministry and hopes to become a pastor. His recent service trip to Cowley, Oxford deepened his understanding of relational ministry and the power of loving others through everyday presence.
Brenna Carson: Hi Brayden. Thanks for being here today. It's nice to meet you.
Brayden Dirks: Nice to meet you too.
Brenna Carson: Brayden, could you start off by introducing yourself to us a little bit?
Brayden Dirks: Yeah. So my name is Brayden Dirks. I'm a junior at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. I'm from Marcus, Iowa, a small town nearby. I study Biblical and Theological Studies, and I'm hoping to become a pastor or do something in church ministry someday. I'm really passionate about God's Word. This past spring, I had the opportunity to serve in the Cowley Oxford area at the Jungle.
Brenna Carson: That was the spring break service partnership trip, right? Was this your first time doing something like that, or have you done other trips before?
Brayden Dirks: Last year, I went to Denver and worked with a lot of homeless ministries. We kind of jumped around between different ones. But this trip to Cowley was my first time doing something overseas—actually, my first time out of the country.
Brenna Carson: Okay.
Brayden Dirks: It was definitely eye-opening. I'm hoping to do something again next spring.
Brenna Carson: That's awesome. How was your time in Cowley? I imagine it was very different from your experience in Denver. What were some of the biggest differences you noticed?
Brayden Dirks: Yeah, going in, I didn’t really know what to expect. The UK is more similar to America than some other countries, but there were still differences. Some were lighthearted—everything is really small! I'm 6'1", and nothing there seemed made for someone my height.
Another difference was how England felt a bit behind technologically, but at the same time, they’re very relational in their way of living. America can be really consumer-focused, but in Cowley, once you get to know someone, it’s a really warm environment. It reminded me of the Midwest in some ways, but it felt more genuine and present—like people really focused on the person in front of them.
Brenna Carson: That's really cool. It's great that you could glean those insights even after just a week. So, you mentioned you were involved with the Jungle—one of our primary ministries in Cowley. Tell us more about what you did during that week.
Brayden Dirks: Yeah, let’s see. The first day was more of an introduction. We toured the Jungle and learned about what they do. Then over the next few days, we volunteered during their open hours—usually from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
We helped with tea time, where around 25–30 people, mostly 70 and older, would come in. We also helped with story time for parents and young children, which was really fun.
Our main task was administering surveys that Phil and Lola from the Jungle had created. These surveys asked people about their gifts, how they saw themselves contributing to the community, what they appreciated about the Jungle, and what they felt were the community’s greatest needs.
It was all part of helping the community understand how they could support one another. There's a lot of low self-esteem in the area due to poverty, addiction, and other challenges.
So, it was really meaningful to help people recognize their gifts and how they could be used by God.
We also volunteered in other ways—spent time with guys from a nearby drug addiction rehab center. We played ping pong, pool, just hung out with them.
Me and the two other guys on the trip went to a men's prayer gathering that Friday morning, and that was a powerful experience—seeing what God was doing in people’s lives despite their difficult pasts. Overall, it was an incredible experience that taught me a lot.
Brenna Carson: It sounds like it. As someone interested in church ministry and relational, teaching-oriented roles, do you think your experience in Cowley will influence how you approach ministry in the future?
Brayden Dirks: Definitely. One of the biggest things I’ve been reflecting on is how incarnational the Jungle’s ministry is. It’s really down-to-earth and meets people where they are—just like how Jesus came to sit with sinners and tax collectors.
One of the Jungle's rules is "no politics, no religion." At first, that raised some questions for me. But Phil explained it so well—they just want people to come in and be loved. They don’t force the Bible or Jesus on anyone. They simply show love as Jesus would and build relationships over time.
Eventually, they invite spiritual conversations in, through actions, Scripture, and prayer. For many people there, it might be their first exposure to church or faith.
For me, it was a powerful lesson. It’s easy to love those who are already familiar with the Bible or have grown up in church. But it’s harder—and so important—to love those who know little or nothing about Jesus. This trip showed me how to do that well: just love them and show them Jesus through your actions. Discipleship is really just doing life with people.
Brenna Carson: That’s really cool. I appreciate your insight. You’re right—creating a space where people feel safe to explore the Bible or their relationship with Jesus is so important. It’s amazing that you got to see that in action and take something valuable away from it.
For someone who’s thinking about doing a similar trip—whether overseas or here in the States—but feels unsure about their role or what to expect, what advice would you give them?
Brayden Dirks: Yeah, going in, I really didn’t know what to expect. We hadn’t heard much about what the Jungle was doing, and some of the plans were kind of loose.
I’d say the biggest thing is: don’t underestimate what God can do in a short amount of time. And also, don’t go in with too many expectations. Naturally, we’ll have some, but it’s better to be open.
I remember arriving at the Jungle expecting a big downtown community center. Instead, it was a little shop in a rundown mall covered in Jungle-themed decorations. I looked at one of my friends and said, “This is not what I expected,” and he said the same.
So yeah—expect the unexpected. Be flexible. Trust that God will work however He wants to work, even if you feel unprepared. I certainly did—but God still moved in incredible ways.
Brenna Carson: Thank you, Brayden, for sharing your experience, your insights, and some of the wisdom you gained through this trip. We appreciate you taking the time to tell your story, and we’re excited to see where God leads you after Northwestern. Thanks again—it was great to meet you.
Brayden Dirks: Yes, thank you.
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One Collective 5/2/25 One Collective 5/2/25

Short-Term Trip, Long-Term Vision: Serving with One Collective in the UK

In this episode, Brenna Carson sits down with Abby Noonan, a college student from Iowa, to talk about her unexpected journey to Oxford, England on a spring break service trip with One Collective. Abby shares how a simple reference form led her to an eye-opening experience in relational ministry, the power of cross-cultural community, and what it means to trust God with both the big and small moments of service.

Episode 20 | 18 Minutes | May 2, 2025

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In this Episode:

Abby Noonan shares how she unexpectedly joined a spring break service trip to Cowley, Oxford through a friend’s reference request.
She reflects on the difference between domestic and international missions—and the unique value of relational ministry.
Abby describes conducting community surveys at “the Jungle” and how those conversations revealed the impact of One Collective’s local work.
She talks about how the team's deep reliance on prayer and God’s guidance shaped her view of ministry and leadership.
The episode explores how cross-cultural experiences can deepen faith, shift perspectives, and inspire everyday spiritual growth.

Abby Noonan is a fifth-year biology and secondary education student at Northwestern College in Iowa. Originally from Des Moines, she’s passionate about relational ministry, community-building, and education. Abby has participated in several service trips through her college, and most recently traveled to Cowley, Oxford, on a spring break partnership trip with One Collective. Her heart for intentional connection, prayerful leadership, and cross-cultural learning continues to shape her journey as she prepares to step into her role as an eighth-grade science teacher.
Brenna Carson: Hi Abby. How are you?
Abby Noonan: I'm good. How are you?
Brenna Carson: I am good. Thanks for being here. It's great to meet you.
Abby Noonan: Yeah, it's a pleasure.
Brenna Carson: Abby, can you start by introducing yourself a little bit?
Abby Noonan: Yeah. My name's Abby Noonan. I'm from Des Moines, Iowa, in the United States, and I go to Northwestern College in northwest Iowa, a small town. I’m a fifth-year student studying biology and secondary education. I already have a job lined up—I’ll be an eighth-grade science teacher at a school in Des Moines.
Brenna Carson: Congrats!
Abby Noonan: Thank you.
Brenna Carson: So, Abby, how did you end up on this most recent spring break trip? You went to the UK, right?
Abby Noonan: Yep. Northwestern offers spring service partnerships during our break, and we had a connection to Cowley in Oxford, England. Some of our peers have gone there on summer trips through the school. I’d been on domestic trips before, but one of my friends was applying for this specific trip and used me as a reference. As I was filling it out, I thought, “This place sounds really cool. Why not apply myself?” I ended up getting on the trip—it really felt like a sweet gift to be able to go.
Brenna Carson: That’s such a cool story. Was this your first international service trip?
Abby Noonan: Yep, first one through the school. I went to Honduras in high school with my home church, but this was my first international trip in college.
Brenna Carson: Tell us about your experience. How did it differ from the domestic trips or what you expected?
Abby Noonan: I didn’t fully know what to expect. You can only learn so much about an organization online. We had a Zoom call with the team in Cowley to get more of a feel for what One Collective is doing at the Jungle. I realized it would be more relational—our goal was to partner with them and help conduct a community survey to evaluate how well they're serving the area. That kind of work is very different from the more hands-on, manual labor tasks of other trips. It was such a great experience to be part of something relational and holistic, even though we didn’t produce something tangible. It made me really grateful for the opportunity.
Brenna Carson: What were some of the logistics like on the ground? What did those surveys involve?
Abby Noonan: At the Jungle, they have story time in the mornings for kids under four and their caregivers—tea, toys, and a relaxed environment. Some of us made tea and coffee and just chatted with parents and caretakers. In the afternoons, there was tea time for elderly community members, so we’d sit and talk with them too. During those times, some of us were on “survey duty,” walking up with a computer and asking questions. Staff would introduce us, then we’d ask things like: What are your strengths? What are the needs in the community? How can you contribute? What's a time the Jungle made you smile? Recording those stories and experiences was really powerful—hearing how the Jungle is impacting lives.
Brenna Carson: That’s really cool. It definitely sounds different from more traditional spring break service trips, but equally meaningful. Did you experience God in a new or surprising way while you were there?
Abby Noonan: Yes. It was so encouraging to be reminded of how God works through all kinds of ministry. I’ve often wrestled with the value of short-term missions, but Northwestern does a good job of emphasizing that we’re partnering with long-term workers. We’re not the solution—we're there to support. Even though our role felt small, hearing from the staff how encouraged they were made a big impact. I remember one staff member saying, “You already got 20 interviews today—we thought we’d get 20 all week!” For them, that would’ve taken so much longer. By the end of the week, I think we completed nearly 60 surveys. It was such a clear reminder that even small acts can be used by God to make a big difference.
Brenna Carson: That’s amazing. Now that it’s been a few weeks since returning, are there lessons that have stayed with you?
Abby Noonan: Definitely. One of the biggest things was witnessing how surrendered and prayerful the Jungle staff were. Every morning started with worship and prayer—it was all centered on Christ. Their ministry is so relational, and it reminded me how easy it is to rely on my own plans instead of God's. I’ve been an RA at school, so I live alongside other women and try to build community, but I’ve often tried to do it my way. This trip reminded me of the importance of prayer, surrender, and trusting God’s timing. Now, as I look ahead to teaching and being in different communities, I want to take that same posture—prayerfully and humbly stepping into relationships and being open to God’s leading.
Brenna Carson: That’s a beautiful reflection—thank you. Last question: What would you say as an encouragement or challenge to someone considering a cross-cultural spring break service trip?
Abby Noonan: First of all, I’d say: do it! It’s incredible to see God working in another part of the world. It hit me deeply—realizing the same God I worship in Iowa is the same God being worshipped in the UK. It’s such a big-picture moment, seeing how God is Lord of all nations, yet still so personal. You don’t get that same perspective going to the next town or state over. Stepping into a different culture with an open mind is powerful. Different doesn’t mean better or worse—it just shows the beauty of the global body of Christ. There’s so much to learn, and it helps expand your worldview in meaningful ways.
Brenna Carson: Yes, I love that. And if you're asked to be a reference for someone going on a trip—and it sparks something in you—follow that prompting. Thank you, Abby. Thank you for your wisdom and for sharing your story. On behalf of One Collective, we’re so thankful for your participation and for your heart for relational ministry. We really appreciate it.
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One Collective 5/2/25 One Collective 5/2/25

Living out the Gospel in Oxford: A Conversation with Travis

In this episode, Brenna Carson sits down with Travis Sweeney, a college student from Northwestern College, to talk about his recent spring break service trip to Oxford, UK. Travis shares how serving at The Jungle, a community center and art space, opened his eyes to a new way of doing ministry—one rooted in relationships, creativity, and quiet transformation. From art classes to men's prayer, hear how God moved through everyday moments and how Travis is carrying those lessons into his life back on campus.

Episode 19 | 12 Minutes | May 2, 2025

In this episode, Brenna Carson sits down with Travis Sweeney, a college student from Northwestern College, to talk about his recent spring break service trip to Oxford, UK. Travis shares how serving at The Jungle, a community center and art space, opened his eyes to a new way of doing ministry—one rooted in relationships, creativity, and quiet transformation. From art classes to men's prayer, hear how God moved through everyday moments and how Travis is carrying those lessons into his life back on campus.

🎧 Listen on Spotify | 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

In this Episode:

Travis shares about his experience serving at The Jungle, a community center and art gallery in Oxford, UK, focused on relational ministry.
The team engaged in a variety of community activities, including art classes, children’s story time, men’s prayer, and community surveys.
Travis reflects on the holistic, action-based approach to ministry, and how showing Christ's love through service made a lasting impact.
Powerful stories of transformation, including individuals in the community experiencing life change through Jesus, deeply influenced Travis’s faith.
Travis talks about how the trip is shaping his leadership as an RA, and his growing interest in possibly returning to serve with One Collective.

Travis Sweeney is a student at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, where he studies ecology and plays on the men’s soccer team. Passionate about nature and community, Travis is exploring career paths in wildlife biology or botany. He recently participated in a spring break service partnership trip to Oxford, UK, where he served at The Jungle, a local community center and art gallery. Through that experience, he discovered a deeper understanding of relational ministry and the transformative power of showing Christ’s love through action. Travis is stepping into a leadership role as a resident assistant (RA) on campus and is considering future opportunities to serve with One Collective.
Brenna Carson: Hi Travis, how's it going?
Travis Sweeney: Good! How are you?
Brenna Carson: Good, thanks for being here today. I'm excited to hear more.
Travis Sweeney: Of course.
Brenna Carson: Yeah—what you have to share about your recent short-term team experience with us. Could you start off by introducing yourself a little bit?
Travis Sweeney: Yeah, so I’m Travis Sweeney. I go to Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. It’s a small Christian school. I'm studying ecology right now—looking to maybe be a wildlife biologist or botanist in the future. I play soccer here as well, and that’s about it.
Brenna Carson: Nice. And over spring break, you went to the UK with us, right?
Travis Sweeney: Yes.
Brenna Carson: Tell us a little more about what you did. Were you a part of specific projects or doing different things each day?
Travis Sweeney: Yeah, we were with The Jungle, which is your partnership with Phil and Lola. It’s a community center and art gallery with Micah, who handles the art. They host multiple events throughout the week—like story time for parents and kids, "Time for Tea" for older adults, and men’s prayer on Friday mornings.
Art Gym was another activity, where people gathered to create art while Micah guided them through exercises. While we were there, we also helped conduct a community survey for people attending those activities, just to learn how The Jungle has impacted them and how it could better serve the community.
It’s located in a shopping center, which is a great spot to bring together people from all walks of life. Really cool to see that in action.
Brenna Carson: So that art element at The Jungle—do you do a lot of art as an ecology major?
Travis Sweeney: No, I don’t. I’m not very good at it at all. I like to doodle sometimes, but that’s about it.
Brenna Carson: Maybe sketch plants or something?
Travis Sweeney: Yeah, I did a few leaf sketches!
Brenna Carson: Still art—landscape vibes! How did you end up going on the trip? Have you gone on other spring break trips before, or was this a new thing for you?
Travis Sweeney: Yeah, so at Northwestern we have Spring Service Partnerships. Every spring break, they send teams to various places. Last year I went to New Mexico to work with a church.
This year, I saw the UK trip and felt called to it. A few people talked to me about it since it was a new option, and I don’t think Northwestern had partnered with One Collective before. I’d also been to England the previous summer and really loved it, so I thought it’d be cool to go back. I definitely don’t regret it—it was amazing.
Brenna Carson: How did the service partnership trip compare to your personal trip to England?
Travis Sweeney: It was definitely different. When I went with two friends last summer, we stayed with someone we knew in London and had more freedom to do whatever.
But in Oxford, every day was spent at The Jungle, and then we'd go out in the evenings with volunteers or with Phil, Lola, or Micah. It was a different pace, but both trips were really good in their own way.
Brenna Carson: Yeah, both are cross-cultural experiences, even if they’re different.
Travis Sweeney: Definitely. And with this Oxford trip, it was a lot more clear to see Jesus working and transforming lives at The Jungle. That wasn’t something I experienced in the same way during my personal trip. It was really cool to witness people choosing to be there and being changed by Jesus.
Brenna Carson: That’s such a powerful part of these service trips—getting to see where God is already at work and stepping into that.
Can you share a moment or story from the week that really stuck with you, something that helped you see God in a fresh way?
Travis Sweeney: Yeah, absolutely. One thing that stood out was seeing how The Jungle does ministry. It’s part of One Collective’s holistic approach, which isn’t overtly “Christian” on the surface, so it draws in people who might not walk into a traditional church setting.
They just show the love of Jesus through their actions, and people become curious. That curiosity opens doors to transformation.
Men’s prayer was another highlight—we had 26 guys that morning, and Phil said it was the most they’d ever had. That was special.
Also, seeing how God changed the lives of some of the volunteers—one guy in particular used to be the biggest drug dealer in Oxford. He hit rock bottom, found Jesus, got baptized four months ago, and is now living a completely different life. That kind of transformation doesn’t come from anything else in the world besides Jesus. It was eye-opening.
Brenna Carson: Amen to that. Thanks for sharing that story.
Travis Sweeney: Yeah.
Brenna Carson: So fast forward—now that you’re back and looking toward the end of the school year, what do you feel like you're carrying with you from this trip? Whether in a big way or something smaller?
Travis Sweeney: I think, like I said earlier, just the way The Jungle and One Collective do ministry—leading with love and letting your actions speak for your faith. That really impacted me.
Next year, I’ll be an RA, and I think it’ll be a great opportunity to live that out—serving people, welcoming them no matter what they’re going through, and letting Jesus show His love through me. This trip had a big impact, and I’m even thinking about working with One Collective again or going back to Oxford. Before the trip, I didn’t even know anything about One Collective.
Brenna Carson: That’s so exciting! We’d love to explore what that might look like. It’s clear God is doing something in your life right now. That kind of intentional love and presence you’re describing is going to make such a difference in your RA role.
Travis Sweeney: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Brenna Carson: When you were preparing for this trip—or even your previous ones—was there anything you did that helped get you in the right mindset or spiritual headspace? Something you’d recommend to someone considering a short-term opportunity like this?
Travis Sweeney: Definitely a lot of prayer. Also, meeting regularly with the group going on the trip helped. We worked on sharing our testimonies and thinking through what Jesus has done in our lives so we’d be ready to share that if the opportunity came up.
I don’t think you ever feel totally “ready,” but once you’re there, you feel present, and God meets you where you are. The week flies by and feels like you’ve been there much longer—in a good way. It’s just a really meaningful experience.
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One Collective 4/29/25 One Collective 4/29/25

Joining Hands: Partnering with Local Leaders in Nicaragua

In this episode, Brenna sits down with Molly Riggs, a university student who recently returned from a mission trip to Nicaragua. Molly shares how her team partnered with local organizations to support ongoing work—through manual labor, relationship-building, and spiritual reflection. She reflects on how the experience reshaped her understanding of missions, deepened her faith, and challenged her to trust in God's presence already at work.

Episode 18 | 20 Minutes | April 29, 2025

🎧 Listen on Spotify | 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

In this Episode:

Meet Molly Riggs, an interior and architectural design student with a heart for missions and cross-cultural service.
Mission in Nicaragua — Molly recounts her spring break trip where she partnered with local organizations through the Shalom Project and One Collective.
Hands-On Service — From farm labor to church cleanups, the team supported ongoing local efforts rather than initiating their own.
Spiritual Growth — Molly shares how witnessing the deep faith of local families reshaped her own trust in God.
Collaborating, Not Leading — The trip reframed her view of missions: not bringing God to others, but joining what He’s already doing.

Molly Riggs is a sophomore at Olivet Nazarene University, studying interior and architectural design with minors in graphic design and intercultural studies. Originally from West Virginia, Molly is passionate about using her creative skills to serve others—whether through designing safe, inclusive spaces or engaging in cross-cultural missions. Her heart for service is deeply influenced by her family’s legacy of ministry, and her recent trip to Nicaragua further deepened her understanding of faith, humility, and collaboration. Molly is driven by a desire to walk alongside others and contribute to work that’s already transforming lives.
Brenna Carson: Hi, Molly. How are you doing?

Molly Riggs: I'm good!

Brenna Carson: I'm well. Thanks for being here.

Molly Riggs: Yeah, thank you.

Brenna Carson: Of course. Molly, can you start by telling us a little bit about yourself? Are you currently a student? What are you studying? Do you have any hopes or dreams you can share with us? We'd love to get to know you a little better.

Molly Riggs: Yeah, so I'm Molly Riggs. I'm from West Virginia, and I'm currently a student at Olivet Nazarene University. I'm studying interior and architectural design, and I'm double minoring in graphic design and intercultural studies.
One thing I’d love to do with that is go into missions—either part-time or full-time—and help build shelters or support children with autism. I want to create safe environments where they feel comfortable. It feels like an awesome opportunity to use my skills and knowledge. I'm still figuring it out—I'm a sophomore, so I’ve got time.

Brenna Carson: Yeah, time. That sounds incredible. What a cool blend of study areas—practical, creative, and relational. Now, you recently went on a spring break trip to Nicaragua, right? You mentioned your minor in intercultural studies—was that part of why you were interested in this trip? How did that come about for you?

Molly Riggs: So my dad's side of the family—my grandparents were missionaries, and my dad was a missionary kid. I grew up knowing I wanted to go on a mission trip. In my youth group, high school was when we could go, but my freshman year was during COVID, so it didn’t happen. We didn’t have any mission trips throughout high school.
Then when I got to Olivet, I heard about the mission trips they do through the Shalom Project. I knew I had to be part of one. My dad told me not to go freshman year—he wanted me to settle in first—so we decided sophomore year would be the time.

Brenna Carson: Wow. So this was your chance, finally, after all those years of wanting to go.

Molly Riggs: Yeah, and it’s funny—people assume that as a pastor’s kid, I’ve been on a mission trip before, but that’s not always the case.

Brenna Carson: I understand that. Timing, opportunity—it doesn’t always work out. I'm so glad it happened for you sophomore year. We'll get into more details about what you did in Nicaragua, but I'm curious—after thinking about this for so long, how did it compare to your expectations? Did it live up to what you'd imagined, or was it different?

Molly Riggs: I had heard so many stories from my parents and grandparents about missions, and I expected this kind of spiritual high—teaching people about God, making a big impact.
But once we got there, I quickly realized that God was already doing amazing work. One of the leaders from the Marshall group said something like, “We’re not there to bring God to them. God’s already there—we’re just helping further His kingdom.” That really hit me.
I wasn’t there to change people’s lives. I was there to support what was already happening—whether that meant manual labor or just building relationships. That was a big shift from what I expected.

Brenna Carson: Wow. I’d love to hear more about that. But first, can you help set the scene for us? What kind of work was your team doing in Nicaragua? What projects did you take on, and who did you partner with?

Molly Riggs: Sure! We were about 45 minutes from Managua. We partnered with One Collective and stayed at one of their businesses called Betos—a beautiful café.
The first day, we did work around Betos—painting a wall to prevent rainwater from seeping in, some landscaping. Then, throughout the week, we met local Nicaraguans involved with One Collective’s programs.
We visited a family that makes incredible ceramics and heard their testimony. We also worked on two farms—did manual labor, used machetes (which was wild!), cut plantain trees, gathered eggs, burned leaves, moved wood.
One morning, we split into smaller groups and cleaned local churches. We talked with staff and pastors and got to hear about their churches’ histories. The whole week was about being flexible and doing whatever was needed.

Brenna Carson: Did you enjoy that kind of work—the manual labor, the variety of tasks? Did it connect with your interest in building and creating spaces?

Molly Riggs: I loved it—which surprised me because I’m not a big fan of bugs and outdoor stuff. But there’s something so fulfilling about having a goal and working toward it for someone else. I’d do that kind of work all the time.

Brenna Carson: That’s great. From what you’ve shared, it sounds like this trip was more about supporting existing work and communities—different from what you originally pictured. What did you take away from that? How do you reconcile your expectations with the reality of what you experienced?

Molly Riggs: Yeah, I used to think mission trips were all about going into impoverished places, seeing how little people had, and coming back feeling grateful for what I have. But I didn’t feel that as strongly as I thought I would.
Instead, I was struck by how grateful the people were and how strong their faith was. I felt more humbled by their spiritual strength than anything else. One family talked about facing a storm without a roof and how they just sat together and prayed. That made me question—what do I put my faith in? Myself or God?
So I came away realizing that I need to trust God more deeply. Their faith challenged and inspired me.

Brenna Carson: Wow. That’s such a powerful lesson. It’s amazing to see how, in a place where people might have less materially, they can have such richness in faith. Do you feel like that experience has changed you—maybe in your daily life or spiritual walk since coming home?

Molly Riggs: Definitely. I’ve been talking with mentors, like a former youth pastor who’s now a great friend and guide.
I also kept a journal in Nicaragua—writing every morning and night about what I was seeing, learning, and how God was speaking to me. I’ve been revisiting that journal to remind myself of what I experienced and how to carry it into daily life.
Coming back to the busyness here has been hard. Life in Nicaragua felt slower, more intentional. I didn’t even have my phone, and I felt so present. It’s been a challenge to maintain that mindset, but community has helped.
Our whole team is still in touch—we get together, we text. They’re my accountability. Just talking with people who went through the same thing helps so much in processing and living it out.

Brenna Carson: That’s so good—community really is key. As you think back on preparing for this trip and everything you’ve learned, what would you say to someone considering a mission trip? Any advice—spiritually, emotionally, practically—for preparing their heart well?

Molly Riggs: I’d say take advantage of any preparation meetings or materials. At Olivet, the Shalom Projects gave us a pamphlet and had us meet a couple of times to talk about expectations, culture shock, and mindset. That helped so much.
One thing I wish I’d done more was pray—not just about going, but about being open to whatever God had planned. I was so focused on the excitement and the possibilities that I didn’t fully surrender it to Him beforehand.
So yeah, pray for openness and trust. Remember that you're not going to "bring God" somewhere—He's already there. You’re just stepping into the work He’s already doing.

Brenna Carson: That’s a beautiful reminder. And even though you feel like you could’ve prayed more, it’s clear God was so faithful to show up and draw you closer to Him through it all.
Thank you, Molly, for sharing your story. We’re excited to see where life takes you and how you continue to walk out this experience.

Molly Riggs: Thank you! It was great talking to you.
‍

One Collective 4/25/25 One Collective 4/25/25

Avery's Story of Art, Faith, and Mission in Ecuador

In this episode, Avery Marstella shares his powerful experience serving in Ecuador—where a simple "yes" turned into a life-changing journey of faith, creativity, and community. From painting a mural alongside local leaders to preaching his very first sermon, Avery walks us through the highs, challenges, and holy moments that defined his week abroad. Hear how God used every part of the trip to deepen trust, spark transformation, and build lasting connections.

Episode 17 | 24 Minutes | April 25, 2025

🎧 Listen on Spotify | 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

In this Episode:

Avery shares how saying "yes" to a mission trip to Ecuador led to unexpected growth in faith and leadership.
He reflects on the joy of collaborating with local community members through art and service.
A last-minute call to rewrite and deliver his testimony without notes became a powerful moment of trust in God.
The team formed deep, lasting friendships that continue to impact his life back home.
Avery encourages others to step out in faith and say yes to opportunities for global mission and connection.

Avery Marstella is a passionate and thoughtful young leader whose heart for service and storytelling shines through his experiences. A college student at Olivet Nazarene University with a background in church life, Avery stepped into bold new territory during a short-term mission trip to Ecuador—sharing his testimony publicly for the first time, collaborating on a meaningful mural project, and building deep connections with both the local community and his fellow team members. His willingness to trust God in moments of uncertainty, from rewriting his message the night before speaking to navigating language barriers on stage, reflects a maturing faith grounded in humility and joy. Avery’s story is marked by creativity, courage, and a genuine desire to make an impact for the Kingdom.
Brenna Carson: Hi, Avery. Thanks for being here.
Avery Marstella: Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.
Brenna Carson: Yeah, of course. Avery, can you tell our listeners a little bit about yourself? A little bit of an introduction—tell us where you go to school, what you’re studying, what year you are, and if you know what you want to do after graduation, tell us about that too.
Avery Marstella: So, I’m currently a freshman at Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois. I’m originally from Ohio but ended up here. I’m a double major in Communications and Intercultural Studies, and I have minors in Theology and Art—so a little bit of everything. I’m very passionate about the Lord. I also run cross country and track here, so I’m constantly busy.
After I graduate, I feel called to become a missionary and get into mission work. I’m super excited about that.
Brenna Carson: That’s really cool. Have you felt this calling to be a missionary for a long time, or is this something new since coming to college?
Avery Marstella: I would say it’s been about two years now. I was praying for a long time about what God wanted me to do, and I wasn’t sure. Then I took my first international trip to Europe on a class tour. It wasn’t a mission trip, but while I was there, I felt God tugging on my sleeve, like, "What about this? What about traveling and becoming a missionary?"
The more I thought about it, the more I felt like that’s what I’m meant to be. I prayed about it, and I really believe it’s what God wants me to do.
Brenna Carson: That’s awesome. So here you are in school, and you get this opportunity during spring break to go on an international team experience to Ecuador. How did you decide to go on that trip? Can you tell us a bit more about your experience?
Avery Marstella: I knew I wanted to go on a trip, but I didn’t know where. My school offered all kinds of trips, but South America stood out to me—I’d never been there. So, I signed up, prayed about it, and it all worked out. It was amazing. I think God specifically planned who was on the trip. We all had different gifts that we were able to use. By the end, we felt like family. None of us knew each other beforehand—we were just fellow students and followers of God. But when we came out of it, it was like we were family. It was truly amazing.
Brenna Carson: That’s incredible. You mentioned everyone had gifts they used—can you tell us more about what that looked like for you personally?
Avery Marstella: Yeah, I’m an art minor and I’ve always loved painting and drawing. I’d painted a couple murals before and always wanted to do one for a church. Near the end of the trip, we were at a church in Gualsaquí, and I had the idea—I wanted to paint a mural on one of their big white walls. I talked to Grace, our trip coordinator from One Collective, and she spoke to the pastor’s daughter. They told me to bring sketches. That night at the hotel, I started sketching away. The next morning, they were all in. We immediately started sanding the wall, and the group helped prep it. I had two days to finish. We were also doing VBS with the kids, and I had to miss out to paint. I was really torn. But I talked to my mom on the phone, and she said, “I think you should finish the mural.” So I stayed.
On the last day, the team left for VBS, and I stayed at the church painting. I was nervous I wouldn’t finish, but I kept working and finished just in time. When the team came back, the first thing they said was, “Let’s go see Avery’s mural!” They were so excited and blown away by it. That really touched me. It was a God moment. The kids loved it too—they pointed at it and touched it. The pastor, who had worked 20 years to build the church and had faced persecution, was so moved.
He told us he used to sleep in cornfields to avoid threats of his house being burned down. One story that really stuck was when people who knew he was against alcohol pinned him down and forced him to drink. Years later, they had a health clinic at the church, and one of the men who had attacked him was the first in line. That man eventually gave his life to Christ. Seeing God work in that transformation was powerful. We heard many stories like that during the week.
Brenna Carson: Wow. That’s powerful. So what was the mural like?
Avery Marstella: I wanted it to be meaningful for the church. It was a landscape with local scenery—cornfields, mountains, trees. There was a big yellow sun, and I had planned to paint the church’s logo inside it, but ran out of time. I included animals from around the church—chickens, turkeys, pigs, dogs (including one named Berlin hiding in the bushes), and plants we got to try. My favorite part was a tribute to the pastor. He always wore yellow rain boots and a brown hat during construction. I painted the boots leaning against a tree and the hat hanging on a branch. When he saw it, he almost cried. It really meant a lot to him—and to me.
Brenna Carson: That’s amazing. You mentioned you experienced God’s presence in the mural process. Can you talk more broadly about how this trip impacted your spiritual journey?

Avery Marstella: The biggest thing for our group was the joy we saw in the people there. It’s not something you think about until you experience it. They had very little—no power tools, very limited resources—but they were so joyful and grateful to be working for God and their community.We visited homes in the mountains and prayed with families. One mother had a baby and three kids. She couldn’t afford formula or school fees. The church stepped in and helped. She was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, even though the baby had health issues doctors couldn’t diagnose. Her trust in God despite the worry was powerful. She wept, but also trusted fully. That joyful trust is something I’ll never forget. Working with the construction team and seeing how happy everyone was to just be there, serving, was incredible. Many weren’t getting paid—they were just serving because they loved God. That was inspiring.

Brenna Carson: That’s so cool. I love that phrase you used—"a joyful trust in God." Because so often, we’re like, “Well… I guess I’ll trust God,” right? It’s hesitant. But that phrase—joyful trust—is something deeper. It’s not just, “I’ll trust Him,” it’s, “I find joy in knowing He holds every part of my life in His hands.”
Avery Marstella: Yeah, exactly.
Brenna Carson: And it sounds like you also experienced the joy of collaboration—working alongside people who were already serving their community, already doing the work of transformation. What a gift to get to partner with that.
Now, I know one of the things you mentioned earlier is that you had the chance to share your testimony at the church. Is that right?
Avery Marstella: Yes, yeah.
Brenna Carson: What was that experience like? Did you know in advance you’d be speaking, or was it a spur-of-the-moment thing? And how was it—sharing your story publicly?
Avery Marstella: It was kind of crazy, honestly. I found out maybe two or three weeks before we left that I’d be sharing my testimony at the church. I had prepared a whole message, written everything down, took a lot of notes, and felt ready going into it.
It was a volunteer thing—our leaders asked if anyone wanted to share, and I raised my hand. Even though I’ve grown up in church, I’d never really preached before or stood on stage to speak alone, so it was totally new for me.
The night before, while I was sketching for the mural and feeling pretty stressed, I felt God put it on my heart to completely rewrite what I had planned. Originally, I was going to speak on the Sermon on the Mount, but I felt Him leading me toward the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness—Matthew 4.
So I stayed up, rewrote everything in my journal, practiced it, then went to bed. The next day was super busy, and I was set to speak that evening. But sometime between morning and 3 p.m.—I lost my journal. Like, completely gone. I still don’t know how it disappeared.
They did end up finding it later and said they’d mail it back, but for that night—and the rest of the trip—I didn’t have any of my notes.
So I had to get up there and speak from memory. No notes. No prep. Just faith. On top of that, the church was Spanish-speaking, and I only know a little Spanish. Grace, who works with One Collective, translated for me line-by-line as I spoke. That added a whole other layer of challenge because I had to pause every sentence, and sometimes she’d have to stop and ask, “Wait, what did you say?”
It felt messy, and I was definitely nervous, but I got through it. And even though I felt unsure about how it went, the congregation responded really well. The pastor—who I’d gotten to know a bit over the week—got up afterward and shared how proud he was, how he’d felt personally impacted, and how my story resonated with him. I had shared some really vulnerable parts of my journey through high school and how God brought me through a lot.
It was just one of those moments where you know it wasn’t you—it was God speaking through you. I came off that stage just overwhelmed by how He showed up.
Brenna Carson: The Lord absolutely uses our fumbling attempts, right? Even when we doubt ourselves or question if we’re saying the right thing, He’s sovereign over all of it.
Avery Marstella: For sure. Definitely.
Brenna Carson: So now that you’ve been back in the States for a few weeks, how has this trip stuck with you? Do you see it impacting your daily life or your relationships?
Avery Marstella: Yeah, definitely. I actually have two examples—one physical and one more relational.
Physically, I still wear this bracelet I got on the last day. It says “Ecuador.” Some of the little girls at the church came up to us, gave us hugs, and tied these bracelets around our wrists. Then Pastor Luis came over and tied one on my wrist and prayed over me.
I haven’t taken it off since. It’s such a simple thing, but it’s this constant reminder of the love we felt from that community and the work we got to be a part of. It reminds me to keep praying for them and remembering what we built together.
The second thing is our team. We still have a group chat, and even though we’re all back at school, we hang out, grab food, and stay connected. We even have a running game of “phone tag” on campus—snapping sneaky pics of each other and sending them in the group chat. It’s silly, but it keeps us close.
We didn’t know each other before the trip, but now we’re like family. Truly. I think these friendships will last a long time.
And more than that, I’ve come back with a whole new sense of gratitude. I’ve become more aware of just how blessed I am—with education, with community, with opportunity. And I’m more intentional now about how I steward what I have.
The work we did didn’t end when we left. We helped open doors in communities the church had struggled to reach—especially with kids. And now they’re stepping into those places and continuing the ministry. That’s what makes it all so special.
Brenna Carson: That’s beautiful. So what would you say to someone who’s thinking about going on a short-term trip like this, but maybe feels unsure or nervous?
Avery Marstella: I’d say 100% go. Wherever it is—go. As believers, we’re called to go and love people like Jesus did. If you have the opportunity, take it.
People often worry about money, but I can honestly say, God provided for my trip. If He wants you to go, He’ll make a way. And the experience? It’s worth every second.
We had so much fun. One day we were running through the streets for Carnival—getting sprayed with foam, throwing water balloons. Just fully immersed in the culture. And then we had these powerful, life-changing moments serving and worshipping together.
It’s a trip I’ll remember for the rest of my life, and I don’t think you can put a price on that.
Brenna Carson: I love that. Thank you, Avery. I loved hearing about how you experienced joyful trust, how you got to use your gifts, and how much can happen in just one week. The Lord really does use every moment.
Thank you for being here and for sharing your story.
‍

One Collective 4/24/25 One Collective 4/24/25

Step Out of the Boat: Student Faith in Action

In this episode, Brenna Carson sits down with Dr. Charles Perabeau, Dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministry at Olivet Nazarene University, to explore the transformative power of short-term mission trips. Charles shares stories from his recent team’s experience in Ecuador with One Collective, reflects on the spiritual growth that comes through vulnerability and cross-cultural engagement, and offers heartfelt encouragement to anyone considering stepping out in faith. Whether you're a student, leader, or simply curious about missions, this conversation is a rich reminder of how God works through our willingness to go.

Episode 16 | 18 Minutes | April 24, 2025

🎧 Listen on Spotify | 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

In this Episode:

Charles Perabeau shares his journey from sociology professor to Dean of Theology, and how his own study abroad experience shaped his faith and career.
Inside the Ecuador mission trip: hear how students partnered with a local church and helped build bridges in the community, including a meaningful connection with a local high school.
Students using their unique gifts—from construction to art—to serve and connect in deeply personal and lasting ways.
The power of vulnerability: how stepping outside comfort zones opens students to deeper faith, awareness, and spiritual transformation.
A call to action: Charles encourages listeners to “step out of the boat” and trust God’s leading, especially when the outcome is uncertain.

Dr. Charles Perabeau is the Dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministry at Olivet Nazarene University. With over two decades of teaching experience, including 17 years in sociology, Charles brings a unique interdisciplinary lens to ministry and education. An Olivet alum himself, he has a deep love for cross-cultural engagement and spiritual formation, having led numerous student trips alongside his wife. Charles is passionate about helping students step outside their comfort zones to discover how God might be calling them—whether across borders or right in their own communities.
Brenna Carson:
Hello, Charles. Welcome, and thank you for being here.
Charles Perabeau:
Brenna, it’s a pleasure. Thanks for having me.
Brenna Carson:
Charles, I’d love it if you could start by sharing a bit of your background—your role at Olivet, your educational journey, and some of your involvement in the school.
Charles Perabeau:
Absolutely. I currently serve as the Dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministry here at Olivet. I’m fairly new to this role—finishing up my third year—but I’ve been part of Olivet and Christian higher ed for quite some time. I’ve taught here for 20 years, spending 17 of those in sociology before transitioning to theology.
My wife and I have led a number of student trips over the years. We actually met in college on a study abroad program, so travel has been a meaningful part of our relationship and ministry.
I’m an Olivet grad myself—I majored in Romance Languages and Religion & Philosophy. I went on to graduate studies at Loyola University in Chicago and at Drew University, a Methodist school in New Jersey.
Brenna Carson:
That’s amazing. I love that you and your wife met on a study abroad trip and now lead these short-term teams together. Such a cool evolution of your journey together.
Can you share more about your experiences leading spring break trips? Specifically, what value do these trips hold—for students and the communities they visit?
Charles Perabeau:
Absolutely. That first study abroad experience changed my life in so many ways. It deepened my understanding of faith and broadened my view of the world. I came back asking new questions, even changing my academic path to pursue grad school.
Even if students can’t commit to a full semester abroad, short-term trips can still be life-changing. I love being part of these experiences because they often shift students’ trajectories. You can literally see the “aha” moments on their faces—moments that shape their faith, their sense of calling, and their understanding of missions.
These trips open students to new possibilities and help them reimagine how God can use them, both globally and locally.
Brenna Carson:
Yes, absolutely. Sometimes stepping into a different context helps us see the grandeur of God and opens our minds to new possibilities. You mentioned that vulnerability plays a big role in these experiences?
Charles Perabeau:
Definitely. There’s something powerful about vulnerability. Whether it’s a student’s first time abroad or just a new place, everyone’s out of their comfort zone.
That kind of environment makes us more aware of our dependence on God. It tunes our ears to what we might miss in our day-to-day routines. Being removed from our usual context helps us listen more deeply—to God, to others, and to ourselves.
Brenna Carson:
That's a great point. I’d love to hear more specifically about your most recent trip with One Collective. How did you get involved with that team, and what did the experience look like?
Charles Perabeau:
Well, it had been a while since we last led a spring break team—the last time was March 2020. That was the week COVID-19 hit full force. We were scrambling to get our team home safely.
After a few years off, I felt prompted to step back into it. I reached out to the campus leader who oversees our trips and said, “If there’s a need, we’re available.” No specific destination in mind—just a willingness.
Our university had worked with One Collective the previous year and had a great experience, so they were hoping to continue that partnership in a new location. That led to our trip to Ecuador, where we partnered with a local church in an indigenous community outside of Otavalo.
We visited homes, helped with community outreach, and even got the rare opportunity to visit a public high school nearby—something the church had been trying to do for years. The visit went so well that the principal invited us back, opening the door for a stronger relationship between the church and the school. That was incredibly encouraging.
Brenna Carson:
Wow, that’s incredible. And such a testament to the importance of working alongside existing local ministries. Were there any specific moments or students that stood out to you during the trip?
Charles Perabeau:
Yes, several. First, I have to say that One Collective was amazing to work with. Their thoughtful planning and support allowed me to focus more on the students and what God was doing, rather than logistics. That was a gift.
One student with a construction background connected deeply with the local pastor, who was also doing some light building work. They became inseparable—like co-pilots. Another student, who’s artistic, got permission to paint a mural at the church. It became this beautiful expression of his gifts and a blessing to the community.
Each student seemed to find their own way to contribute meaningfully, using the unique gifts God had given them. It was exactly the kind of partnership we were hoping for—not coming in as outsiders to take over, but to support and encourage what God is already doing through the local church.
Brenna Carson:
That’s such a beautiful picture. Did you have any students with a personal connection to Ecuador?
Charles Perabeau:
Yes, actually. One student on our team is from Ecuador. This trip opened her eyes to parts of her own country that she hadn’t seen before. It was powerful for her to witness God at work in a new way, close to home.
We even got to meet her family while we were there, which made the experience even richer. She was moved—surprised, even—by what God was doing in places she hadn’t previously known.
Brenna Carson:
That’s such a great reminder of how God is always at work around us, even in places we think we know.
As we close, what encouragement would you offer someone who’s thinking about signing up for a short-term mission trip, but is still on the fence?
Charles Perabeau:
Two images come to mind. One is Peter stepping out of the boat—onto the water, into uncertainty. The other is from the Israelites crossing into the Promised Land. The waters of the Jordan didn’t part until they stepped in.
If you’re hesitant—worried about finances, unsure if you can handle the experience—take the step anyway. I’ve never had a student come back and say, “I wish I hadn’t gone.” It’s always the opposite.
So if you’re sensing a nudge, it might be the Holy Spirit prompting you. Step out of the boat. You might just be stepping into something transformative.
Brenna Carson:
That’s such a powerful way to end. Thank you so much, Charles, for sharing your time, your wisdom, and your heart. I know this conversation will inspire and encourage many.
Charles Perabeau:
Thank you. It’s been a joy to be here.
‍

One Collective 4/22/25 One Collective 4/22/25

Serving Abroad, Growing Within: A Conversation with Miriam Rete

In this episode, Brenna Carson sits down with Miriam Rete, a student at Northwestern College, to talk about her recent cross-cultural service trip to Cowley, England. Miriam shares her experience leading a student team, working with a local community center, and how God has used travel and missions to deepen her faith. From tea time in the UK to meaningful conversations with those overcoming addiction, Miriam reflects on the joy found in different cultures and the importance of listening and learning. Whether you're considering a short-term trip or simply curious about life-changing global service, this episode is full of inspiration and wisdom.

Episode 15 | 12 Minutes | April 22, 2024

🎧 Listen on Spotify | 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

In this Episode:

Miriam shares about leading a short-term mission trip to Cowley, England, where her team partnered with a local community center called The Jungle to support activities like story time, tea time, and art gym.
Reflections on spiritual growth—Miriam talks about how cross-cultural experiences have deepened her faith and helped her recognize joy and gratitude in everyday life.
Powerful encounters with individuals in recovery—She shares how connecting with men from a local rehab center inspired her through their testimonies of transformation and faith.
Lessons from leading two international trips—Miriam compares her experiences in Costa Rica and England, and discusses how different cultures reflect God’s image in unique ways.
Encouragement for others considering missions—She offers advice for those hesitant to step out of their comfort zone: go with a heart ready to listen, learn, and grow.

Miriam Rete is a passionate student leader studying Business Administration at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. With a heart for cross-cultural service and a vision for a future in healthcare administration, Miriam has led multiple short-term mission trips, including to San José, Costa Rica, and Cowley, England. Known for her joyful spirit and thoughtful leadership, she’s deeply committed to learning from others, embracing different cultures, and sharing God’s love through meaningful connection and service.
Brenna Carson: Hello! Welcome, Miriam. How are you doing?
Miriam Rete: I'm doing great!
Brenna Carson: Good! Well, thanks for being here. I’m so excited to hear about your service experience with us and learn more about your story. To start, could you introduce yourself a little bit? Maybe tell us where you go to school, what year you're in, what you're majoring in—and if you have any post-grad plans, I’d love to hear those too.
Miriam Rete: Yes, I’d love to share. I'm Miriam, and I go to Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. I’m majoring in Business Administration, but I hope to further my education and pursue a master's in Healthcare Administration. As for post-grad plans, I'm still figuring things out, but I’m considering staying in the States and working in healthcare—or maybe going abroad for a while to do missions.
Brenna Carson: Awesome, that’s very cool! You recently returned from a short-term trip with us. Can you tell us a little bit about where you went, what the experience was like, and some of the projects you were involved in?
Miriam Rete: Yes! I led a team of nine students along with an adult leader. We went to Cowley, England, which is a suburb of Oxford. While there, we worked with a community center called The Jungle. We helped with a variety of activities—story time in the morning, tea time in the afternoon, and an art gym program.
Brenna Carson: That sounds awesome! Was that your first time in the UK?
Miriam Rete: No, I’ve actually been a few times before.
Brenna Carson: Got it. But this was your first time leading a trip there as a student, right?
Miriam Rete: Yes, it was.
Brenna Carson: That’s awesome. How was it, stepping into that leadership role on a short-term trip? Was that something new for you?
Miriam Rete: I actually led a trip last year through Northwestern as well—for our spring break trips. That one was to San José, Costa Rica. It was such an amazing experience, and very different from this trip to Cowley. The cultures and environments were so unique. It was really cool to compare the two and see how God has created people and places so differently—yet we're all still made in His image and reflect that in how we live and interact.
Brenna Carson: I love that perspective! You've had the opportunity to experience multiple cultures. From those trips, how do you think you’ve grown in your walk with the Lord?
Miriam Rete: That’s a good question. Seeing how God is working in different places and through different people has opened my eyes. Sometimes, I realize I’ve been stagnant in my faith or take things for granted. Watching people who have so much joy, even without the same opportunities or material things I have, really shifts my perspective. It reminds me to be thankful and to find joy in the everyday things God has given me.
Brenna Carson: Yeah—“comparison is the thief of joy,” right? It’s powerful that you were able to step back and really see the joy we have access to in the Lord. That perspective shift is so valuable. Do you see this latest trip to Cowley impacting your life now that you're back home?
Miriam Rete: Definitely. In Cowley, we worked with several men from a local drug rehab center who would come to the community center. We played pool and ping pong with them, shared tea, and heard their stories. Many of them were eager to share how they had overcome addiction and how they’d grown closer to God in the process. It was so encouraging to hear how their past struggles were now helping them support others.
Coming back, I’ve been reflecting on that—thinking about how I can use my own experiences to encourage people around me. There are things I’ve struggled with that others may be going through now, and I want to let God use my story to help them.
Brenna Carson: That’s really powerful. God absolutely uses our stories to encourage others. And even as a college student, there are so many ways to support and uplift the people around you—you don’t have to wait until after graduation to be a light in your community.
You’ve now led two short-term trips. What would you say to someone considering something like this—whether it’s a week-long experience like yours or something longer? How would you encourage them or help them prepare?
Miriam Rete: First, I’d say: just go for it! A lot of people are hesitant, especially if it’s far from home or their comfort zone. But stepping into that space is often where God grows us the most.
It’s important to approach trips like this with a learning mindset. Be prepared to listen and observe. Don’t come in with your own assumptions or agendas. Instead, ask, “Why do they do it this way?” and be open to learning from it.
Brenna Carson: That’s great advice. Was there ever a time before your first trip when you hesitated and someone told you, “Just go for it”?
Miriam Rete: Not exactly. I’ve done a lot of traveling growing up, and my parents always taught my siblings and me to see travel as a learning experience. Whether it was interacting with people, trying new foods, or going to museums, they helped us see how different communities and cultures have developed over time.
Now, having led these two trips, I realize not everyone has that same background. And that perspective can really shape how we interact on a trip—with the local community and even within our own team.
Brenna Carson: Absolutely. Every cross-cultural experience shapes us—it changes how we see the world and how we relate to others. So, final question: what do you think cross-cultural service will look like for you moving forward?
Miriam Rete: As I mentioned, I’m looking into doing some missions after I graduate this December. I’m not sure yet where I’ll go, but I’m exploring different opportunities. I want to continue learning more about God through different places and people, and I want to play a role in expanding His kingdom.
If I do come back to the States and work in healthcare, I hope my missions experience will help me see people with different backgrounds in a new light. I want to carry that same heart of service into whatever context I’m in—whether it’s overseas or in a hospital here.
Brenna Carson: Absolutely. Thank you so much for sharing that. It’s been so encouraging to hear how God has been shaping your journey—through your travels, your leadership, and your faith. We’re so grateful to have had you serve with us and to have you lead one of our teams. Thanks for being here, Miriam!
Miriam Rete: Thank you!‍

One Collective 1/13/25 One Collective 1/13/25

Empowered to Serve: Grace’s Story of Growth and Community Impact

In this episode, Grace reflects on her summer as a community engagement intern in Santiago, Spain, where she worked with Apotheca on projects like assembling farmer's baskets, organizing events, and advertising artisanal products. She shares how the experience challenged her expectations, deepened her cross-cultural understanding, and revealed unexpected passions, including entrepreneurship. Grace's story highlights the value of stepping out of your comfort zone, cultivating enduring habits, and using your unique gifts to serve others.

Episode 14 | 12 Minutes | January 9th , 2025

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In this Episode:

Overview of Grace's responsibilities, including assembling farmer's baskets, making handmade soap, and organizing community events.
Insights into her unexpected passion for business and community engagement.
Reflections on how the internship differed from her expectations and helped her grow personally and professionally.
The impact of mentorship and intentional relationships with her team and leaders.
How Grace plans to apply what she learned in her local community and future career.
Advice for students considering cross-cultural service opportunities.
Grace’s thoughts on cultivating enduring habits and following God’s guidance in life and career.

Grace Roth is a college student at Colorado Christian University majoring in psychology. She recently completed a transformative summer internship with One Collective in Santiago, Spain. During her time there, Grace worked as a community engagement intern with Apotheca, where she contributed to assembling farmer's baskets, creating handmade products, organizing community events, and advertising local artisanal goods.
The experience not only allowed her to explore a new culture and lifestyle but also helped her discover an unexpected passion for business and community engagement. Through intentional mentorship and practical experiences, Grace grew in confidence, adaptability, and a deeper understanding of serving others in both cross-cultural and local contexts. She envisions applying these insights to her future career, blending her interests in psychology and entrepreneurship to make a meaningful impact in her community and beyond.
Brenna Carson
Hi, Grace. How are you?
Grace Roth
Good. How are you?
Brenna Carson
I'm good. Thanks for being here. I'm really excited to hear about your experience with us and all the things you did this summer. Could you start off by just giving us a brief recap of your serving experience?
Grace Roth
Yeah, for sure. So I was in Santiago, Spain for about a month and a half as a community engagement intern. During this time, I was primarily working with Apotheca. Some of the things I did included assembling and delivering Apotheca's weekly farmer's baskets, making handmade soap, and participating in lectures and workshops. I was also working and living with two other girls, Kristen Becker and Kendra Tolley. Each of us interns had a variety of objectives to complete. My projects included coordinating a community event, designing a menu for the Apotheca store, redecorating the chalkboard outside, and helping with advertising Apotheca's artisanal products and partnerships. I also got to do some fun things like walking parts of the Camino, watching Spain win the Euro Cup, attending multiple festivals and concerts, and traveling within Spain to various beaches and markets. Our Airbnb was surrounded by lots of greenery, so one of my favorite things was exploring the area and the city.
Brenna Carson
That's amazing, especially that you got to be there for the Euro final. That must have been such a cool cultural experience. Looking back on your summer, I know it was a few months ago. How do you think your time compared to your expectations of what service with One Collective would look like?
Grace Roth
Yeah, definitely. I've had the privilege of doing some cross-cultural internships before, but this one felt very unique and different in a great way. I kind of expected to feel out of place, uncomfortable, and challenged, and I definitely felt that. We had a lot more free time and independence than I expected. I didn't expect to become such close friends with the leaders there. A lot of the time, we were doing behind-the-scenes work on the computer, which I really enjoyed because it felt very practical in the moment. Overall, it was very different from my expectations, but that's what made it such a wonderful time.
Brenna Carson
Okay, I want to ask you about that. You said you expected to feel uncomfortable and challenged, and you did. Tell me a little bit more about that.
Grace Roth
Well, I've never been to Spain before, so the culture was very different than what I expected. Just having more chill days and walking everywhere—I think we walked six to seven miles every day. The food and people were very different than what I expected, but it was such a privilege to be part of that lifestyle, which was very different from what I'm used to.
Brenna Carson
Yeah, we don't often walk six to seven miles a day here, I think. So, that would be a challenge.
One of the things that you and I have talked about before is how you felt unsure going into the summer about how you would contribute and how your classroom skills would transfer to this experience. But you still felt very seen and invested in. Could you tell us a little bit more about how you went into this experience, how you left, and how you feel like you grew personally?
Grace Roth
Yeah, definitely. Well, I was only there for five weeks, but I feel like this experience is a huge milestone in my life that will transform how I approach the future in terms of career and interactions with people. What I appreciated most was how close I became with the other two interns and the team, like Dusty, Megan, and Jordy. Dusty and Megan met with each of us interns twice during the internship for one-on-one discussions about how we were doing. I really appreciated how they invested in us personally and the friendship that grew from that. Dusty's words of encouragement were really impactful for me.
Brenna Carson
Yeah, that's really cool. I love that they created space for that intentional mentorship relationship. It is much more than just a supervisory role.
What are some of the things you see yourself bringing into a future career from this summer's experience?
Grace Roth
Yeah, well, I'm majoring in psychology and counseling right now. I thought the internship would be geared towards that, but it was more focused on business. I realized I'm really passionate about engaging the community in different ways. I saw the role of the church and Christians in a different light. That's something I want to bring into my current community, seeing the needs and doing what I can to help.
Brenna Carson
I love that, the openness to adapting to what needs may be and how you can use skills you didn't realize you had to further God's kingdom. How do you see this experience impacting your life back in the States?
Grace Roth
Coming back, I was really energized to use the training I had this past summer to impact my community in different ways. I've been living in Denver, Colorado, for four years now, and I have this history with the community. Serving in a different country gave me knowledge that I can now bring back and use productively to serve others.
Brenna Carson
Now, almost a year ago, you and I met and started talking about the summer and what service with us might look like. What would you say to someone considering service with One Collective or cross-cultural work in general? What advice would you give, or how can they prepare for this experience?
Grace Roth
First, I'd say to recognize where you're currently at. It doesn't matter your age or level of experience because God has been preparing and guiding you your entire life up to this point. You are uniquely made to serve Him. One Collective really showed me that, even as a college student, I can serve with the unique gifts God has given me. Be curious about the culture and what you'll be doing or where you're going, but don't stress about it because you'll be fine. You can't always prepare 100%. Continue nurturing your current habits because they will carry into the work you do in a different country or space.
Brenna Carson
We intentionally recruit and want to serve with college students for a reason. That demographic makes up a large number of our short-term participants, and we care deeply about investing in you personally. Like in your case, it can affect how you view your future work locally once you return home. I'm so glad you felt encouraged and found your skills valuable. Even early in life, we love to support and encourage you. One final question: How do you see cross-cultural service playing a role in your life now?
Grace Roth
Yeah, that's a great question. My plan is to go overseas, but we'll see what God's will is. I'm studying psychology, but I picked up a class in entrepreneurship, and it's been my favorite class in college this year. I'm really intrigued by it and think I would love to pursue it in the future. I don't know where that might be, but I'm open to what God has for me.
Brenna Carson
Grace, thank you for sharing your story. It's been cool to see your journey over the last year, from post-graduation plans to your summer experience, your gifting, and now this new, exciting class. I'm sure God will use it in your future. Thank you for your time today. I can't wait to see how your story continues to unfold.
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One Collective 1/9/25 One Collective 1/9/25

Faith in Action: Kendra’s Story of Serving in Santiago

In this episode, we sit down with Kendra, who spent six weeks serving in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, with Apotheca, a nonprofit supporting local businesses and low-income families. She shares about her work connecting pilgrims and the community, marketing local farmer baskets, and assisting in programs like soap workshops for survivors of domestic violence. Kendra reflects on how this experience deepened her faith, taught her patience, and shaped her passion for listening and walking alongside others. Whether you’re considering cross-cultural service or simply looking for inspiration, Kendra’s journey is a beautiful reminder of the impact of humility, love, and faith in action.

Episode 13 | 12 Minutes | Dec 18, 2024

🎧 Listen on Spotify | 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

In this Episode:

Kendra’s Summer in Spain: Kendra spent six weeks in Santiago de Compostela working with Apotheca, a nonprofit supporting local businesses, low-income families, and survivors of domestic violence.
Community and Connection: Her work included marketing farmer baskets, running a produce store, and creating initiatives like "Sample Santiago" to connect pilgrims walking the Camino with local businesses.
Personal and Spiritual Growth: Kendra learned patience, listening, and the importance of meeting people where they are, which deepened her faith and understanding of God’s kindness and grace.
Impact Back Home: Her experience shaped her current internship with hospice, where she uses listening and advocacy skills to support caregivers and patients.
Encouragement for Future Volunteers: Kendra encourages others to follow the desires God places on their hearts, step out of their comfort zones, and embrace cross-cultural service as a way to grow and connect with others.

Kendra is a senior at Cedarville University studying social work. She has a passion for cross-cultural service and community development, as well as walking alongside people as they navigate through life. Currently, Kendra is applying some of the lessons that she learned this past summer to her hospice internship, supporting caregivers and patients with compassion and understanding.
Host: Today we have the pleasure of hearing from Kendra, who served with us this summer on our team in Spain. Kendra, thank you for being here. It's such a pleasure to welcome you to the podcast! Tell us a little bit more about your summer. Where were you exactly? How long were you there? What did you do? Give us the whole update.
Kendra: Hi! Yeah, thanks so much for having me on the podcast. I'm Kendra. I was in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, for six weeks this summer. I was working with Apotheca, which is a nonprofit supporting local businesses in the area.
There are two organizations in Santiago during the summer: Pilgrim House and Apotheca. Apotheca focuses on supporting local businesses through various initiatives. We worked in a small produce store, selling goods, delivering baskets from local farmers to low-income families, and doing behind-the-scenes work to market and enhance the store’s presence in the community.
Host: That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing that. Were there any specific projects you were a part of when you were marketing and enhancing Apotheca’s work?
Kendra: Yeah! Apotheca has so many facets to its work. One of the projects we participated in was their soap workshops. These workshops help support women who have experienced domestic violence. We learned how to make soap, helped sell it, and supported the scheduling and planning of the workshops.
I also worked in the store doing creative tasks like making posters and signs and promoting the farmers’ baskets through marketing tools. A lot of it was about creating resources to let the community know what Apotheca offers.
One of their newest initiatives was the "Sample Santiago" project, which connects pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago with local businesses in the city. This ties into the work of Pilgrim House as well. The project creates a sweet connection between the pilgrims and the community, giving them insight into the businesses and the stories behind them.
Host: That is very cool. I love that you’ve been a part of bringing people together in the community, creating those connections. It’s a really special experience. Now, I’m sure that throughout the summer, your walk with the Lord was challenged and deepened in several ways. Can you share some of the ways you grew in your faith or things you learned about the Lord during your time in Santiago?
Kendra: I think one of the biggest things I learned was patience. Learning a new culture and listening to people well were huge challenges. It allowed me to see the Lord’s kindness in a new way—how He individually loves each of us and how His love is so much greater than our limited human capacity.
I was reminded of His grace and forgiveness, especially in how He brings people together and gives us gifts to serve alongside one another. It deepened my gratitude for His attributes and His orchestration in all things.
Host: Thank you for sharing that. That’s such a powerful learning experience and a way to see the Lord in a new light. Do you feel like you discovered anything new about yourself or your giftings that was especially impactful?
Kendra: Absolutely. One of the greatest things I learned is how much I love listening to people and hearing their stories. I believe the Lord has given me a heart to listen and meet people where they are. This summer taught me to reflect that in my everyday life—to trust, build relationships, and not give up after the first awkward conversation. It’s about continuing to love people well.
Host: That’s such a valuable takeaway. Now that you’ve been back for a bit, how do you see the lessons you learned impacting your life here in the States?
Kendra: One big way is through my current internship with hospice. As a social work major, I’m working with caregivers who are often stressed and overwhelmed. This summer taught me patience and the importance of meeting people where they are. Listening to and caring for them has been a huge blessing.
I’ve also learned from One Collective’s approach of stepping back, learning about a community first, and advocating for people to create change for themselves. That’s been so impactful for how I interact with others now.
Host: That’s a beautiful perspective. So you obviously made a big decision to serve with One Collective this summer. Can you tell us a bit more about that decision-making process? What made you finally take the leap? And what advice would you give to others considering cross-cultural service?
Kendra: Sure! One of the mobilizers, Mark, came to my school during my freshman year and introduced me to One Collective. He talked about their community development work, and I felt the Lord put the desire on my heart to serve.
Initially, I wanted to go that first summer, but my parents were hesitant because I was young, and I respected their decision. The desire grew, and by my junior year, I knew it was time to step out and go. It all worked out perfectly—I ended up going with two other interns who taught me so much about living and working alongside others.
For anyone considering cross-cultural work, my advice is this: if the Lord places the desire on your heart, why not? Step out of your comfort zone, learn as much as you can, and trust Him with the outcome. It’s such a rewarding experience.
Host: That’s excellent advice. Now that you’ve served overseas and returned home, what do you think cross-cultural service will look like for you in the future?
Kendra: I have a huge desire to serve cross-culturally again. I love learning about communities and finding ways to serve them. But I also see how these lessons apply to my everyday life here in the U.S.—whether through my local church or other opportunities.
It’s about stepping back, taking risks, and learning before trying to create change. Even when things don’t go as planned, the process of getting to know people and working alongside them is so rewarding.
Host: That’s such a wonderful perspective. Thank you, Kendra, for sharing your story, your heart, and the incredible lessons you’ve learned. It’s been an inspiration to hear about your summer in Spain and how it’s shaping your life moving forward.
Kendra: Thank you so much for having me. It’s been a joy to share!
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One Collective 8/4/24 One Collective 8/4/24

Connections and Callings: Heather's Journey from Campus to Compostela

Heather recently graduated from Azusa Pacific University and went on a trip to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. She went with a group of fellow students and partnered with a collective through her university's global engagement program. Heather had a new experience leading the trip and working with a new group of people. One of her favorite parts was seeing her team members come out of their shells and discover their passions. She also had a memorable moment visiting a local farm in Spain that reminded her of her own family's farm in America. The trip has had a significant impact on Heather's spiritual journey and she feels a calling for long-term mission work. She has a passion for cross-cultural ministry and is exploring where she feels most connected and invested. Heather's advice for future short-term team workers is to learn about the area they are going to, understand the culture, and practice the language.

Episode 11 | 17 Minutes | Aug 4, 2024

🎧 Listen on Spotify | 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

In this Episode:

Heather’s personal experience in Spain
How leading a group can impact and benefit your experience
Taking risks joining cross-cultural service, and how it affects one’s future
The similarities and differences of Spanish and American culture
The importance of context and understanding before one goes into the field

Heather is a recent graduate from Azusa Pacific University, where she majored in English with a minor in Biblical Studies. She’s a thoughtful and reflective individual who embraced a transformative experience through a mission trip to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Initially nervous about leading a new group of peers, Heather found the experience both exhilarating and challenging. This experience highlighted the common struggles faced by small farms and deepened her connection with Spanish culture.

Heather found the relaxed pace of Spanish life and the emphasis on long, leisurely meals both intriguing and difficult to adapt to, contrasting sharply with her American habits of starting the day early. Spiritually, Heather felt guided by God throughout the trip and has been reflecting on her call to long-term cross-cultural work. Looking ahead, Heather is exploring where her passion for cross-cultural ministry will lead her, seeking to understand more about the people and cultures she feels most connected to. She values deep, relational engagement and is committed to learning and growing through her experiences. Heather’s journey is marked by a blend of curiosity, openness, and a desire to understand and connect with others on a meaningful level.
Introduction and Meet Heather
Hello! Today we are here with Heather, and as always we are going to hear a little bit about her trip and her experience, but first I'm gonna let her introduce herself. Heather, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hello everyone, my name is Heather and I just recently graduated from Azusa Pacific University I don't know what else to say.
Well, congratulations! What did you major in?
I majored in English and I had a minor in Biblical Studies.
Nice!
The Santiago de Compostela Trip
Super interesting so, let's talk about your trip can you tell me when and where you went and who you went with?
Yeah, so we went on a trip to Santiago de Compostela back in May. We left, I want to say May 11th through the 26th. went on this trip with a couple of other fellow students from my school and we partnered with one collective through Azusa Pacific University and their Global Engagement Program, and we went and worked with Dusty and Megan Dillon and Jordi in, uh, Spain.
Meeting New People and Leadership Challenges
Awesome. So did you know any of these people before you went on the trip or was it kind of just meeting them as you went?
I was just meeting everybody as we went. The way Azusa you have a trip and they'll interview for a leader, and then once they have a leader, the leader will interview other people who are interested in going on the trip, and then you start having team meetings. So I went through that whole process. And I didn't know anyone until et them in the interviews and then we started having team meetings.
Dang, so fresh start meeting a whole new group of people. Tell me a little bit about that. Was it kind of out of your comfort zone?
I enjoyed having new people and getting to meet new people through this experience, but it was a little nerve-wracking, especially being the one leading the trip to school's end because that was the whole new experience of being in charge of people in a way that I. did Never before had been and also recognized at the same time that these people are my peers. And so there were a lot of Cases where the only leadership I rad was in emergencies and every day was a lot more of just checking in with everybody and seeing where everybody was at, and that was, that part was very nerve-wracking because I didn't know how these people operated, and meeting new people and then having to go and lead and work with them in a strange environment, that was just a whole new ballgame for me, but it was very exhilarating but also frightening.
Yeah, absolutely.
Favorite Moments and Cultural Insights
What was one of your favorite parts about leading specifically?
I think my favorite part was seeing the other people on my team. Find the areas that they were the most passionate about and see them just slowly come out of their shells those First couple of meetings back when we were still at APU and not on on field yet We're awkward at times and a little unsure Everybody was just trying to get to know each other and we weren't sure who these people were but once we got on the field and they started to interact with the ministry and art in what we had been preparing for. I got to see who they were and just the different areas that they had passions for. And that was fun knowing that I was a part of that and was helping with that.
Yeah, that's awesome. That's super helpful context for just the trip overall. And I also just want to ask, what was one of your favorite moments from the trip, from the week or so that you were there?
I think my all-time favorite moment was when we went to go visit a local farm that Jordi and Dusty partner with that's right on the outskirts of Santiago it's family-owned and run and has been for a couple of generations now. And that reminded me a lot of my family because we have a farm that's been owned and family-run for a couple of generations now. And it was the first time that I felt at home throughout that entire trip. It was the first time that I could see a deep connection between America and Spain as we're facing similar issues when it comes to these small family farms. And we're all trying to push back against, just corporate and the, going to making things easier and doing uh, like easy access over quality. That's something that I've seen in my journey with my family farm and how slowly that's become kind of irrelevant and just seeing them face similar issues rade me. recognize just how much we're the same people and we're in similar circumstances and we're all facing the same struggles
Yeah, that's awesome. I think it's good that you were able to see similar cultures, especially in such a specific context and area around farming. So I think that's super cool. I want to flip the narrative a little bit and also talk about the differences between them because you're going to a new country with culture. And so what two to three things were new for you to experience that were from the culture? So what were some things that maybe caught you off guard or were just a new experience for you?
I think the biggest thing that, uh, probably caught me off guard but I overall actually really enjoyed and appreciated Spanish culture is just how relaxed and laid back they are. As far as time and schedules go, they tend to not start their days at 10, or 11 a.m. and that's a stark contrast from what I was used to in America of sometimes starting my days as early as 6 in the morning, and just having that chance to go at a slower pace. see how much that was imbued in their everyday lives, like meals took hours and it was just a chance to talk to people and relax and not worry about what was happening next until it was right in front of you. And that was something that I loved, but it was really hard for me to get used to at first because n till, um, 9 o'clock every morning and then get ready to be somewhere by 11 was a very different lifestyle.
Yes, absolutely. And because they start so late, they're out late too, right? Like their dinners are really, really late and people can be out tat here, 4 am, right? Right. That’s a pattern. Everyone who has come back from the Hispanic culture, they're like, they're so slow. And I love it and it's hard to adjust to it, but it is such a good blessing and I think hopefully something that we hope to accommodate in our culture and our day. Right.
Yes, I've taken that approach back home to the dismay of my mom, but it's been very nice for me to be a little bit more relaxed about what I'm doing.
Yes, for sure. I'm so glad.
Spiritual Impact and Reflections
So I want to talk about some other ways the rip has impacted you, um, specifically like spiritually. So I want to just ask, how has God been at work since this trip as a result of your experience?
Yeah, God's been at ith this trip so much in my life like, right from the beginning, with the whole process for this trip with my school, I kind of just decided on a whim that I go talk to people about maybe volunteering as a leader, and I got there. an information meeting that I decided to attend the day of, and then signed up for an interview, and just went through the whole process, like, okay God, is this where you want me? Is this what you want me to do? And he's been using that to show me that, yes, that's what, where he wanted me, and what he wanted me to do. To be doing at this time in my life, and he's also shown me that there is a call in work on a long-term basis, and been a struggle these last few months of trying to figure out what that means, what that looks like, but also trusting God and that calling and knowing that if he's telling me to step into this, he's doing it with purpose, and there's going to be Yeah. reason for it. And I'm not just going to be thrown into the waters to sink or swim, but he's going to be there with me. And it's been a learning process since I got home from Spain of what that's going to look like, where we're going to go with that, and just what the next steps look like. But I've started the process. I started talking to people and I'm just at a point now where I can say, okay, God, I'll let, I'm going to let you lead.
Yeah, that's awesome. I want to put a pin in that because I have a question about that, but I want to get to other questions first. As we talk about spirituality, talk to me about the spiritual demographic and like culture kind of of the area and of the people you were interacting with. Were they people of faith or was that not always a conversation? Talk to me about that.
I found out that in Spain specifically, they tend to think you're either Catholic or agnostic because that's where their biggest demographics are. There aren't a lot of Protestants or any other religion present in Spain, but also with that, the Catholics in the nation tend to be more religious in the sense of it's what their family has done, and it's very much you're Catholic because your parents were Catholic, not necessarily because you have that personal conviction to be Catholic, which is a trend that we don't see in the United States, but I think is something that is starting to pick up a little bit more is that there are a lot of people who just claim to be Christian because they grew up in a Christian household, whether or not they believe in God, but that that's something that they just have adopted in their life. And it was very much a different mindset for me because everybody I know, they've all gone through a faith crisis at one point or another, a chance where they've had to sit down and say, okay, what, why do I believe what I believe? All of my friends have either, Rejected their parents' religion or they've found a reason to make it their own and that was something that I was not Expecting or knew really how to deal with when it came to the Spanish culture, especially because Their mindset They don't want missionaries there. They don't want to talk to people about faith because, in their minds, they say, well, we kind of invented this mission model with, the California missions and all So we've been on this for a while and we don't need people to come and save us because we are all or at least the nation's Catholic. And so we didn't run into a whole lot of those conversations, but we did meet people. in and partnered with organizations that were practicing Christianity. And so we got to just pour into them and just interact with them and talk about faith with the people who were close to One Collective or close to Dusty and Megan and see the impact that they've had in the church that they're volunteering at there and the church and supporting there. And that part of it was a lot more laid back, or not laid back, less emphasized than I was expecting, but I think it was very good because it showed me just how much Dusty, Jordi, and Megan were more focused on building relationships with people and having that connection with them before diving into the faith part of it. from my own experience, that's really when you have those deep and fruitful conversations. And when people are the most receptive to hearing about Jesus is when they know you personally. And so seeing that in practice was encouraging.
Yeah, that's amazing. I love that. And first of all, way to look up the context and the demographic of the place you're going to shout out for that because that's super important. And now not everybody does that. So way to go you. But yeah, I think that's a great point. I think it definitely, shifts the way you look at missions when you think about it more relational based, and when you think about sometimes you go there, and you have this pre-assumed idea of what you're going to do, and how you're going to talk to people, and how you might interact with people. Quote-unquote converts people and maybe that's not the heart of how you minister to others. And I think that's a really interesting perspective to have Now that you've come out of that and so thinking about other people who have you know joined these one collective or getting ready to go on a trip What advice would you have for them as they prepare as they get ready to go into the field?
Advice for Future Missionaries
What advice would you give to them?
Well, I would start by saying, I would look up the area you're going to a little bit, learn a little bit more about one of the things about Santiago when I was looking it up is the Camino and that whole trail and the history with that is something that I had no idea of before. All right. I heard about this trip. I didn't know that that was a thing. The only long trails that I knew of existed in the states, like the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, so I did a deep dive into all of that, learned about the history of the place that we were going, learned about all the different mythologies of the area all the different, traditions that they had and that helped me a lot, I think, have a better understanding of what I was stepping into. It was also through that I found out that there was a university in the city. I didn't know that ahead of time, but I learned that there was a university. And, it was one of the biggest ones in Spain, which was run to see. It was really fun to see how that worked and learn a little bit about what universities look like in Spain compared to other countries. I also practiced the language as much as I could, it wasn't as much as I should have, but I did know enough to get by as far as ordering things or, um, getting on public transportation, which was very helpful. was also helpful that both of the people on my team were also very good Spanish speakers. They'll tell you that they're elementary, but they were, they were pretty good at it.
Fair, yeah, Always a language piece, and whenever I ask for advice, they always mention something about the language. But no, I think that is super helpful. Taking time to understand the context, and understand the people, will help your trip immensely.

Future Plans and Final Thoughts
so now we'll circle back to what you were talking about, about how you have kind of grown a passion for missions passion for doing cross-cultural ministry. And so I want to ask, what will cross-cultural service look like for you in the future? Even if you don't have a full grasp or idea, what does that process kind of look like for you now?

I’m trying to find what people group I feel the most connected to. That's been a big thing for me recently. I'm just trying to figure that out. The most experience I have is with, the Hispanic culture because I live in Southern California. So I've grown up around it that's the only mission trip I've ever done has been to Mexico or Spain. So those are the ones that I have like The most natural connection with, but I'm not sure if it's where I'm the most passionate about and that's a lot of what the next, what next steps look like to me is to make sure that the place I'm going is a place I feel deeply connected to, but also understand the culture I'm stepping into and have a passion for those people because that's one of the things that I've learned about myself too, is that I'm, you know, a lot more willing to go fully in if I'm invested and I'm passionate about it. And making sure that everyone is seen and connected and understanding the other side, which has been fun to see because, for the longest time, we were offering Spanish services, but they were very separate, those two communities didn't overlap a lot, and so now I'm just planning on getting involved in that and just seeing what that looks like to do it here in the States, here in my home city, and then hopefully I can learn from that and take that with me.
Yeah, absolutely. I think those are great questions to ask. And I think that that's a really good process to kind of understand beyond just where you want to go, who you want to be with, and who you want to serve. So I think you are asking all the right questions for sure. And taking the time to make sure you're aware of yourself your passions and your desires.
Conclusion and Farewell
So, once again, shout out to you. Um, so this is all super so this is all super helpful to hear and I enjoyed hearing your stories and hearing the way that you've processed this trip. I'm sure it will be really helpful for future short-term team workers. And ultimately it is a testament to God and what he's doing through you and the world.
So thank you so much for joining us today. And we will talk to another person soon. Bye!
Bye.

One Collective 8/4/24 One Collective 8/4/24

From Ecuador with Love: Amanda's Journey of Faith, Flexibility, and Flavor

Amanda went on a short-term mission trip to Ecuador with a group from Foundations Church. She left her family behind to join the journey and had a positive experience seeing new places and forming relationships with the team. She enjoyed trying new foods and experiencing the culture of Ecuador. Amanda advises future short-term team workers to be open-minded, flexible, and willing to try new things. The trip also had a spiritual impact on Amanda and the students, igniting a spark in their relationship with God. Amanda is open to future cross-cultural service opportunities and hopes to involve her family in future trips.

Episode 12 | 10 Minutes | Aug 4, 2024

🎧 Listen on Spotify | 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

In this Episode:

God made a way for a trip when it felt impossible
Seeing students find a spark for cross-cultural service and ministry
How this trip allows space for picky eaters
Hopeful plans to join short-term team trips in the future

Amanda is a dedicated mission trip leader from Colorado with a passion for short-term mission work. A mother of three, Amanda is enthusiastic about engaging in service projects abroad. She recently returned from a 10-day trip to Ecuador with Foundations Church, where she led a group of 18 teenagers alongside three other adult leaders. Despite having a family vacation planned in Arkansas, Amanda managed to balance both commitments by traveling to Ecuador after her family trip.
Amanda values the deep connections formed on mission trips, both among the team members and with the local community. Her adventures also included experiencing new cultures, such as trying guinea pigs in Ecuador and appreciating the local commitment to environmental conservation. Amanda is eager to continue participating in and leading trips, potentially involving her family as her children grow older. She is open to exploring various regions and remains flexible to whatever opportunities arise.
Introduction and Meet Amanda

Alright, hello! Today we are with Amanda, and we are going to hear about her trip. And so first, I want to just hear a little bit about her. So Amanda, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Well, my name's Amanda. I live in Colorado.

Amanda's Background and Passion for Mission Trips

I've got three kids, a 15-year-old and two 10-year-olds but I just really love short-term mission trips. So when I got the opportunity, I jumped on it.

Yeah, that's awesome! I love to hear that. Just tell me the basics about your trip. When and where did you go, and who'd you go with?

Details of the Ecuador Trip

It was the beginning of June. And it was with the Foundations Church. There were 18 students, so teenagers. Um, was me and three other adult leaders that went, so we went to El Refugio for about 10 days, and yeah.

Awesome. So did you have your family go with you or did you go alone and lead?

Challenges and Personal Sacrifices

Kind of in a big way, actually So, kind of background on my involvement I started helping out at the beginning of the year, and as kind of the initial conversations I had with the youth pastor, about me, I said, hey, just so you know, I love short term mission trips. Like, that's kind of my jam. So, if anything ever comes up, like, let me know. And he said, well, actually, we've been praying for another female leader, so, how about How about now? which was great, except I had a trip, a family vacation planned with my family um, kind of overlapping those dates, and so I already had taken time off of work, had stuff planned with my family in a different state um, so because God is, kind of works things out when he wants to, um, Everything worked out so I went on my family vacation to Arkansas, to Bentonville, Arkansas with my family. And then I left my husband and three kids there, I flew to Denver, met the team at the airport, and flew to Ecuador. So, Yeah but yeah, it was cool.

Yeah, that's awesome. Glad you could do both. That is a perk. That's awesome. So what was one of your favorite parts? Just a favorite moment, um, from this trip specifically.

I'd never been to Ecuador. So that was fun to kind of just Check one more box off the list. Um, and just seeing a new country. But just seeing the relationships of how teams kind of form. You know, you take this group of people who didn't know each other. then a week later, you feel like you have a new set of best friends. And just especially watching the students kind of develop those relationships. Um, it's one of the cool things, um, for me.

Yeah, talk to me a little bit about seeing kind of those dynamics form from a leader. I've heard a lot of students talk about how those dynamics form and how they get close with the groups, but talk about what it's like to see that form from a leadership perspective.

it's interesting because I did several trips growing up. So I kind of, I've experienced it from both sides. So for me, it brought back a lot of nostalgia of like, Oh, I remember this phase, of life. And so just kind of seeing the, the way people come together. And on our trip, there was some kind of big tragedy that happened back home with some of the kids in the group. And so seeing everybody. just come together and kind of have this unconditional support through all that was pretty amazing.

That's awesome. I love to hear that.

Cultural Experiences in Ecuador

And so now I want to talk about what you mentioned that you've never been to Ecuador before. And so you are going out of the States and the normal Westernized culture into a new culture. So tell me a little bit about what that's like. What were some new things that you experienced from the culture?

the biggest thing would be some of the food specifically the guinea pig that we got to try, um, which I, love experiencing different ones like super adventurous eater when I'm at home, but if you put me in a different country and you say, here's part of the culture. If this is what you should do, then I'm all for it. So that's probably the biggest cultural experience I would say from a food perspective. Um, but just seeing the people and just seeing them, we went to the cloud forest and so kind of seeing the people there and just how they love nature and kind of their commitment to the environment. Um, it was kind of a different perspective for sure kind of what you see here.

Yeah, that's awesome.

Advice for Future Short-Term Mission Workers

So I do have a question about advising future short-term team workers as they join the field, but I first want to ask a very specific question. What advice would you have for someone who is a picky eater on this trip? What advice would you give them?

The guinea pig was a very one-off thing. We did not eat crazy things all the time, just to put that out there. All the food, for me, was very good. There were always some things, even the people that were a little bit pickier in the group, there was always something that they could eat but packing some protein bars and kind of some things, just so that if there, if there are things that come up that you're like, oh yeah, that's a no. Um. The group there was super accommodating, so people that had allergies, as long as you kind of communicate, like, here's, here's kind of the constraints, to make everyone was well taken care of.

Nice. That's super helpful. And then we'll just talk about this now. Do you have any other piece of advice for people who are starting to go on these trips and committing to this trip? How should they prepare?

just have an open mind, because if you kind of go into these kinds of trips with a certain idea of what you're doing or how things are going to go um, Mission trips really are a lot, about being flexible and so kind of just jumping in and raising your hand whatever it is that you're asked, whether it's something that you typically do or not, but just to try. Um, but just kind of be honest if you're like, nope, I, whether it's, you're not physically able to, you're not comfortable but just being, honest, but also kind of step out of your comfort zone, that's really what these are about.

Yeah, for sure. A definite common pattern of that answer is just to be open but I like that you said willing to try new things raise your hand and be willing to help wherever it's needed. I think that's super helpful.

Spiritual Impact of the Trip

And I also want to talk about the spiritual aspect of these trips. It's hard to go on these trips and not see God working and moving. And so how has God been at work in your life since the trip as a result of your experience?

I always, feel like one of the reasons I love trips like this is because I feel like it does kind of rekindle that spark of your relationship with God because you are kind of pulled away from everything and it kind of becomes a little bit more intentional on spending time with him, listening um, and just kind of trusting that. So I've tried to be more intentional about God, like, spending more time listening to worship music, or just continuing to trust that. God's plan is working. And kind of seeing how he made it all possible for me to go on the trip, and how that all worked out. It just kind of reinforces that, like, oh yeah, he'll, he wants it to happen, he'll figure it out.

Yeah. And as a leader, did you see that spiritual spark ignited in the students Talk to me about what that was like.

honestly, I was blown away by the students. Like, just how much they dove in. They wanted to talk about things and Weren't shy to raise their hand to say things that were they're struggling with some things that they wanted to work on. Um, You could see a change for sure

Yeah, that's awesome. I think that's so cool.

Future Plans and Aspirations
So the last question I just have for you is now thinking after you've gone on the trip and after you've led what will cross-cultural service look like for you in the future? Do you see yourself going on a trip again? I know you said that you love doing these short-term team trips. So do you see yourself doing that again? Do you see yourself leading? What does that kind of look like for you?

I mean anytime the opportunity presents itself, I can make it happen I want to I would love to take my family With my kids, a 15 year old a couple 10 year olds. So as they get older I would love to be able to take them. My husband's never been on a short-term trip like this, so I would love for him to get to go. So I open whatever doors I can walk through.

Yeah, is there a place or a kind of demographic or people group that you are passionate about trying out or do you see yourself going back to Ecuador?

I speak enough Spanish to kind of get around, so really any of those countries would be great. But I also have kind of a soft spot for Africa, so I mean I would go anywhere for the most part. Yeah.

That's fair. But yeah, Africa I think would be super cool. And this is just out of curiosity has your church done trips with one collective before? Was this like new? How did that kind of happen?

someone on staff had been through one collective a while ago. So that's kind of how we got connected there. This was the first time in several years that we've taken a student team internationally. So I know the plan is to kind of start trying to make that a more regular thing. Um, hopefully, that will be something that happens again next year.

Nice. We love to hear that. that. is our goal. Um, yes, we would love that. And we would love to maybe even try out a new spot. I think that would be fun. But that's awesome. I hope you get to lead again, and I hope that you get to bring your family, and it's fun. It's an enjoyable and fulfilling experience for them.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Thank you for answering all of my questions. I'm sure this will help future short-term team workers as they go into the field and as they think about what that process is going to be. And ultimately, it's always a testament to God's work through you and the world. Thank you so much for joining us and we will talk to another person soon. Bye!

One Collective 7/31/24 One Collective 7/31/24

Crossing Paths: Jesse Watson's Journey of Faith and Service in Spain

Jesse Watson shares his experience serving in Spain with One Collective and the impact it had on his life. He discusses the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, the cultural differences he encountered, and the growth he experienced through cross-cultural ministry. Jesse also offers advice for those preparing to go on a short-term team trip and shares his plans for cross-cultural service.

Episode 10 | 12 Minutes | Jul 31, 2024

🎧 Listen on Spotify | 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

In this Episode:

Involvement is centered around Pilgrim House, which focuses on ministry along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.
Contrasting his role as a team leader this year with his solo experience the previous year, highlighting personal growth and leadership development.
Insights emphasize how storytelling and journalism have become unexpected avenues for spiritual service and connection.
Cultural nuances he encountered in Spain, such as dining etiquette and the slower pace of life.
Practical advice for those preparing for short-term missions, stressing the importance of preparation, prayer, and cultural awareness.
Encouragement for potential travelers

Jesse is a recent college graduate from California who has a deep passion for cross-cultural ministry, particularly focused on the Camino de Santiago in Spain. He initially participated in this ministry as a solo worker, then returned later as a team leader. Jesse values storytelling and sees it as a powerful form of ministry, inspired by his background in journalism. His experiences have deepened his faith and understanding of God's work in people's lives through intentional service and listening to others' stories.

Looking forward, Jesse plans to continue engaging in cross-cultural service, potentially revisiting the Camino with his father and seeking out opportunities to serve locally through storytelling and community engagement. His journey illustrates personal growth, a strong connection to his faith, and a commitment to integrating his passions into meaningful service both abroad and at home.
Introduction and Guest Introduction
All right, hello everybody! Today we are with Jesse, and once again he is going to tell us about his trip, but first I am going to let him introduce himself. So Jesse, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi. Yeah. Thanks for having me on the podcast, Sofi. I'm Jesse and I'm a recent graduate or college graduate from California. And I recently went to Spain with One Collective.

Jesse's Trip to Spain
Amazing! So first let's just start with the basics. Now we know where you went, but when did you go, and who did you go with?

Yeah. So I went to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, for the past two summers. I've done this trip. I was serving with an organization called Pilgrim House through one collective and their ministry is centered around the Camino de Santiago, which is a pilgrimage in Spain that a lot of people go to, to backpack and if they're looking for. A change in their life if they're looking for clarity after a situation. So a lot of people are coming. They're just lost and looking for something more. So I got an opportunity to serve with them this year with my team, leading students on a short-term team. And then I got the opportunity to serve for a month and a half last year as a solo worker as a short-term worker.

That's awesome!

Returning to Santiago de Compostela
Talk to me a little bit about, it because I'm always curious, when you return and you return to the same space and the same ministry, what was that like to come back to the same area and to see either the fruit of the work you did or just to see those people again?

Yeah, it was cool. I think a lot of times with short-term missions, we think of it as you're going there and then you come back and, you can keep up with the ministry, but it feels like it's just something you did and it's done. So it was cool to have the opportunity to go back and see that, like the ministry is still there and, That there was an impact on the work I did last year and that I could bring that experience this year. I think something interesting this year was coming back, as the leader of a team versus last year going as a solo member. The dynamics were pretty different, but it was cool to have that different experience of growing in different ways last year was all about internal growth for me and, like just growing as a person, and then I was able to use that this year as a leader and kind of make that space for my team to experience the ministry that was so special to me last year.

Yeah, that's awesome!

Favorite Moments from the Trip
And I want to talk about that growth a little bit, but first, I just want to hear what was one of your favorite moments. From the trip, a favorite memory or just a favorite conversation, or what was just your favorite moment from the trip?

Yeah. Wow. One of my favorite moments from this year was, we did this thing called a pilgrim social at the pilgrim house. So that's for people who walk the trail, walk the Camino and, we spent all day prepping food and prepping this charcuterie layout. That was super awesome. But we got to just chat with pilgrims all night. It was like standing around and talking with 15 pilgrims who had just finished the Camino. And just getting to hear their stories and Share our hearts for why we love the Camino and why we love pilgrims.

That's awesome. That's so cool. And I think that's also just a really fun part of ministering to others is just hearing who they are and how they've lived. And so we did talk about growth a little bit and you talked about how there was a big difference in that growth opportunity for you.

Spiritual Growth and Storytelling
So something that we consistently acknowledge is that God has consistently used these trips to work through us and other people. And so tell me a little bit about that. How has God been at work since this trip as a result of your experience?

Yeah, these trips have been a big way that I've experienced God and experienced him through a different lens rather than my normal day life. I think I experienced growth with God in my first trip because there was a lot of solitude there and a lot of time of I walked the Camino on my own. So I got a lot of time to pray and a lot of time to be in the word. That impacted my relationship with God because it was, it pointed out to me that it was something intentional that I had to seek. And then I think in doing the ministry, I saw more of God's character in his presence in people's lives and, how he uses our talents, to further his kingdom and for his glory.

One of the big reasons that I went to Spain was because I love storytelling. And I studied journalism in college and I never really thought of that as a type of like way that I could serve. I just thought of it as like a vocation. One of the big things that I learned this last year was that, God uses that uses those talents that he gave us, and we can give them back to his kingdom in ways that we never thought could be service. I never thought sitting with someone and hearing their story or just about how the Camino was for them could be an active service, but I think God pointed out to me that that is service. That's a gift he gave me and that's a gift I can bring back to his kingdom.

So even now in my everyday life, given me these talents. He's given me these passions for people and storytelling. How do I use that every day? And just chatting with someone and helping them feel seen. It's not something that has to happen in Spain. It's something that can happen every day.

I think that is a very unique perspective, Jesse. I think that A lot of people don't always consider that and I think storytelling is so powerful I love that you're able to see your passion for journalism within the ministry. You're doing. I think that's super cool. I great answer. I want to go back to the beginning.

Cultural Differences in Spain
You were talking about the differences. And I want to acknowledge that a little bit. You are going to a different culture and though you've been there before, it's still very different than what America's culture is like. And so I want to talk about three new things that you experienced from the Spain culture.

Yeah. Okay. Let me think. I'd say. The first big thing was just like food slash like dining culture. I remember my first day there, my first year I was, or my first day on the Camino, I was alone and I was getting ready to eat dinner. And there was this restaurant with like filled and I was just standing there for 10 minutes, waiting for someone to seat me. And I was like, Oh, I think I like seat myself. And then I sat down and was waiting like a server came up and at the end of my meal, I'm just sitting there and I'm like, okay, I got to get back to my hostel. Like my hostel is about to close and I'm just like waiting for someone to bring the check. And then I realized like, Oh, it's a little bit different. Like I have to ask for the check here. So that's just like a silly, like small difference. But like when you're in that situation, I was like, so anxious about Oh my gosh, am I doing this right? Am I all these things, am I wrong? I think another different thing culturally. In Spain was seeing how people slow down a lot. Just the way that people shape their day is very different. It's a lot more intentional about taking time to rest and taking time to chat with your friends and catch up with people.

I think there's like a break in the middle of the day where people are just like, like things slow down, nighttime when you're walking through the streets, like dinner, people don't usually don't have dinner till like after eight. So people are just sitting out. And chatting and catching up with friends. So I thought that was something cool to see. Then a last cultural thing. I think just like the language barrier was an interesting thing to navigate. Like I speak a little bit of Spanish, but I realized I don't speak as much Spanish as I thought I did when I got there. But cool to see how people come in and help you, and how you can use like the little knowledge you have to get around, and even learn more while you're there.

Yeah. Did you guys have a translator or was it mostly just motions and just trying to communicate?

Yeah, we didn't have a translator walking around with us at all times, but when we were working in the Pilgrim House, all of the staff spoke Spanish, so that was super helpful, and then this year, I was the interpreter for our team, but, that didn't go super well at all times.

Once you've gone once, they think you're a master in Spanish, but you're not.

No, I'm not at all.

Gotta rack up those Duolingo streaks.

Exactly. Exactly.

I love it. That's awesome. No, I think those are great things. And I think that's been a pattern that the people I've interviewed, who've gone to Hispanic cultures, both the like silly little eating differences and also, there's a slower pace and you're like, wow, this is very interesting. So yeah, I think that those are, they're really interesting. Intriguing cultural differences.

Advice for Future Travelers
So now that you have had time to process this trip and now that you're back, I want you to think about people who have started to get themselves involved in short-term team trips. What advice would you have for someone who is preparing to go on a trip?

Yeah. I would say lean in, the preparation process is a big part of what your experience will be like there. I would say, be in prayer, be thinking about. What things you, are asking of God at this time, what, growth do you want to see, it's okay to have expectations like that. Your expectations might not, be exactly what you thought they would be, but it's okay to set those things and and see that. then also just learn about the culture you're going to, and learn about language differences, the cultural differences that I talked about. I had wished the first year that I had maybe just, done a quick Google search before I left practices in Spain, so I wasn't like sitting there waiting for the check for 15 minutes and stressed out about all these things So I would say lean into the preparation and like it's okay to have expectations But don't let those like Control what, how you experienced the trip.

Yeah, I think that's super helpful, for sure. And also, as you went on the trip, when you first went, did you know a lot of people you were going with? Or did you not know many people?

Yeah. The first year was, I just went on my own, so I was like meeting people as I got there. And then the second year when I went with the team, I knew one or two of the people on my team pretty well. But we had to do a lot of work beforehand just it's to know each other and getting to our communication styles was very important. And even, on the trip, we needed to be still working on time. figuring out how to live together and how to be in a community with this group of people that were thrown together, for a month.

Yeah, so I would love to hear what advice would you have for someone a bit timid to go on a trip because they don't know a lot of people.

Yeah, I think you should still do it. Like it's, you're going to meet new people through it. I'm not always the most extroverted social person, but it's cool to have this group of people who are experiencing the same things as you and no one's going into it, knowing what it's going to be like, and like fully feeling like maybe they are going with their best friend, but they like are still with a new dynamic of people. So you're all going to be in the same situation where you're getting to know each other while you're serving, which is a cool experience and a cool way to bond with people.

Yeah, for sure. There's nothing more bonding than trying a new culture in a new area of the world with new experiences. I think there's nothing more bonding. And we wouldn't want that any other way. I think the longevity of the relationships you make over these trips is really important. Speak volumes for sure.

Future Plans and Reflections
I have one last question for you. As you have understood cross-cultural service, and as you've witnessed the impact that it's had on your life, what will cross-cultural service look like for you now? Do you plan to go back to Spain? Do you want to go on another trip somewhere else? Are you investing in some service locally? What is that kind of going to look like for you?
Yeah. That's a great question. I think that's interesting for me because I had done this trip or I, even before I did the first trip, I was like, I had done mission trips in high school and I was like, really what I feel called to that's a good thing at that time, but I feel like my ministry is elsewhere. And then I just felt like a tugging on my heart. When I heard about this trip last or two years ago, I went and I think it redefined to me what service looks like. And so I ended up going back again another year. And yeah, I think it sparked a passion for cross-cultural, ministry for me. And, I would love to go back and do the Camino. I want to go back with my dad next year. And I think. Even, though like, has sparked a passion for me I might not be working with Pilgrim House next year if I go, but, I still have that passion for hearing people's stories on the Camino and, for hearing those stories elsewhere. So I think the, to bring that home as well, I would love to serve people just by hearing their stories daily. Like we talked about and, seeking out those opportunities for cross-cultural ministry. No,

Yeah, that's awesome. And I don't know why I didn't ask this, but have you ever done the full Camino?

I haven't. I want to. I may, my first year was like 10 days. And then this last year was five days.

But on the bucket list, I'm assuming?

On the bucket list. Yeah. I would love to do it sometime.

Amazing. That's so cool. Best of luck when that happens.

Thank you.

Podcast Conclusion and Future Episodes
Well, thank you so much for joining us. This is very helpful. I'm sure it will help a lot of short-term team workers, and it was amazing to hear about your trip and the memories and the moments that had an impact on you. So thank you so much again, and we will talk to another person soon.

One Collective 7/31/24 One Collective 7/31/24

Cross-Cultural Connections: Lily Richardson's Journey Through Greece

Lily Richardson shares her experience of a trip to Greece with a group of eight girls from her school. She talks about the unique aspects of Greek culture, such as the late dinner times and the relaxed attitude towards punctuality. Lily also discusses the importance of sitting with people and listening to them as a form of ministry. She offers advice for those going on a trip, emphasizing the need to be flexible and open-minded. Lily expresses her desire to go on another cross-cultural service trip in the future.

Episode 9 | 14 Minutes | Jul 31, 2024

🎧 Listen on Spotify | 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

In this Episode:

How traveling with specific individuals benefits the trip
Three cultural differences she encountered in Greece, such as meal times being later than in the U.S., a relaxed attitude towards punctuality, and a strong coffee culture emphasizing leisurely socializing.
The challenge of implementing a slower lifestyle upon returning to the U.S. and transitioning back to life in Texas.
Processing the results of the trip and her team’s expectations not being fulfilled on the trip
How the trip impacted her spiritually, emphasizing learning to appreciate the "ministry of presence" and trusting in God's timing rather than focusing solely on visible outcomes..

Lily Richardson is a recent graduate from Texas, having completed her degree in allied health with aspirations to further her education in nursing. Originally from Texas, she studied in California at Azusa Pacific University. Her passion for cross-cultural experiences has led her to embark on two significant trips, including her latest to Greece with a group of eight girls from her school.
During her Greece trip, she found profound meaning in sitting with people and listening to them as a form of ministry, a lesson she cherishes and aims to apply in her daily life. Lily's journey has not only broadened her cultural horizons but also deepened her spiritual understanding. She reflects on how God works through simple acts of presence and listening, both during and after her travels. Lily's plans include further engagement in cross-cultural service, potentially in nursing or related medical fields, while also grounding herself in her local community through church involvement and service. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of cross-cultural service and the lasting impact it can have on personal growth and faith.
Introduction and Meet Lily
Hello. Today, we are here with Lily and we're very excited to hear about her trip, but I'm going to first let her introduce herself. So, Lily, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hello everybody, my name is Lily Richardson. I was born and bred in Texas and I went to school in California, but I recently graduated with a degree in allied health and I'm hoping to pursue further schooling in nursing.

That's awesome. Congratulations on graduating.

Lily's Greece Trip Overview
so let's just talk about the trip quickly. Let's get to the basics. Um, when and where did you go and who did you go with?

So When and where? I went to Greece for three weeks at the beginning of May, two days after graduation, I went with a group of eight girls from the school that I just graduated from, Azusa Pacific.

That's so cool. So were they girls that you knew and like went through college with or was it kind of a new slate and you had to get to know them?

They're one of the girls I had gone on a trip to Korea with the year prior, and then one of the girls was my roommate and teammate. That I've known for four years and then my co-lead and pretty much everybody else I'm trying to think to make sure so I don't offend anybody. Um, Everybody else. Yeah, it was new and we did like a little interview and they had to apply to um, Apply to these specific teams and then we did interviews and then selected them, and then there was like a whole placement process It was a whole thing

Fun. So this wasn't your first trip. You've done a trip to Korea and then was this your second trip?

Yes, this is my second trip.

Nice. What was one of your favorite moments from the Greece trip?

I don't feel like I'm like a girl's girl. If like you understand, you understand, but I think it was so special to go on a team of all eight girls, and like coming home at the end of the day, whether it was like a really easy, not easy, none of the days were easy, but like. Like a seamless day or like a hard day to come home to each other and sit around and like debrief it or have dinner together or talk about Wherever the wind takes us and play like banana grams or whatever. I think that was tender every day and um really really miss it now

That's awesome. I think that It's a different experience to go with either all girls or all guys and, um, most of the time it pays off, which is nice. And you mentioned how, you know, sometimes there's things to process, or there has to be things to talk about.

Cultural Experiences in Greece
You are going to a different culture, a different space, and understanding how people live differently. So what were three new things you experienced from the Greek culture?

One of the things which we learned this, like, our first night in Athens was that everything happens, like, two hours after our, like, normal in the States. So, like, dinner's not happening until, like, 9 p.m. or later. Or, um, like, people don't wake up until, like, noon or after. That is, like, what they were telling us. Or like, go to bed until like, 3 am. And so that was an adjustment to see that we had to make once we got there. That like, okay, like, we need to bring snacks, or we need to just like, make sure that we got all our stuff together so that like, we're on their time. Cause we're like, stepping into their culture. Another thing is that you can show up late to everything. And it's like normal or anticipated, which is very interesting coming from like Western culture where it's like, busy, busy, busy, work, work, work, like, you need to be on time and be punctual and stuff like that. So I think that was very interesting. If you have like a type A personality, which I probably lean more towards, adjusting and just feeling like, okay, like, It's okay if we're not there right when they say we need to be there and they are not going to be mad at me or they're not going to be disappointed. So I think that was interesting. then lastly, I would say that it's like a very big coffee culture and like sitting and like taking your time to like get to know people and just sit around the table with them. I would say that that comes with Being in no rush and like the other things that I mentioned because could be at a dinner and it could last three or more hours, and like in the States we would be like okay I've got places to be or I want to go get in bed and like watch Netflix but we just got to sit there and get to know each other and talk with one another and there was no rush like there was no better place that we could have been than with each other.

Yeah, I want to talk about that a little bit.

Adjusting to Greek Lifestyle
You mentioned it, we are a very rushed, westernized culture and we're on time and we structure our lives based on time. The adjustment in Greece where it's slower paced and we're not too concerned about being on time. Was that something that you enjoyed and you were like, I want to practice this. You mentioned that, you know, you might be at slightly type A. And so it was a bit of an adjustment and it was hard to adjust and change. But once you got used to it, was it something that you were like, I enjoy this?

Yeah, I honestly made it seem like it was more of an adjustment for me than it was. It was not that hard for me to adjust at all. Usually, I'm pretty like, okay, this is what's happening and we're just gonna go with it. And I've been thinking about it a lot recently how there's a lot of stuff that I wanted to bring back from this trip. I've been home for probably A little over a month now, and I was getting hard on myself about what I have or have not done since coming back. but something that I want to bring back, but it's hard because, in this culture specifically, not everybody's on board with it, and everybody has plans, and everybody has they're set ways and also moving back home to Texas right after graduation. That's an adjustment in and of itself. So, hasn't been something that I've implemented, but looking forward to that.

Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Got to get used to life.

Life with the parents.

That's an adjustment, for sure. That's a big adjustment. Yes, it's crazy. Yes, for sure. Well, you've, you know, processed this trip and understood how it's impacted you a little bit.

Spiritual Reflections Post-Trip
So I want to talk about that, um, and unpack that a bit. There's no question that through these trips, God works and moves in different ways even after trips. Now that you've processed this trip, how has God been at work since this trip as a result of your experience?

I would say I learned a lot from the One Collective team when I was in Greece about the beauty and how God works just by sitting with people and listening to them. So that's been something that I've tried to implement in coming back and I've been able to see like, like him working in conversations where you're just sitting there without like expecting anything from anybody. That's something that I've been able to do since being home, and also just being okay with not having the next step and just here with the slower pace of life, um, post-grad plans, really just trying to figure it out, so obviously want answers and what that's going to look like, but it's required for me to just sit and have my hands open and just wait for God to do his thing and take it where he wants.

Yeah. Which is incredibly difficult, but we're trying our best for sure.

Yeah. One of the other students I interviewed talked about how this trip. Showed them the ministry of presence and I think that's a really powerful way to Say it just sitting with someone is just as much a ministry experience Because I think a lot of people go on mission trips And think that they're gonna do a bunch of stuff or work on a house or pick up sticks was, that was something that you wrestled with?

we had to adjust to definitely as a team with this trip. Yeah, because was it more of the stuff you did on the side of just being present with people and having conversations, or was it a mix of kind of both work and Sitting? It was very interesting because I feel like we worked with a different organization nearly every day, and it is beautiful to see how one collective is spread throughout Athens and just seeking opportunities to serve. I think it was, um, an adjustment for people who had been on trips who had been very physical or like labor intensive where they are building a house and they are getting to see results by the end of the day, essentially, to be doing a lot of ministries that was for us, it looked like going to the beach and having a beach day with from the refugee camps or, um, playing games with girls from the refugee camps or going to an art class or working with In a bookstore, or stuff like that. There was like, a couple of times, we worked with an organization called Petaluda and it was like, organizing their stuff, organizing their donations that they had received. Which they weren't going to be able to do on their own, but because like, we had that time to go and help them. Like, they were able to get it done, because eight girls like, That's what we're here to do. And then we like played soccer with the kids or helped with English classes. So I think There was somewhat of a balance of both but more of like the relational ministry where you're you're not seeing the results Like you're not seeing how the seed is being developed over time

Yeah, and that's difficult, I think, especially for us Westerners who want to see the results. Was that something that you guys processed together like, the results of doing work in the field? Talk to me a little bit about that.

It was funny because we had had We were doing a debrief at dinner one day after the Working with Petaluda. People had brought up that, kind of difficult to not see the results by the end of the day. Once you get a taste of it. Or that maybe the trip didn't look like they had imagined it would look. But then, the next day, we had a Devo with, um, one of our hosts, Kindle, and, um, was talking about the beauty of just like sitting with one another and how like that's glorifying to God, sitting in each other's presence over a cup of tea. And so I think that was just like all perfect in God's timing because he was like, we're just going to flip that switch and that's not how you should be thinking. Like you're, you're minimizing what I can do and putting me in a box by saying need to be doing this work over this work, or, you know what I mean?

Yeah, no, I love that. I love that that was a takeaway and I think that's a powerful understanding that not a lot of people always have when they go to do trips like this. Um, speaking of people who go to do trips like this, I want to shift the conversation into talking about other people who have signed up for trips.

Advice for Future Travelers
As someone who has gone, um, on not one, but two, what advice would you have for someone who has signed up for a trip? How should they prepare?

I think it's important to prepare yourself to go in with open hands. And that, like, cause I would say in both of my trips, like, we had kind of, We didn't get a schedule for Greece until like very last minute. And then we didn't get a schedule for Korea also, I feel like last minute, but probably a little ahead of time. But even once you get a schedule, like don't look at it, and don't expect anything from it because things change and God moves in the change. And I think that it's important to see not hold tightly to your expectations because God is lying everywhere else. Like, he will be there. And that you're not bringing Jesus there, Jesus is already working there, is another thing that I noticed. And, and, that, um, just because you're not dead tired by the end of the day, um, doesn't mean that the work you're doing is, is not helpful, is not the Lord's work in any capacity, or way, shape, or form. You are still doing the Lord's work even if you're not tired by the end of the day.

I love that. Yes. I think those are very unique takeaways, but they are spoken from someone who has gone through this I think those are good takeaways for someone to listen to as they, as they go on a trip. So a beautiful perspective.

Future Plans and Conclusion
the last question I have for you is what will cross-cultural service look like for you in the future?

I would love, I would love to go on another trip. I think God's gonna do what God's gonna do. But, I would love to first get plugged into a church at home. And, um, started serving in a community here. then I would love to go out and serve again in a different culture because I think I was able to learn so much and have my eyes opened up so much to the ways that the Lord is moving in cultures with different language barriers and different people yeah, I think I'll go on another trip at some point in my life. And. With going into nursing, I would love to go on another or go on a trip that has to do with nursing or something in the medical field as, as well. But yes, definitely open-minded or open to going on another trip.

Yeah, we love to hear that. We'd love to have you back. Um, I and also love to plug you into some nursing opportunities because I know that those are available. Um, but yeah, um, amazing. I love it. Well, thank you so much for joining us. We loved hearing your story and loved hearing the thoughts you had and how you have processed this trip.

I think this will help future short-term team workers as they prepare for trips that they go on. And as always, this is a testament to God's work through you and God's work in the world. So thank you so much again, and I hope you have a great day. Bye.

Thank you for having Me.

One Collective 7/31/24 One Collective 7/31/24

Journey of Faith: Wade's Transformation in North Africa

Wade shares his experience of a trip to North Africa and the impact it had on him. He talks about the people he went with, his favorite moments, and the cultural differences he encountered. Wade also discusses how God worked through the trip and how it has shaped his perspective on cross-cultural service. He offers advice for those preparing for similar trips and shares his plans for future involvement in cross-cultural ministry.

Episode 8 | 15 Minutes | Jul 31, 2024

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In this Episode:

Significant moments where he had a two-and-a-half-hour conversation about the gospel with a local, overcoming language and cultural barriers.
Reflections on the challenge of confronting and re-examining his beliefs, particularly in comparison to Islam, which enriched his spiritual understanding.
Cultural contrasts such as the density of urban areas, street food availability, and the conservative clothing norms in predominantly Muslim environments
Discussion on local and global cross-cultural service - including potential local opportunities like refugee ministries and global church initiatives at Wheaton College.

Wade is a spirited 19-year-old sophomore at Wheaton College, where he's deeply involved in both his studies and extracurriculars. He recently returned from an impactful month-long trip to North Africa, a journey he describes with contagious enthusiasm and spiritual growth. Wade's openness to learning and his willingness to engage deeply with cultural and religious differences underscored his journey's transformative nature. Culturally, Wade found himself fascinated by the density of urban life in North Africa, contrasting sharply with the suburban tranquility he's accustomed to. Post-trip, Wade is eager to explore further cross-cultural opportunities, possibly through local refugee ministries or global church initiatives at Wheaton College. Wade's journey to North Africa wasn't just a trip; it was a pivotal chapter in his ongoing spiritual and personal development. His story serves as an inspiration for others, illustrating how immersion in a different culture can lead to profound insights and a deeper connection to one's faith and purpose.
Introduction and Meet Wade
Hello! Today we are here with Wade and he is going to tell us a little bit about his trip, but first I'm going to allow him to introduce himself. So Wade, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Well, my name is Wade, as you heard, from Sophie. I'm 19, and I go to Wheaton College, where I'm a sophomore, then, next year. I'm moving from Traver Dorm to Fisher Dorm, which is pretty unpopular for the Traver kids. I don't know how many Wheaton College people are going to be hearing that, but maybe that should give you some context about what's going on.

Wade's North Africa Trip Overview
I went on a trip to North Africa this summer, and it was fantastic. And I went for a month. And I'm excited to talk about it. So, yeah.

Love it. So yeah, let's just start with the basics of the trip. Tell me when you went, tell me who you went with, how many people were in your group, um, and then we'll also get into a couple more details, but first let's start with that.

Yeah. So I went to North Africa and I went with two other people from my college and then four randos but they're not randoms. They're, you know, like they're cool people. And it was like this internship program is what it was labeled as. And yeah, I went with those six, and there for a month. So from the middle of May to the middle of June, it was an awesome experience to get to hang out and you know, really become close with those other interns, but then also the host family was really like rebel. So yeah, like I enjoyed hanging out with that group and you know, sharing testimonies and doing ministry with them and all that sort of stuff. That was a really special experience.

That's awesome. I love to hear that.

Favorite Moments and Spiritual Insights
And I want to touch on that spiritual aspect of the trip because everyone talks about that for hours how God has worked through the trip. But first, I just want to ask what was one of your favorite moments or favorite stories from the trip?

Yeah. I didn't know whether or not I was going to be able to share the gospel. So when I went there, I was, I mean, like there's a language barrier and there's a cultural barrier and there's a religious barrier. And so my expectations were really low in terms of what I was going to be able to do and the impact that I was going to be able to have. And I think God challenged me in like one regard where I met this guy and we started, you know, talking, and then we got closer and eventually he was like, Hey man, you want to get, you want to get coffee one of these days? And so we got coffee and we got to have a super long conversation about the gospel, like really like two and a half hour long conversation about the gospel and about, about Islam and Christianity. And for me, that was a really special experience because because I didn't know if I was gonna be able to do that, you know? So being able to talk with him about that, he had some really good questions and I'm just really grateful for that.

And then also, for me, at least in, in kind of the spiritual side, It was really good to disengage from my context, right? And then move over to a situation that I'm not like familiar with. I think that kind of pushes you into an uncomfortable situation. And um, and it makes you like ask like why are you doing this, you know? Like, why do you believe what you believe? Especially when you're kind of challenged by Islam in a certain sense. Like, a lot of their, a lot of the framework of their religion is, is close to, to Christianity. Think I was able to learn a lot about Christianity because I had to examine some stuff that I had always taken for granted, um, and so in that respect, it was, it was really good. So yeah.

That's awesome. I think that's a, um, that's a cool perspective to gain from seeing the differences and seeing how Christianity can compare and seeing and being able to talk about that with others and talk about the differences and then kind of share the gospel authentically. I think that's super cool. Speaking of the differences and the culture shift. what were three new things that you experienced from this culture?

Cultural Differences and Adjustments
Yeah. I think I think the biggest difference for me was definitely like density like I'm going out in like my suburb streets and I'll go for like a walk and it'll be eight minutes and I, you know, like won't see a soul, you know, maybe a dog and a person. I go to the place where I'm at, where I'm in kind of downtown, And, you know like I take a 360-degree turnaround and there's like a hundred people within sight all the time. And so, that's what's cool is that there's just, you're constantly brushing up against people. and it's just, it's dense and close. So that was kind of a cultural like, Oh, like, okay, this is, this is, you know, like this is tight so that was one thing, the street food and like the walkability of it all was another thing. It was like, like, you know, like we had a few car rides, but everything was within a 12-minute walk. You can't get anywhere in America, you know, like in 12 minutes. So that's another thing it's super close by So those are two big things and then I would say the clothing was way different in America, you got much looser much more. maybe less clothing but um In kind of a Muslim country where I was most of the bodies were always completely covered all the guys were wearing pants from long shorts and so, that was a really big culture shock and I was like, my shoulders are kind of popping, not, you know, popping out. And so, yeah, it's like, so that drew like a few eyes, but it's okay. But yeah, mostly I wear not like business casual, but, you know, like the baby of business casual and casual. Um, so like. Much much longer clothing much Um much less exposed in clothing and so I mean like I knew about that before I came on the trip like that was one of the notes that we had to Prepare for but yeah, that was

Post-Trip Reflections and God's Work
we've kind of talked about the spirituality of it, how you've learned about Christianity, and unpacked the gospel. So I want to ask how has God been at work since this trip as a result of your experience. I think this is a really interesting perspective because you were in such a non-Christian culture. And so talk to me a little bit about how God worked within that and through that.

Yeah, So I'm so I was a minority in like my culture so like in that respect, I think your, identity is more exposed because you're more like unique. And so this isn't even like sort of a Christian thing, but if you go to a place where like you're different than the other people, You're like, like all of your differences become much more emphasized. And sort of my Christianity and my cultural upbringing was, was I noticed that a lot more. So that's one thing but being able to examine myself, it was really good - being able to say, like. This is who I am, but I think it's more so what I was talking about before. Just like the like beliefs that I had about God, like, you know, like I had to examine them because I had to explain them to people. I had to, like, like, like I was reading about Islam and it's like, man, Islam, Christianity, you know, like what, like, what are the differences, like a lot of a lot of Muslims would say. And so just coming from, from there back to here, where I can like to blend in, you know, or I'm sort of walking around and nobody notices me. Everything is as easy as water. You know, just swimming through water. It, it, it does make you analyze and look at, um, your own culture. And you're like, wow, so this is, this is what people do here. And it's different from, from what people do there. And so looking at that, um, that was something that, that has touched me.

I would say the second part of that was we talked to a bunch of different workers who were there and got to have dinners and long conversations and something that, that I kind of realized was that they were doing things that I could do. So they were doing like discipleship. Right. So we kind of have this view of missionaries where they're like, on the street corners and they hand, like they're handing out Bibles and they're, they're walking up to people and, and, having these conversations. I've seen those extraordinarily extroverted and charismatic workers who just are like bam, bam, bam. But then I saw a lot of workers who were just really faithful about the people they were talking to. So they're, participating in church and they're trying to have a kingdom impact with their business. And I realized, like it's not a cultural or a missionary thing. It's just it's like a disciple thing like go and make disciples. That's That's what we're called to do. Um, and I can do that here even I mean even better than what I'm able to do there um Like not through me but through but through God working. And so kind of having clarity. That made me excited because I feel like I'm empowered here to do that, to do that type of stuff too.

I think That is a perspective that not a lot of people take away from trips like this is understanding the work that's already being done and then being like, oh wait, I can do that where I am in my context. So, that was a great answer. And that was a really good thought. And you have processed this trip and thought about it deeply. And I think that's also really powerful and unique.

Advice for Future Travelers
And so now that the trip is done and you've had time to process what the trip was and reminisce about the memories, I want to shift the conversation into thinking about people who have signed up for a trip, as someone who has gone, what advice would you give them? How should they prepare for trips like this?

God can do miracles and when I signed up for the trip, I was kind of sad because, I was only going for a month, and I was not going to know these people as well, and I was not going to get any conversions, or whatever, you know? I was taking a walk while I was thinking about those things. there's this guy on the street who approached me and asked me questions and, we got to have a gospel conversation and I prayed with him and like literally as I was thinking those thoughts, God win. What are you, like, you know, what are you talking about? Like, you think that, you know, like that I'm too weak to make stuff happen? Um, and, you know, you have to understand that if God wanted, he could, he could do anything that he wants to you have to believe that. Um, you have to go into, like, maybe not hopeless, but like, you know, like you might look at a situation and go, man, it's tough here or, you know, but the reality is, is that you have, you have no idea the sort of, um, the kind of power that God has to change people and to change places, to change peoples. that's extraordinary. It's just like, go in and do your best, because, he could do so much with the little you do. So, that was, so, so that was like the experience I had, was just feeling down on myself because I felt like I had this responsibility.

Everything's, you know, like in God's hand. And then, shoot. Then my second thought was, I'm always being formed You know, and I'm always being shaped And I think this trip is an opportunity for a lot of these people who go in these trips To sort of be formed as well um and like to be shaped as well because You're going to go on the strip and you know depending on like your background or your capability There's going to be varying levels of difficulty and like your circumstances but hopefully something's going to blow your mind On the trip when you're reading your bible or when you're having a conversation or when you have an experience something's gonna blow your mind and um, just kind of hold on to that and pray through it and Try to figure out how it's going to change how you live.

For sure. Yeah, I think again, a unique perspective. I think so many people who I've interviewed have said, like, go into this with an open mind,

Future Cross-Cultural Service Plans
my last question for you is simply about your cross-cultural service that you want to get involved in. What will that look like in the future? Do you see yourself going on another trip? Do you see yourself doing something more local?

So there's a couple things I would love to do and have the trip, um Really good. I still need to figure out Where, when, what, and how, but those are questions that they're going to come up when they come up in this day and age with everything that's going on, there are probably going to be refugees in your area so there's a refugee ministry in the area that I'm in.

And I want to get, like, an Arab, like, refugee ministry. And I want to get involved with that. That's one thing that's been on my heart. There's a club,, at Wien College that's dedicated to, sort of, the global church. I want to get a part of that. Yeah, I would say those are my biggest things just taking opportunities as they come. And you know, like we're, we're, we're in a, we're in a day and age where like people can move so easily and languages are easy to learn. And then I don't, like, if you're American, I'll like, That the basic level of English is crazy. And like, in like, like non-English speaking countries, a lot of people are learning English as their second, third, second, third language. And you're like, wait a second, you're using word sight. What does that word mean? You know? And, and like, that's his third language. And so I'm just like, I'm kind of blown away. And so there's just, there's just a lot of opportunities that have never been presented to me. To, like, generations. Um, And, we're kind of the first to have, to have these opportunities, so god's gonna do stuff, um, and let yourself, Have eyes wide open. I love that you're able to recognize the service within your backyard, within what's going to happen in America, what's going to happen in our city, our town. um, we don't have to fly overseas to go serve and I think that's, that's great.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts
So beautiful. And I'm very excited about the passion that you have and the heart you have for cross cultural service so that is all the questions I have but I loved your answers. They were very thoughtful, very unique, and I loved hearing your story how you took this trip to heart, and how you're, um, taking it to influence the ministry and world around you so so much. So I'm sure that this will help future short-term team workers as they join the field and as always this is a testament to how God is working through you and the world. So thank you so much for joining us and we will talk to

Thank you so much, bye bye

One Collective 7/31/24 One Collective 7/31/24

Crosswalks and Callings: Kaylie's Journey Back to Spain

Kaylie shares her experience of a trip to Spain, where she had previously lived. She went with a small group and had the opportunity to introduce her friends to the Spanish culture. Some new experiences for them included the crosswalks and the healthy lifestyle of walking and biking everywhere. One of Kaylie's favorite moments from the trip was helping a homeless pilgrim return home. The trip taught her the importance of the ministry of presence and being patient. As a result of the trip, Kaylie feels called to do missions in some form and will be working locally in Azusa. She also hopes to go on another trip in the future.

Episode 7 | 12 Minutes | Jul 31, 2024

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In this Episode:

Background as a missionary kid who spent significant time in Spain and the Philippines.

Highlights the Spanish cultural traits like relaxed mornings and pedestrian-friendly cities.
Kaylee recalls a touching moment when they helped a homeless pilgrim return home from Santiago.
Kaylee shares insights on the ministry of presence and learning patience during the trip.

Kaylee is a sophomore at APU, majoring in biology and honors humanity. She's a missionary kid who spent significant time in Spain and the Philippines. Her recent trip to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, with a small group was a return to familiar ground where she immersed her friends in Spanish culture, highlighting differences like the casual attitude towards crosswalks and the emphasis on healthy living through walking and biking. One of her most cherished moments was assisting a homeless pilgrim's return home, which deepened her understanding of the ministry of presence and patience. Inspired by her experiences, Kaylee feels called to engage in missions and will be interning locally in Azusa while considering future trips and opportunities abroad. Her reflections underscore the spiritual growth and cultural insights gained from her travels.
Introduction to Kaylee
All right today we are here with Kaylee So Kaylee tell us a little bit about yourself.

I'm going to be a sophomore at APU. I am majoring in biology and honors humanity there. Um, am a missionary kid. I grew up in Spain for about six years and then also in the Philippines for two years. Um, yeah.

Details of the Spain Trip
I love it. So you have you already have some cross-cultural experiences. I love that so we're just going to start off talking about your trip Talk a little bit about when you went and who you went with and where you went

Yeah, um, so I went from May 12th to May 26th. were in Santiago de Compostela, which is in the northwestern part of Spain. I went with Heather Buck and I can't remember her last name. Yeah, it was, it was, it was nice. I love being back in Spain all the cultural stuff.

Yeah, that's so cool. So you have already been to Spain. Um, talk a little bit about the people you went with. Did you go with like a small group? Like, were you able to introduce them to like this, the Spain area? Or was it kind of a new place where you, um, experienced it all together?

Yeah, I've been to Spain already. The people that I went, it were a really small group. There were only three of us that were going. Our fourth person that was supposed to come um, decided not to come like three days before we left. Uh, and then we also had a different Spain team there with us that kind of met up in the middle, of both of our trips. Um, but it was mostly the three of us, but the two weeks we were there. And, yeah, I kind of introduced that culture to them a little bit. Had them figure it out by themselves, obviously, but like, when little cultural things that we don't or take notice of right away. I was like, Oh yeah, they do this here instead.

Yeah, no, that's awesome.

Cultural Differences and Observations
I think we've been talking about how we experience new cultures. Um, and so as. One of the questions I have for you is what were some new things you experienced from the culture? It's different than a Westernized culture, um, and I think you have a different perspective because you have seen this culture differently before, but what were some things that you had to teach your friends and the people you went on this trip with? Like, oh, that, that is normal in this, um, Hispanic culture and not in a Westernized culture. What were some things that kind of caught them off guard?

I think the big thing that comes to mind right now is crosswalks. If they're like, you just have to stop for you no matter what. Um, even if there's a light or not. And I think the big thing there in Spain is just how healthy of a culture they are. They walk everywhere. They ride bikes everywhere. They don't like to have an early morning, Spanish culture goes to bed way later and they just have like, a slow morning. They probably get up around nine or ten, go have coffee, and then go to work. It's a very very calm area.

Yeah. Sounds amazing and perfect and I wish we had that here. Um, was, was there anything new that you experienced? Like, had you been to this city in Spain before?

No, I have not. It's a very different area. different from Madrid. I lived in Madrid. We were in, um, Galicia, which they kind of want to be their own separate country from Spain. they don't speak Spanish. They speak Galegan, which is, it sounds like Spanish, but you get frustrated trying to understand it if you only speak Spanish. Um, yeah, it, I mean, obviously, like, they're still Spanish. They still have, like, the same culture, but there's, you know, a couple of different things there.

Yeah, that's awesome. That's so cool.

Memorable Moments from the Trip
I want to go back to the trip a little bit and talk about simply just what was one of your favorite moments from the trip from the two weeks you were there. What's one memory or moment where you know that that will stick with you for the rest of your life?

Yeah, one of the last days we were there, we had funds set aside to send a homeless pilgrim back home. Um, in Spain, there's a trail called the Camino de Santiago, and it takes about a month or a month and a half to travel. It starts at the bottom of France and goes and ends in Santiago. I think he traveled The Camino in hopes of going to Santiago starting a job and earning the money to go back, but he ended up not being able to. And we had, we used those funds to be able to get him a bus ticket and send him back home. And we happened to be there on the day that, he was going back home. Um, so another one of my teammates and I went to the mall and got him some clothes, some toiletries, like a blanket and pillow. and just like being able to see the joy on his face to be able to go back home to his brother. It was, it was just like a God moment.

Yeah, that's so beautiful. I think that's an amazing story. Wow, that that's so cool.

Spiritual Reflections and Lessons
So moving from that powerful moment, I also want to talk about the spirituality of these trips and how we see God work and move. And so how has God kind of been working in you since the trip as a result of your experience?

I think God has taught me a lot on the trip. We were there. It was very much the ministry of presence. We listened to a lot of people's stories. We listened to the culture there for the majority of the trip. Um, and I think that was a little difficult for me because I wanted to do something. I wanted to like be given a task to take off their agenda. But God taught me like be patient like you just being here is good.

Yeah, the Ministry of Presence. Going to be a bumper sticker one day. I love that. And I think a lot of people go on these trips expecting to do so much when sometimes you don't do a lot and it's just as powerful and I think that's super cool.

Future Plans and Advice for New Travelers
so now after the trip, now that you've kind of recovered and recuperated and processed it all, um, what is something that you is there something that, like, do you want to keep practicing, um, is there something else that you took from the trip that you're trying to implement in your own life?

I think God wants me to do missions in some shape or form Um, so after this next school year I'm going to be working with that office Um that sent us out and just working locally in Azusa and being like an intern in the office It's called local engagement where like you're a missionary in azusa basically where we live yeah, and I think definitely during the trip, I was wondering if God wanted me to send me overseas and if Spain was still in the equation of me going somewhere, um, if I wanted to be. An intern in Spain. It's just something that I'm going with the flow and just waiting for God to be like, yes, do this.

Yeah, that's awesome. I love that you're getting more involved. Do you see yourself going on a trip in the future or doing more work behind the scenes in kind of administrative, like, in your internship?

I think I see both this next year. I don't think I'm going to do a trip, especially with just how, heavy my workload is, um, with two jobs and being a full-time student. Um, but maybe in my junior year, I might go.

Yes, That's amazing. Do you ever see yourself going somewhere different than Spain or would you want to kind of stick to Spain?

I do. I think opening up to different options. I think I might go on a trip that's there for longer. I thought two weeks was a little short. Um, wanted to stay there for a little, like a week longer.

We love to hear that. That is amazing. We love that so many people want to keep coming back and stay for longer. We love that. Um, the other question I have is about those who are now getting involved in these trips. You were once, um, trying this for the first time, doing this for the first time. And so those who are going on a trip or have signed up for a trip, what advice would you give to them? How should they prepare for trips like this?

I mean, you are going to be with your teammates 24 seven. Um, whatever alone time you can get, take it. Like you are going to want that alone time. Um, And just to be with God and journaling. I'm not a big journaler, but I like being able to write down like what I did that day, um, and all that because then I could actually share with people and just remember what, like, happened? And just like in detail. Mm-Hmm.

Yeah, a lot of people had mentioned journaling as a way to process the trip and understand the trip Tell me a little bit more about like why it's so important to process this experience and to remember this experience

I think as you, as like the weeks go on after your trip, you forget those little details and you're like, oh, I remembered. Like that event, like every little second of it. Cause I mean, I have those memories where I'm like, Oh, I wish I wrote down everything about it. Um, and then I can go back and look like, Oh yeah, that's what we did. Or, Oh yeah, that, that was cool. I forgot about that.

Yeah, that's super cool. And did you share this journal or those memories with other people?

there was a group, a women's group that supported me. Um, I went and shared in one of their meetings and I brought my journal with me and was able to like, share a little bit. A couple of the events with me there just like when I was preparing to speak to them. I was like, okay, I'll talk about this Oh, yeah, I'll talk about this part, and it just like they came back to me.

I love that. That's so cool. Got to relive the moment.

Technology and Communication During the Trip
What is the technology like? Like when you guys are there, you guys like off your phones the whole time. Like, what does that look like?

spain's pretty much like a very developed country. It's it's very much. Um, Not like America, but technology-wise like America um, they're not like You They're, they're way more active and, I mean, we were on our phones, we were taking pictures. We, if we needed to message our hosts, we messaged them. If we needed to message each other, we messaged them. Um, since, uh, my parents went to Spain like a week before I did, uh, I was able to get a phone plan there. And so did my host, and I think all three of us had a phone plan there. So it was pretty easy to just access our phones.

Amazing. Did you ever use it to translate, or did you guys have a translator?

We did, but like I knew enough Spaniards since living in Spain to be able to get around,

that's fair. I love it.

Building Relationships and Final Thoughts
the last question I have for you is just. Um, what's one relationship that you, uh, got from this trip? Someone that you bonded close with or someone that, um, you have just a really good connection with? What is one person, one relationship that you will look back fondly from this really, from this trip?

Yeah, um, so we, uh, there was a pilgrim house where, like, at the end of the trail, if any Americans, like, it was usually Americans who came in or people who spoke English, um, but an intern was working there. She was from the States. She was there for three months. Um, and she just wanted to hang out with us more. She was more. Involved with the other Spain team, um, but she made the effort to come and hang out with our team and Um, I got to have a one-on-one with her and we shared our testimonies Yeah, she was a really sweet girl.

I love it. That's amazing. I'm so glad you had such a positive experience, and you have a lot of great thoughts, clearly have processed this trip and understood it, um, and had such a good experience that hopefully you'll return and come back, which we here. So thank you so much for joining us. We loved hearing your story and hearing, um, how you have, um, experienced this trip and experienced it well. And I'm sure this will help future short-term team workers as they prepare to go into the field. And ultimately, it's always a testament to who God is and how he's worked through the world. So thank you so much, and we will talk to another person soon. Bye!

One Collective 7/31/24 One Collective 7/31/24

Crossroads of Compassion: Madison Campbell's Journey in Nicaragua

Madison Campbell shares her experience of going on short-term team trips to Nicaragua with One Collective. She talks about the relationships she has built with the local people and missionaries, the cultural differences she has encountered, and the ways in which she has seen God at work. Madison also offers advice for future short-term team trip participants and discusses her plans for future cross-cultural service.

Episode 6 | 17 Minutes | Jul 31, 2024

🎧 Listen on Spotify | 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

In this Episode:

How short-term team trips provide opportunities to build relationships and experience different cultures.
Lessons learned about expressing gratitude and listening well
How prayer and an open heart are essential for a meaningful cross-cultural service experience.

Supporting and staying connected with the local people and missionaries is crucial.

Madison Campbell, 23, is a vibrant young woman who finds joy in singing and spending time with friends, particularly over meals, fostering community within her faith circle. Her journey into missions began at 16 with One Collective in Nicaragua, marking the start of a dedicated involvement in short-term mission trips. Over the years, Madison has participated in seven to eight such trips, deeply impacting her perspective and commitment to cross-cultural service. Her experiences reflect a passion for both personal growth and building connections with believers and communities worldwide.
Introduction to Madison's Journey

We are here with Madison and we're going to hear a little bit about how God has been working through her and during her trip. Madison, just tell us a little bit about yourself.

Madison's Background and Passion for Missions
Hi, thank you so much I'm Madison Campbell. I'm 23 years old. I love to sing. I love to hang out and get dinner with friends. Just be part of that community and cultivate that kind of community among other people. Other believers and my first mission trip ever was with one collective to Nicaragua in 2017 when I was 16 years old. And since then I think I've been on seven or eight mission trips so far for short-term experiences. It's something that I love to do and I can, I'm planning on continuing to do many more. Yeah, that's amazing. So you've got some years, you've done this several times.

Recent Trip to Nicaragua

So tell us a little bit about your most recent trip that you went on. When and where did you go? And who'd you go with? Yeah, just tell us a little bit about that.

Yeah most recently was back in Nicaragua. It was my fifth time there. So I kept saying, I was like, fifth time's the charm. All right Lord, keep moving. I went with my dad, his name is Trey Campbell, and he was the one who originally started taking us the people he works with, and our friends on these trips with One Collective. And so it's been cool, not only getting closer to God, Not only getting closer to the people in Nicaragua and our teammates but especially getting closer to my dad as well. I feel like our relationship since I was 16 and my first one has just grown so much getting to go on these trips together. So he was leading that one. We went back to Nicaragua in Mazatepe. So we got to be at Beiros Bistro and we got to work with Posada de Luca and Papagayo, which is the pineapple farm. And it was just really cool getting to see people that I met when I was 16 who are still worth one collective working with them. Because it's not only just seeing them, once a year, Hey, what's up? It's we keep up with each other on social media. We know what's going on in each other's lives. And so that's my favorite part is the relationship part, but also to see the projects that they've started years ago. All of the fruit that's been coming from that as well.

Yeah, for sure. So all the people that you went on the trip with, were those people that you have been with since you were 16, or have the teams changed consistently?

So the teams that we went with a lot of them started coming from my dad's company. He works with Southwestern. And so a lot of them are around my age, like in their twenties. And so some of them, I think there was probably like this specific team was a lot of people who'd already been to Nicaragua. We had seven out of the 11 of us who'd been before. So a lot of them were people that had been on trips before and then there were a few new faces. And then the people that live there, the local people, but also the missionaries were people. Most of them we had seen before. And then we met some new faces and immediately were like, What's your Instagram?

We gotta keep up with each other! Which I love. That's like, one of the greatest things about social media. That's like a positive thing about it, is keeping up with everybody. And then, So yeah there's some new faces, but a lot of people that we've seen grow. They've watched me grow up. I've watched them grow up as well. Yeah. That's so cool. So what would you say one of your favorite moments from your most recent trip was? Oh, I think one of my favorite moments from every time that we go to Nicaragua and it just reminded me again why it's one of my favorites is we have one night every year where we Eat with someone who lives in Nicaragua, one of the local families that lives there. So we split up between our teams. It's three to four people per household will go. And it was me and my dad and two of the guys that were on our team and we were with a family. And so it's always, you walk in and hi, like, how's it going? There's a little bit of the language barrier and see ease into it.

And by the end of the night, we were laughing so hard we were crying. We even with the language barrier, we've got someone who's translating, we got a couple of people translating for us and people busted out the guitars and the ukuleles. And we were singing worship songs and we didn't want to leave. I think it was almost 11 p.m. And we were just like, That'll be fine we'll go, we'll do devotional when we get there, it's fine. So I was like, I don't want to leave, and when I come back here, I will make sure I'll be at your house again. I was like, this is, it was just so much fun. So that's one of my favorite parts. We also just working with everybody. We worked at Betos Bistro again. We worked at the pineapple farm one day. So getting to see that again as well. And then also our team specifically do devotionals at night. And so the conversations were just, vulnerable.

And I feel like so much like watching it, so much healing happened within our team as well. That people in Nicaragua, the missionaries got to be a part of as well, because we're always like, anybody that wants to come be part of the devotional at night, you're more than welcome to. So they got to see that as well, which was special.

Yeah, that's awesome.

Cultural Experiences in Nicaragua
I hear two things in your favorite moments, I hear the aspect of just experiencing the culture and then also just seeing how God worked. And I want to touch on both of those. Because clearly, Nicaragua is a new culture. It's a new space. It's a new environment. And so what were three things that you experienced from that culture that was new to you maybe as a 16-year-old or now that you come back and there's still something new? Talk about the culture a little bit and what was new for you to experience.

Yeah. So Nicaragua specifically, I think this is a lot of Latin American culture, but Nicaragua very specifically, they call it Nika time. So it's very much like it's more relational to more of a warm culture where when we were at the family's house, we said we would probably be home by eight or nine back at our, like a little place we were staying. And then it was nine and we were like we don't need to leave yet. It's fine. We'll get there. And that's how it is pretty much everywhere. And you show up when you show up, if you're talking to someone at someone's house And it's not like a we got to go, like we would in the States. It's very much no, I'm going to finish this conversation and be intentional with this person and we'll get to the next place when we get there and it'll be okay. It's the same thing with church. We just, okay, when we're ready, we go to church and church will eventually start. And it's just, that the time is very much more relaxed there. And Americans aren't as used to that. So it was, something we had to get used to is it's 9 am and we're late. No, it's okay. Just relax. We'll get there when we get there. So that was something that we had to get used to. Everyone always jokes and I joke about it too. I'm like the world's pickiest eater. So I'm always every time I go there I get my peanut butter crackers. I got my goldfish. I got all my snacks and So the food every single the first time I went when I was 16, I was like, what am I gonna eat? Oh no, and every time I've gone I've eaten more and more just because I've been Become more used to it as well.

And their food is really good there. Like it's a problem. No, no one else's problem. It's just me. But yeah, and thankfully they're the, they have the bistro and they make the most amazing smoothies. They've coffee. And so it's nice to be able to order like 17 smoothies a day, which is, helping the business out as well.

Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, I love that. A lot of notes that Western culture can take.

Spiritual Reflections and Lessons Learned
And then the spiritual piece talks to me about how you saw God at work since this trip in your own life. Since you've come back, you've come back to the States, how have you seen God working in your life as a result of your experience?

Yeah There are a couple of things that I learned and some of it was from our teammates one of the guys, his name is Brayden, he's been a couple of times, he talked a lot about gratitude, and so was something that I realized, I was like, I need to say thank you more not I need to say thank you to people more for things that, they're doing for me that I don't deserve, but I also need to just thank the Lord more every single time, it's hot in Nicaragua February is super hot, Like the hottest we've ever, we normally go December, we went this February for the first time and I was like, it's significantly hotter than in December. And so anytime there was a breeze if a cloud covered the sun, I just immediately was like, thank you, Jesus. You didn't have to do that. Thank you. And little things like that just, expressing more gratitude and then also listening better. Some of the mission trips I've been on, I'm in a place in my life where I am just, I feel like I'm word vomiting constantly.

Just this is what's going on. And that's fine to be vulnerable. But more recent ones like this one, I feel like I listen more. So just practicing James 119 Being quick to listen and slow to speak, being able to listen more and learn more from people. And just absorbing that like a sponge has been something that I learned a lot from this last trip that we went on. And then I think from all the local people that live there and the missionaries just the vision that they have and the hope that they have even if they don't have, As much material stuff that we have in the United States, like they are so filled with faith that it's we don't need all this stuff.

You get home and you're just like, I, why do I have this much stuff? Like I need Jesus and everything else is just extra. And they have that attitude and they also make do with what they have. They come up with the most creative ways to use what they have, which is also really cool because everyone's so resourceful there too, so yeah those are some of the things I think that I learned, especially, specifically from this last time in February.

Yeah, those are really good reflections. You've clearly, processed this trip. And yeah, that's equally as important. You go on this trip and you come back and you can't just jump back into normal life. You have to see how it affected you.

Advice for Future Missionaries
After you've done this trip multiple times, but as you've come out of this trip, what advice would you have for someone who has signed up for a short-term team trip in the future? How should they prepare?

I would say check your emails. Like I always check your emails. That's very important. And anything that One Collective sends you, anything that anyone From where you're going to send you check those, and I would also say, with wherever you're going, whatever language they speak, definitely start practicing basic conversational. It can never hurt. And also pray. Prayer is one of the biggest ones. I don't think that I did that as much going into mission trips. And so this one before February, I was way more intentional about praying for. The trip itself, safety getting there, but also while we were there and praying for the missionaries there that are there as well. I think I am more likely to remember the people, like the locals, the people who were serving there, or our teammates. And I feel like the missionaries that live there 24 seven kinds of can be forgotten about. And so just pray for them even if you don't know them yet. But you know their names from the emails praying for those people as well.

Yeah, I think prayer is the biggest one. And then just make sure your heart is in a good place. It's not the easiest thing. That's why a lot of people go on mission trips because they're in this weird place in life and they want clarity and they want to experience something new. But just, Allowing your heart to be in a place of just openness and in a place to receive whatever the Lord's gonna do in your life That week two weeks. However long you're there. I think is something really wise to do beforehand So that whenever you're there, you're ready to receive and be open to anything instead of being more I've struggled with that before. I wanted things to go a certain way and missions and ministry is messy. It's not perfect. And so plans change all the time. Being able to adapt to that was something I had to learn the hard way, but eventually, it got easier. The more times that I got to go on them. So if you go on your first one and you're already in that mindset of whatever happens, and I'm just here to serve and learn, then you'll be golden.

Yeah, that's awesome. That's all super helpful so the last question I have for you as someone who's done trips multiple times and now just finished another one.

Future Plans and Aspirations
What will cross-cultural service look like for you now? Do you plan to do another one with your dad? Do you plan to do cross-cultural service differently in your life right now and currently? What does that look like for you?

Yeah, so recently last night I had dinner with a friend who works with my dad who's been to Nicaragua before. And we talked about possibly co-leading a trip next February. I think my dad is trying to get on the books for one trip, so we're going to do maybe a back-to-back trip.
This would be my first one leading one 401 collective mission trip. And so that's something that I'm praying about. But we said, Hey let's start moving with this, moving forward, and let God guide us. And it was funny cause we were talking about it and I said, I would love to lead a trip and I'm confident in the spiritual part of it. But the Logistics part of it is what makes me nervous because I've never dealt with the traveling and keeping up like, you know Constantly one two three four how many people is everyone where they need to be? And my friend Sarah was like, oh, I love that part it's the spiritual part that I am still learning a lot about as am I but we just looked at each other and we were like, oh Wait, we could co-lead one together, get the best of both worlds.

So we had dinner last night, and that's a plan to see what maybe we could do next year to lead a trip back to Nicaragua. That'll be my sixth time there, so I think at this point I'm Hey, y'all like we, we know each other. Let's go. What do we need to do? Let's just jump right into it. Headfirst. Yeah, that's the plan right now. I know my dad is planning on going back. We're, we always say that. And that's the other thing too, is once you go on one, it's really hard not to want to go on another one. Mainly not only because of what you get to do there and what you learn, but because of the relationships, I love that about One Collective is it is so relationship and they are so like, that's one of their core values is like the people that you're going to meet. That's the most important part is the people. And keeping up with those people and praying for those people and doing everything that you can to serve them while you're there. And so that's something too, that keeps me coming back is I, it's not just me walking in and saying, hi, these are people that I met one time. It's no, these are my friends. Like these are my friends now. And so not only is it, Serving and helping the community doing whatever they need, whatever the need is there, but it's also like an opportunity to visit with some of my close friends there as well which I think is neat that we have that culture right now where we're able to travel and go see each other.

Yeah, for sure. And I'm just curious What do you plan to do long term? Do you what is the career passion for you? Where's that like in your heart and your passion? Yeah, I've always loved missions, ministry, that kind of like route, that's always been something that I'm passionate about and so for right now, it is still short term, little bite size, little trips here and there.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Lord called me to do something a little bit longer term. But that's up to Him right now every time I go to Nicaragua, they're like, when are you moving here? And I'm like ha. Ask God. Okay. I'm like, I don't know that. Which is sweet, but yeah that's where I'm at right now is just, if I'm not there, then supporting people who are there. And then when I get to go like fully. Going with everything I have for that week because as much as it is like the first day you're there wherever you are, you're like, whoa, long days, long hours working hard. You're talking to a lot of people, which is awesome, but it can be draining. But then by the end, you're like, that was the fastest week ever. I want to be here for three more weeks or let's stay here for three months. Yeah, that's the plan right now. But anytime anyone asks me that I'm like, Oh, me and God are talking about that. I don't know. Hey, that's the healthiest way to handle it. That's the way to do it, for sure.

Yes, absolutely.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts
This is all super helpful. I loved hearing your answers. Thank you so much for joining us and sharing with us. Loved hearing your story and I think this will benefit future short-term workers as they start to entertain that process and start to think it over and ultimately start to join the field. And I think you are perfect testimony to God's work throughout short-term team trips and what he's doing to this world. So again, thank you so much, and hope to hear from you soon. Goodbye!
Yeah, absolutely!

One Collective 7/31/24 One Collective 7/31/24

Transforming Communities: Brayden Hall's Journey of Service and Spirituality in Nicaragua

Brayden Hall shares his experiences on short-term team trips to Nicaragua with One Collective. He emphasizes the importance of community and camaraderie among team members, especially when returning to the same location multiple times. Brayden highlights the impact of the projects completed during the trips, such as building roads and community centers, and how they have transformed the local communities. He also discusses the spiritual growth and personal development he has experienced as a result of these trips. Brayden expresses his plans to continue cross-cultural service, including his dream of funding and investing in a baseball complex in Masatepe, Nicaragua.

Episode 5 | 17 Minutes | Jul 31, 2024

🎧 Listen on Spotify | 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

In this Episode:

Involvement with One Collective for three years, including multiple short-term trips to places like Mazatepe, Nicaragua.
Highlights of the camaraderie and community formed over multiple trips, emphasizing the deeper relationships built with locals and missionaries.
the bond formed with fellow travelers, particularly with his friend Noah, whom he got closer to through these trips despite initially doing different internships.
How the projects undertaken during his trips, such as building roads, school bathrooms, and community centers have positively transformed local communities and lasting impact
Reflections on the profound spiritual growth experienced through these trips, navigating life challenges like a breakup and family illness.

Brayden Hall, originally from Oklahoma and currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee, is deeply passionate about cross-cultural experiences and community service. Over the past three years with One Collective, Brayden has embarked on three transformative short-term team trips to Masatepe, Nicaragua. Brayden cherishes the camaraderie and community fostered during his trips, having formed lasting friendships with fellow volunteers who share his dedication to making a meaningful impact. Looking forward, he envisions continuing his humanitarian efforts, possibly spearheading a project to develop a baseball complex in Masatepe.
Introduction to Brayden and His Journey
We are here with Brayden and he is going to share a little bit about his trip and we're excited to hear about how God has been working. So Brayden, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Gosh, Sofi that was an incredible introduction.
Brayden's Background and Career
But yeah, so my name is Brayden Hall. I'm originally from Oklahoma. And if you're like, man, I've never heard of that state, then that's okay. But I currently live in Nashville, Tennessee, and I've been involved with a collective for the past three years which is exciting.
So I've gotten to serve on three short-term team trips to Massa Tepe and Nicaragua and currently for a career, I work in business-to-business sales for outsourcing big companies into different countries, a lot of their AI technology, back office work contact center work, and stuff as well. So definitely get to travel internationally a lot. And thanks to my time in Mazatepe, my Spanish isn't, it's not the best, but it's not the worst, and excited to be here today.
That's awesome. I love it. You've got a lot of experience in you. I love that.
Recent Trip to Nicaragua
So tell us a little bit about your most recent trip to Nicaragua. When, obviously we knew where you go, but when did you go and who'd you go with?
Gosh, yeah. Okay, so I got back about two months ago. So I went on a short-term team. It's eight days, somewhere around there, and I was led through Trey Campbell who works with both One Collective and then started his ministry as well called Metanoia, which is exciting. And there were 10 of us in the group. And what made this trip unique is I believe seven out of the ten were returning people People that had already been to masa type. They've already been to Beto's like they already know the whole crew but yeah, I could talk about it forever. Sophie, I'm, what do you get, what do you get for me, that's the summary.
Community and Camaraderie
I'm super curious since there were people that you returned to the trip with. These are people you've gone to Nicaragua with before. Talk about that community and that camaraderie because these are now people that you've done these trips and these trips are bonding experiences. So talk about going with people that you have already been on the trip with before.
Yeah. So that was interesting. One of my best friends Noah Swanson, interestingly enough. He and I became friends because we all did this like a crazy internship program. I could talk about it forever, so a lot of people who are on these short-term teams all did the same internship at some point. So there's that fraternal Vibe to it in a sense, but my friend Noah and I always went on separate trips and then he and I got close because we've never been on the same trip. After all, our birthdays are, like Different weeks. So what was awesome, Sofi, is that this year we got the call. Hey, it's going to be in February. And we're like, and so my buddy and I were like, did you see there's one in February like we get to bro out like on the same trip and it was like, yeah, let's do it. So that was cool.
Just a fun story. And then I've gotten to hang out with him and some of his other friends, and do some other cool things. And then, yeah, I think. Being back on the trip with people that have been there before was just like a cool maturity Specifically because It was almost this isn't like this new crazy thing I'm not just on vacation in Nicaragua it was like very intentional like it felt like every interaction with the locals with the missionaries You very intentional because there's already been that like established rapport. There have already been those relationships there. And I think Sofi just amplified the experience for me.
Yeah. no, that's awesome. I'm really glad you've got some lifelong friends from this.
Oh, it's so cool. There's some, my best friend and it's, and there's people too where you meet through different things and it's Oh, you've been on the Nicaragua trip with Trey Campbell. And it's yeah. And then a fun relationship starter too. Yeah.
Cultural Experiences and Projects
Yeah, an awesome community. As someone who's done it before and has done it multiple times, I'm curious Nicaragua brings a different culture and a different narrative and story than the Westernized culture and society. And so as you returned, what were three new things that you experienced from the culture that maybe were a bit different than what you were used three new things that were different.

Okay. Put me on the spot here. That was different in the culture. Okay. Yeah. I think my favorite will be here. I'll answer it by doing another thing too, because I think my favorite part of being on these trips and coming back is it's the conviction and what you're doing. The previous trip, you get to see it lived out when you come back. So I think my favorite part is all the different projects that we've done two years ago, three years ago, and then you come back. And it's like this thriving small Nicaraguan farm town. So have three specific ones, but I think for me it's the specific projects.
Whether it was, like, we built this little road they could, the trucks could go up the mountains and not spill fruit off the side or things. Or we built a bathroom for kids in this elementary school off this mountain in Nicaragua. Or whenever we stay back in the farm town, like we've worked on this community center, and now it's like a Thriving place to get people off the street where they can celebrate God and they can celebrate each other And they can celebrate the culture, in general, I think that's always my favorite part is Because I think a lot of the times if you read any of the books like when helping hurts and all of That there's that stigmatism of oh I'm gonna go on a mission trip and just pick up sticks off the ground and Oh, I'm just going to pick up trash and Hey, like we've all done it. That's cool. I understand. But, the types of trips that one collective posts, especially the short-term teams, everything is so you're so plugged into the community that it really, it has this like lasting effect on you I can't even really explain it. But it's so cool because you come back to the States and you're like, I just miss my friends, I miss my Nicaraguan community. I miss them, and so I think that's, to answer your question, it's seeing all the cool projects come to life every time they come back.
Talk to me a little bit about how you're working on the field, you're building a road, or whatever. Did you expect when you came years later that would be a thriving little ecosystem or was that in your mind when you were building it? Or were you like, oh, is this gonna matter? So
talk with that process and then come and see it thriving and see it help the community.
I can give you a really specific example of this. So my first Nicaragua trip, which is December of 2021. So now I'm super old. There was a part of it where we were cleaning out this like a section of this Bistro, which I could talk about the Bistro forever, but there was this Bistro it's the Holy ground. And a lot of people that work with one collective, like work in the Bistro, but there, we were like cleaning all this trash out and it was your typical, Hey, we're cleaning stuff, right? We're moving and cleaning stuff. And you're okay. But then I came back on my second trip, which was in December of 2022, and watching the fact that this area we cleaned, they transformed the whole thing into the kitchen of the bistro. And they made the kitchen three times the size. And so now all the business for that little tiny community in Masatepe that's going through that bistro. That's going through that kitchen. It was so cool to come back and be like dude, this was just like a bunch of trash and storage. And I remember like, getting emotional. I was like, golly, dude, this is my favorite part because it's, again, it just goes back to what I said, right? It's like that conviction that you're not just picking things up off the ground. You're in a community. Celebrating God and in that, I've been on trips. I've been on some of these trips where people are, God's maybe not their favorite thing in the world, which is okay, right? Everybody's on their walk, but it's so cool. Even just like the amount of love for people in the community that's expressed throughout the whole trip. Sofi is just one of the coolest, most visceral experiences. Imaginable. Yeah.
That's awesome. Yeah. I want to touch on that spiritual aspect of the trip.
Spiritual Reflections and Personal Growth
It's clearly like you can’t come home without seeing some spirituality. So after the trip, you've done some reflecting. How has God been at work in your life since the trip? As a result of your experience?
Yeah , no kidding. No, it's I'll answer it like this. Every trip I've been on, I've been in a completely different stage in life, and I know it's like a lot of people are like, oh, I'm like in a different, no, but like Sofi, like for real. My first trip was like going through a bad breakup. My mom got cancer like I graduated college So that whole part of my life was gone, I was figuring out what I wanted to do so a lot of anxiety that the second trip was like I was done with that book-selling program but I was anxious because I was like, man, I'm 24 I'm about to start my adult life. Like where am I gonna move? What kind of job am I gonna have so just putting a lot of Faith into the process and things? And then my third trip was really interesting because it's like I have an adult job now. Like, I live in Nashville and I work remotely like I'm going to work every day living, the American dream, or whatever. And it was cool to see that, like the faith that I put into God when I was younger, lost, like I, I went to that first Nicaragua trip cause I just, I needed an escape. I needed a spiritual escape, and through all the stuff that we did and through the mentorship I've had since through a lot of awesome spiritual leaders.
I yeah, I've found myself to just continue to put my faith into the process. Cause I've seen it unfold in Nicaragua. It was like a catalyst for me. It was like that one collective trip was something that led to some positive changes in my life,
Advice for Future Volunteers
yeah. that's awesome. That's a testament to God's work and now, after the trip, as we look back I'm curious as some people start to consider these trips and start to go through the process, what advice would you have for someone who's signed up for a trip? How should they prepare?
Yeah. Gosh. It's I almost want to be don't - just go, I, it's just like with anything in life, right? Like you get out you put in, and I've seen this on the trips too. I've seen people that go on the trips and they just sit back. They don't want to go to work. They just want to listen and that's awesome. I appreciate anybody willing to take a leap of faith and Go to a different country and community they're probably like they probably didn't grow up like that, but if I had any advice for someone it's just like a man just be open-minded, and not only like other people but like yourself to be open-minded and like the experience That you're going to have to don't go to a country and be like, Oh, like I'm going to probably do this. Like I'm going to do that. No. Like just take a little moment and just soak it in and pour it into that community. Cause now some of my friends are like local Nicaraguans of Masa Tepe. It's one of them's birthdays was yesterday, Don Beto, like the patriarch of the empire, and Masa Tepe, like the shoemaker turned entrepreneur guy. I have I'm a big baseball guy. And so it was cool. All all the bros, that went on this past trip.
We were all like, Hey, let's bring our jerseys. Cause we're going to have one day where we all wear our Nicaragua baseball jerseys. It was cool this year. When we got to the coffee shop, they were selling new baseball jerseys, and on the back of the jersey, instead of having a number, it just said Betos. it was like, dude, take. Take my money, man. Like I like to bury me with this on, cause it was just like, and I love it and now I wear it. It's but it's a, it's just like having it on my back. Like having Beto's cause again, if you meet anyone that's also gone to the Nicaragua trip like Don Beto he's like the most spiritual human being I've ever met. and he's responsible for The majority of the economic structure in this tiny farm town is like this, like five foot tall, 80-year-old Hispanic man. And so I love that guy. So again, the advice is just, Hey, be open-minded, but be equally as intentional with the community for sure. Yeah
I think that story is just a testament that, when you do put your whole self into it, when you do invest, you do see the fruit. You become great friends with great people, and you have great memories, and, and who wouldn't want that?
Oh my God. When you're, my favorite is so moving to Nashville, I only knew one person. I moved here. Total leap of faith. But one of my friends, from my first Nicaragua trip. He just happened to live in Nashville now. And so it's like I moved to this brand new city and it's dude, you live in Nashville. Yeah. And then now we're like hanging out all it's, we're like bros now. And most of the people I've ever met in Nashville have been because of like him and different group activities and co-ed kickball, all this stuff that we started. Yeah. And if I had never gone to Nicaragua, like I wouldn't have all these friends in Nashville so it's, again, it's intentional with the community, be intentional with the people keep an open mind spending eight days with eight, people in a closed scenario it's perfectly acceptable when it's over to be like, all right, peace, see ya, as God bless ya, hey, we spent a lot of time together, but what's crazy is every group I've been on like the opposite It's Oh my god, let's keep hanging out. Like I want to finish like what we're talking about And it was just cool to be a community Of people that are like that, so
No, for sure. That's awesome. I love it. So many good stories. My last question for you is, what will cross-cultural service look like for you?
Future Plans and Dreams
Now that you've done a couple do you plan to do it in the future or do you plan to do something a little more local, like with your own in Nashville? So what will cross-cultural service look like for you?
Yeah. So this is awesome because this lets me pitch something not really. But it's, but I'm going to pitch you my dream. And my dream Sophie is I want to come back to Masa Tepe. I don't know when, but my goal. I would like to fully fund and invest in a baseball park, a baseball complex, and the little town of Masa Tepe and formulate regulated baseball leagues to help clean up the streets, right? Because there's a lot of behavior that goes down that, that is a problem there that anybody would talk about it. But my goal is I want to come back and do humanitarian work. And that's part of the reason I bought the baseball jersey back in the day. It says every time I see it, it is a constant reminder of what I'm working towards, you know?
That's awesome. That's a really good dream. I love that.
And it's and I've kept in touch with everybody and Nicaragua, specifically the people in Mazatepe and so yeah there's some, definitely some economical goals that I in my day job, my career that I'm putting money into to save and I'm excited to execute on, right? Because Nicaragua changed me forever, which is a product of one collective, right? And the least I can do is give back, that's something that gets me, like in your day-to-day when you're like, Oh man But I'm like, Oh, like Nicaragua is counting on me, man. So and so all these awesome, amazing, beautiful people in Nicaragua, like they're counting on me. And as far as Nashville, like I, I've gotten pretty involved since I've been here, Sophie, I'm a member of Kiwanis club, which is basically like a global organization that sponsors a lot of different volunteering groups, a lot of different advocates, advocacy organizations, and I've got to do some work with some other multicultural, like the Hispanic Family Foundation and different things like that. There are some cool volunteering opportunities and yeah, I'm just excited to put that love and that feeling that I created on those trips, three years ago
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
A lot of just amazing answers and thoughts. We loved your story. It's just an amazing story and you have given me so much passion, so much joy. So thank you so much for joining us answering all of our questions and sharing your story. I think this will benefit future short-term team people as they start to figure out their process. And ultimately, it's a testament to God and how he's worked through you and how he's used these trips to work through the world. So thank you so much for sharing and yeah, we hope to talk soon. Thank you.
Bye. Thanks, guys

One Collective 7/30/24 One Collective 7/30/24

Journey of Faith: Austin's Transformation in Nicaragua

Austin shares his experience on a mission trip to Nicaragua and how it impacted his faith and relationships. He talks about the pineapple farm, the cultural differences he encountered, and the personal growth he experienced. Austin also discusses the after-effects of the trip, including how he has become a leader in his community and how his friends have shown interest in his faith. He offers advice for those considering a mission trip and expresses his desire to lead a trip in the future.

Episode 4 | 10 Minutes | Jul 20, 2024

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In this Episode:

How this work filled a desire to explore faith post-baptism, demonstrating that personal spiritual growth can spark meaningful action.
How memories from a Pineapple Farm in Nicaragua served as a profound spiritual encounter, illustrating how unexpected places and experiences can deepen one's connection with God.
Navigating a language barrier and highlighting the resilience and the willingness to embrace discomfort for personal and spiritual growth.
Reflections on Austin's shift in perspective towards trusting God in everyday challenges and inspiring others through his newfound faith journey exemplify how mission experiences can foster personal leadership and community impact.
How Austin will continue to engage in cross-cultural service

Austin, a 25-year-old lineman from Nashville, Tennessee, embarked on a life-changing mission trip to Mazatepe, Nicaragua, spurred by his recent baptism. His journey, guided by Trey Campbell, was marked by profound moments at a pineapple farm where he felt deeply connected to God. Overcoming language barriers, Austin experienced personal growth, realizing the value of patience and cultural understanding. Post-trip, he found renewed faith and leadership skills, inspiring friends to explore their own spirituality. Looking ahead, Austin is eager to continue his cross-cultural service, aspiring to lead future missions and deepen his impact on others' lives.
Introduction and Meet Austin
We are here with Austin and we're excited to hear about how God has been working throughout the trip and after the trip. Austin, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Happy to be here. My name is Austin. I'm 25 years old. I'm from Nashville, Tennessee, and I'm a lineman by trade. Nice! Amazing!

Austin's Mission Trip Experience
Tell us a little bit about your trip. Where and when did you go, and who'd you go with?

So I went alongside the church I'm at, and I was recently baptized down at the church in November, and I just felt called to go on a mission trip, or at least ask about it. So I just said, so I went to my group leader for my Bible study, and I said, Hey, I know you've been on them. What, what goes into that? How do I go on to it? And they hooked me up with a gentleman named Trey Campbell. And he talked to me about it and sold me on the idea, so it was about mid-February, um, we were in Mazatepe, Nicaragua, and it was an experience that I'll never forget. It was just a huge eye-opener, and, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Amazing!

The Pineapple Farm and Cultural Insights
What was one of your favorite moments from the trip?

I'm going to have to say, the Pineapple Farm when we went to that, was like a piece of heaven out there. That's where I really felt like I was really connected to God. Yeah, no, that's awesome. A lot of people who've gone on this trip have mentioned the Pineapple Farm.

Can you tell us a little bit about what that is? What'd you guys do? Cause obviously that is not something we're familiar with. So talk a little bit about the Pineapple Farm.

The Pineapple Farm was it, they, the name for it was Papa Guy. The story behind it was there was like this, there was an American couple from Florida that, Fell in love with the property and they bought it and then they got in some trouble or had to flee the country and then The missionaries took it over. If I remember, don't quote me on that. I may be wrong. They mentioned something about that and then now they just have like full-time workers on there and they grow all the pineapples that you have just They just had like their own staff working there and they brought us on the mission trip down there and the manager of the ranch He had like his own little dog and that was probably the cleanest dog. I saw it down there. It was like well taken care of Honestly, it was like a piece of heaven out there because it was the because it was right in the mountains and Tijuana Tepe Our north, if I remember correctly, we were from Mazatec I mean where we're staying and just blew me away that Cause like when here in the States, you don't really realize, like, you don't think about what goes on in these third world countries and it just saying like how, just saying how God's taking care of them down there. it's a real amazing thing to see and it makes you realize how good we have it here compared to there.

Yeah, for sure. Absolutely. And there's definitely a big cultural difference between our Western Americanized culture and Nicaraguan culture. I want to talk a little bit about that. What were some new things that you experienced stepping into a new culture? What were some new things that you experienced?

Language Barriers and Personal Growth
Realizing that not being able to speak Spanish was a really big one. So that was Realizing, oh, yeah, no one speaks my language, so having to communicate through translators really inspired me to know Spanish, and it really just surprised me, even down there, how there's a kid learning English, and I even had one kid who I was, like, playing soccer with, and he, I was on my phone trying to connect to translate, and I'm like, hey, buddy, what's your name? And he just, perfect English, goes, my name's Jose, nice to meet you, and I'm like, so it just blew my mind a little bit, I was like, Wow, I gotta know Spanish. I'm gonna just and just how these kids were the education system is not the best yet They're still learning English, but hey, if these kids can learn English, I can learn Spanish. That was my biggest takeaway I just gotta learn Spanish.

And where are you now? Can you talk a little bit? Are you a little bit of a conversationalist when it comes to Spanish now?

I'm working on a tutor I have not found one yet. So that's a work in progress That's fair.

Yeah, definitely a work in progress for sure. But yeah, language can be huge. I also wanted to touch on something you have consistently talked about, how you experienced God, especially in the Pineapple Farm.

Post-Trip Reflections and Advice

So I want to ask how has God been at work since you went on this trip. As a result of your experience, where have you seen God work?

Definitely, like, realizing don't sweat the small stuff because he's, I know he's gonna take care of me. I used to react to things just like just on a hair trigger and come on like why is this happening and all that and I'm real thankful for what God's done. I've been really just focusing on me and trying to deep dive into my faith and the coolest thing about it was since I've been back, a lot of my buddies had actually been wanting to Come to church with me, they're seeing my walk just the other day. Like we were looking for something to do and out of nowhere, they all downloaded the Bible app and we just had a Bible study just like here, right here in this, and that was like one of the coolest things and it was probably like an hour and a half long. So that's, that was probably the biggest thing that happened was like, cause I've never led before when I came to a Bible study and just with all my buddies I grew up with, that was probably the biggest. That was probably one of the biggest impacts that I think I just had on myself, and I think I impacted them on that. That was probably one of the craziest things that happened.

Yeah, it sounds like this trip definitely built some leadership in you, that you gained more confidence and also just gained more of an understanding of God and learning from Him and witnessing Him. I think that's super cool. Now, obviously, the impact has happened post Uh, the trip, it's not just happening in Nicaragua, but as you've come out of the trip and as you finished, obviously God is still working. And so I want to focus a little bit on the after part of the trip. Now as you look back, thinking about some people starting to sign up for trips like this, what advice would you have for someone who has signed up for a trip? How should they prepare?

Definitely go into it. And I learned while I was down there, especially looking back on it, was it is what you make it. I had a really hard time really being vulnerable as a blue-collar guy. You're not getting emotional with the fellas, and especially on a trip with people that I didn't know if I don't know these people, and, but it really just, it's definitely a challenge, but I would definitely encourage people to dig deep in yourself, and it is what you make it. Give it your all. If there's something you're struggling with, I know if Trey Campbell, the guy who I was with, leads yours, there's gonna be no judgment. And he really helped me out a lot, and, Encouraged me to just say, Hey, like, that's your own pace, you're fitting in well. And then, when it came down time when I shared my story, a lot of people could relate.

Just absorb it, take it all in, and listen. Listening is a really big thing. Because if you have mentors and people around you, just listen to them. If they notice something about you and they want to give you a challenge, take them up on it. At least try. Keep an open mind and I encourage people to come leave a part of yourself down there and bring a new part of yourself back.
That's the biggest thing about it.

Yeah, that's huge. I think that's a really good, definitely good tagline for sure yeah. Would you say you were a bit hesitant as you went on this trip? What advice would you give to someone who is feeling hesitant and feeling scared before they go into the field?

You're investing in yourself to go on this trip. If you're serious about going, you're going to go. But if you go down there just to say, Oh, I'm going on a mission trip, I'm going to go, uh, cut down some trees, paint some walls, visit homes, talk with people. You're not really making it what it should be. If you're going to go on a mission trip, you want to do it for you to be better. When I went down there, I was just like, yeah, I'm doing this a lot for me. Really. I'm doing it for God. Like I was saying before, it is what you make it. And at first, yeah, I was a little hesitant to open up. And I remember the first night someone said, so I was a good buddy. And just knowing how he could have been that bigger person. I learned something from him the first night and I chimed in on that. I'm like, dude, I need to hear that. Yeah. And I definitely think these trips, you know, have that impact of, of recognizing differences, how to deal with them and how to handle them in a way that. Christ-like and in a way that is kingdom driven.

Yeah, I think that's a really powerful testament to that.

Future Plans and Final Thoughts
I want to take this more into the future as a last question. What will cross-cultural service look like for you now, now that you've come out of this trip? What do you foresee yourself doing with cross-cultural service in the future?

I definitely want to do this more. It really inspired me to lead one one day. I was really impressed with Trey on how he really connected with everyone and, heck, he's been, I don't know how many he's been on. So, now, just so I've been on 1, there's some work I gotta put into myself to be able to lead. But, I would definitely wanna, I will be back. I'll definitely be back in Masatepe at some point. And 1 Day, I would love to lead. I'm dead set on leading 1 1 Day.

Yeah, no, for sure. That would be amazing. And I think that would be huge and super impactful as someone who's done it and now would love to lead and have that impact. So I definitely think that's a great goal. I loved all of the things you had to say. You had a lot of great thoughts. It's clear that God has been working through you to impact your life and the lives of those that you love. Around you.

Conclusion and Call to Action
So thank you so much for joining us and sharing your story. We loved hearing it. And I think this will ultimately benefit future short-term workers as they join the field. And always it's a testament to God and how he's working in the world. So thank you so much for joining us and we will talk soon. Bye! Bye.

One Collective 7/18/24 One Collective 7/18/24

Discovering Deeper Purpose: Noah Swanson’s Journey

In this episode, we sit down with Noah, a passionate and dedicated individual from Aiken, Minnesota. Noah shares his inspiring journey from being homeschooled with a strong faith foundation to his mission work in Nicaragua. Learn about his experiences working on community projects like alcohol rehabilitation farms and community centers, and how these trips have deepened his appreciation for community and faith. Noah's story is a testament to the transformative power of cross-cultural service and the personal growth that comes with it. Tune in to hear about the challenges, memorable moments, and spiritual reflections from his mission trips, and gain valuable insights for future missionaries.

Episode 3 | 13 Minutes | Jul 18, 2024

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In this Episode:

The impact of mission trips on personal faith and growth.
How to prepare for a mission trip, from spiritual readiness to team dynamics.
Insights into Nicaraguan culture and lessons learned from local communities.
Practical advice for maximizing your mission trip experience and contribution.
The importance of building meaningful connections across cultural barriers.

Noah, from Aiken, Minnesota, has a deep-rooted passion for service and community. Homeschooled with a strong faith foundation, he graduated from Bemidji State University with a degree in math and economics. Currently residing in Utah, Noah was introduced to mission work through an internship. He has participated in several mission trips to Nicaragua, working on community projects like rehabilitation farms and community centers. Dedicated to annual mission trips, Noah values the transformative power of cross-cultural service and personal growth.
Introduction to Noah and His Background
Today we are talking with Noah, and he is going to talk about his trip a little bit. So Noah, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Absolutely. So I'm actually from a small town in Minnesota called Aiken, Minnesota. That's where I grew up. I was homeschooled. I have four sisters and a brother, and we were all homeschooled from preschool through 12th grade. My parents did that a lot for faith-based reasons, being able to teach that in addition to education.
So I always grew up with faith as a foundation, really involved in the church. My parents did a good job of instilling humility and a service-mindedness in me. It's always been a passion and a desire to want to serve people and impact people, which is what led to me going on some mission trips. I've always had a desire to do that but never really had an opportunity for it. Going back to my life, I went to Bemidji State University in Northern Minnesota. I got a degree in math and economics there. While I was there, I started an internship program that allowed me to move to Utah.
Now I've been in Utah for four years. The vice president of the internship program is really big into missions. He introduced me to going on these mission trips and partnering with One Collective. That's a little bit about me.
Noah's Recent Mission Trip to Nicaragua
Tell me a little bit about the most recent trip you went on. When did you go, where did you go, and who did you go with?
Yeah, we went in February, from about the 17th to the 24th. We went to Nicaragua. The main places we visited were Masa Tepe, which is their home base. They have a bistro that's part of their ministry, and a farm that's an alcohol rehabilitation place because that's a big need in that city and a lot of Nicaragua. Many men deal with alcohol or are alcoholics. We got to work at that farm a little bit. They also have a pineapple farm called Papagayo, which is also part of the alcohol rehabilitation area. They're still putting some work into it, but that was a lot of what we got to do and how we got to serve. There was a group of about 10 or 11 of us from Southwestern, from this internship I started with. About 80 percent of the people were alumni of that internship, and then a couple of other people were friends of Trey, who was our leader. He's the vice president of the company.
Memorable Moments from the Trip
And just going off of that, what was one of your favorite moments from your Nicaragua trip?
That's a good question because there are probably a lot of them. Honestly, I think one of my favorite parts of the trip was doing a lot of service projects. This was my third time going, and it was probably the time where we did the least amount of projects, which felt different. We did a lot more community with people, which stood out to me. Two years ago, my big takeaway was that community is really important, and even more so on this trip. One of the coolest moments was doing a lot of home visits with either the local missionaries or the local people that live there and are part of the ministry.
We got to go to one guy's house, and he's a pastor for one of the churches we partner with. We donated some money to build a community center, and he has been heading that up. It was him, his wife, their kids, and some cousins, all together for a big family meal. I don't speak much Spanish, so a lot of it was being translated. It's cool how you can connect with people beyond words. That was my favorite moment. They brought a ukulele, a guitar, and drums, and we were just having fun and praising. It was 10 p.m. at night, and people could hear us in the streets walking by. It was a pretty special moment with about four of us from our group and a lot of inviting, which is a big part of their culture.
Cultural Insights and Personal Growth
What were some new things that you experienced that you had to wrestle with?
Being there for the third time, one of my bigger realizations was hanging out more with some of the high school-aged kids and seeing how similar they are to people in America. We had a youth night, which they call English Night, where people come to learn English, and we're trying to learn Spanish. Realizing how similar people are, even if the cultures and languages are different, took pressure off me and allowed me to be more myself. I felt more peace this time, as I wasn't feeling as much guilt or discomfort about not understanding the language. It helped me to see that we're still very similar people.
Spiritual Reflections Post-Trip
How has God been at work since your trip as a result of your experience in your own life?
I've been more consistent with my prayer time and Bible time. My big takeaway is that God is in control of everything. I've realized that truly surrendering to God and understanding His plan is essential. We can have our own ideas about life, careers, and relationships, but God's perfect plan is what we need to live out. I've been more conscious of that since being back, about eight weeks now. Prayer is different, asking but also seeking to understand what God wants for me. I'm part of a Bible study group, and it's great to have that community. A lot of people in the group have been to Nicaragua before, so we share our experiences and learnings. It's about being active in my faith and seeking to know God more.
Advice for Future Missionaries
What advice would you give to someone who has signed up for a trip? How should they prepare?
My trip a couple of years ago wasn't as good because I wasn't putting as much into it. I overthought a lot of things and wasn't present. But something I did well on that first trip was being really open to what God wanted to show me. Be mentally prepared for challenges, have grace with yourself, and understand that just being there is a bright light to others. Be all in with it, not just physically but spiritually. Take time to journal, process while you're there, and share with the group. Be open, present, and all in.
Future Plans and Continued Service
What will cross-cultural service look like for you now that you've come out of this trip? Where do you see yourself in that narrative?
I love the trip and have told our leader, Trey, that I want to go to Nicaragua every year if they'll have me. Even if I can't go with the group, maybe I'll organize my own group or go with a few friends. I love the chance to serve and be open to wherever God calls me. Our group also does trips to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. For me, it's about continuing to do at least one trip every year for a week. It’s important for reset time and personal growth. Who knows, maybe it will be longer or multiple trips, but ideally, I'd love to go to Nicaragua at least once a year and be open to other opportunities like Kenya through my church.
Closing Remarks and Podcast Information
Thank you so much for joining us and expressing your thoughts. I think this will genuinely benefit future short-term team workers as they process and think about going on a trip. Ultimately, it's always a testament to God's work through you and in the world. Thank you for sharing with us, and we will talk soon.

One Collective 7/9/24 One Collective 7/9/24

Building Cross-Cultural Bridges: Abby Stroven's Journey

Abby Stroven, the executive director for the La Vida Center for Outdoor Education and Leadership at Gordon College, shares her experience leading short-term team trips with One Collective in Ecuador. She discusses the importance of building long-term relationships and trust with partner organizations in the field. Abby highlights the transformative impact these trips have on students, as they learn about different worldviews, become more present, and deepen their relationship with God. She emphasizes the need for thorough preparation, including team bonding and prayer, and encourages sustainable practices in cross-cultural ministry. Abby looks forward to seeing the long-lasting impact of these trips and the growth of students as they bring their experiences back to their communities.

Episode 2 | 19 Minutes | Jul 9, 2024

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In this Episode:

Abby’s long-lasting relationship and connection with One Collective.
How to prep effectively for a short-term team trip
How Abby has continued to see students transformed from these trips
Practical ways to make sure a trip is sustainable and meaningful
Insights on building deep relationships with many kinds of workers involved in short-term team trips

Abby Stroven is the Executive Director for the Levita Center for Outdoor Education and Leadership at Gordon College. With a passion for cross-cultural missions, Abby has led short-term mission trips to Ecuador for many years. Her journey began in the early 1990s, eventually serving as a missionary with One Collective from 2002 to 2009.
Abby’s work at El Refugio retreat center in Ecuador involved preparing groups for impactful mission experiences, fostering long-term partnerships with communities like Shandia. She emphasizes sustainable and meaningful missions, focusing on preparation, cultural sensitivity, and long-term impact. Abby’s leadership continues to inspire and transform the lives of students and community members, building deep, trusting relationships.
Meet Abby Stroven
Today we are with Abby and she is going to tell us a little bit about her experience and about her trip. So tell us a little bit about yourself, Abby.
Yeah. Hello. Thanks for inviting me on. My name is Abby Stroven and right now I work as the Executive Director for the Levita Center for Outdoor Education and Leadership at Gordon College. And because of my previous experience in Ecuador, I have been the team leader for all of the Ecuador trips that have come from Gordon on short term missions with one collective. And so that's what I'm doing right now and it's been a privilege. Yeah, that's super cool.

Abby's Journey into Cross-Cultural Work
So how did you get involved in the cross-cultural work and experience?

Oh my, that's a long story, but if you have some time, I can share it started back in 1990 I want to say 94, 93, I came to Ecuador on my first short term experience with my youth leader, who was Rick Borman. So Rick grew up in Ecuador. And he took us on a wild adventure to the Kofan village. And it was an amazing experience. And I thought to myself, I really. I love this and I'd love to do missions work, but I'd like to be in the professional world and just do it as a side experience where I want to invest in this because I really believe in the work, but I thought I was going to have a professional career and then do missions work on the side.

And then I ended up coming to Ecuador as a missionary in 2002, working with one collective of international teams at the time, and spent seven years working at the retreat center at El Refugio, and just got to experience the other side of welcoming groups to Ecuador. And what does that look like when you get a group that's very prepared and has done a lot of the pre-work before they come to the field? And what does it look like when they haven't? And how does that make for a better experience on both sides? So I got to see both sides of that for seven years working there until about 2009, when I met a group from the Levita Center at Gordon. And that's when I decided to transition back to the States.

That's awesome. There’s so much tradition with doing this for a while. You built a relationship with has that kind of looked I first went to training with one collective as a missionary, which was really fun to be on the backside and them preparing me to go and work in Ecuador. And then I think what's really been fun is to see how they have developed a really great process for preparing teams. Because that partnership is so important to have that partnership be stable in the country so that it's not when I go with a team, I feel very supported. And I feel like what we're doing is healthy. And then it's having long-lasting impacts that are healthy dynamics because there is a team of people there who are already working in the communities that we're going to serve. And so we're coming and joining the work that they're already doing in this country. It's not us bringing something that is just temporary, it's something that's ongoing in a process. And so that's what I really enjoyed about working with One Collective and why our college continues to partner with One Collective because of their safety, risk management, like taking care of all of the details to make sure that the risk is managed on both sides. So the risk of our team coming, but the risk of what our impact could be in a community and how we're serving. So that's just been really special to have that relationship.

Yeah, that's an amazing takeaway from the relationship.

Experiences in Ecuador

And now transitioning we want to hear about the trip you went on. So tell us a little bit about your most recent trip. What was your role on the trip and where did you go and who did you go with?

Yes, so this experience was to the town of Shandia was our main area where we're going to serve the Gordon students. We had, I think, 11 students with us and I took another staff member here from Gordon and we went to serve at in that community, which has been a long-term partnership for Gordon College with Shandia.And so many of the students had been on experiences before or heard about previous experiences. Experiences from other students. And so they were very excited to go and see what this looked like? What does a relationship with the people of Shandia look like? And I can tell you, it's always profound. They go and their view of the world is transformed. They come back with challenging things that they have to discuss and work through many of issues, like when they come back, they say, why did we feel so alive in Ecuador, but we feel so dead here? And so we talk about what did, what was that spiritual connection? What is it that you were learning and growing in your relationship with God and in your worldview and in this, these relationships with the kids and the people in Shandia?How is that? How can we translate that to something that you could actually do here? And so many of our debriefs revolved around how that experience was so transformative for them, especially getting to make the connection with the kids and the people in Shandia because They were so open to us. They were receiving of us and the students were very shocked by that. They were like, wow, like we come from New England and New England is a little bit like, I don't know, cold culture, right? So we got a little bit of a barrier up and it's just going to a warm culture and having that experience with the kids of Shandia was very much an eye-opening experience for the students to be like, Oh, they're welcoming us with open arms.

The kids are just like running towards us and they don't even know us yet. And some of them they did know, but it was just, it was such a new experience for them. So that newness, but also just the meaning that they took from the trip, which was being present and how present you are when you're in a short term experience like that. Because you're leaving your world and all of the technology, we're very present with each other and with the people of Shandia and then inviting God into that experience was also something that was really meaningful for them.

Yeah, that's amazing.

Impact on Students and Community
We had talked to a student who went and he said that he had learned all of this stuff or experienced all this stuff. So it's cool that you as a leader experience them going through this process and experience them wrestling and learning and growing and facing all of that excitement and all of that tension. So it's really cool that you got to witness that you also talked about how the students experienced a lot of new things, clearly going to a cross-cultural experience. is a lot of new. It's a lot of new things that they're introduced to. But you have gone to Ecuador consistently and

and so what was something new that you experienced about the culture on this specific trip or just something that you really appreciated about the culture that you have had a chance to visit so consistently? Yes. I think the new experience that I had was just a deeper relationship and trust level with the people.

Pastor Juan Carlos we have met and known each other for many years, even when I was living in Ecuador, and I think that the longevity of the relationship and building that solid trust really allows me as a leader to know that the partner organization and the people on the ground who are living the experience are being honest with me about what it is that they need from us or the expectations. And so I think that was something that has, is always been special to me, those relationships, but also this time was even more profound to think Oh I've known one pastor Ron Carlos for so many years. I think other new things for me were just having an Ecuadorian host.

So in the past, we have had Ecuadorian hosts but this time specifically, we had two of them. One of them also being somebody who came up through one collective in the skate ministry, La Roca, and just having that was totally new for me to see somebody who'd been converted through one of the ministries of one collective and is now leading. And it was really cool to see how those cross, those cultures could mutually. Learn from each other. And yeah, to see that growth and change in the Ecuadorian who really is now passionate about facilitating these short-term experiences. Because I think sometimes you always wonder, like what is the impact of what I'm doing and is it helping or harming and for an Ecuadorian to say, no, it's helping and I'm helping you, I want to help you do this too, was just really great.

Yeah, I'm sure that's incredibly helpful. Students come to this trip once or maybe twice. And so sometimes they might not always see those results, but for someone who comes back and builds those relationships, they're able to hear the stories and testimonies of the work you guys are doing and also the work you get to be a part of and how they incorporate with each other. I think that's super beneficial. So that's really cool that you've had that experience. And as you now have Finished yet another trip, and I'm sure there will be more in the future. I just, I'm curious, why have you chosen to continue time and time again to lead these trips with students overseas?

I think for me, it's the joy of seeing their eyes opened to a different worldview. And that happened to me at that age, and so for me to then offer that experience to others and see how. Especially the way that One Collective does the partnership so well that it is a positive transformative experience for our students. Because I see them changing, not just because of the experience one time. They come back and they say, okay, what's the fruit of this experience? And they're actually living that out. In fact, we have a chapel that we're going to be sharing about five minutes of what that experience is. We learned on ourselves, in our experience, five minutes, not very long, but the students were focused on not just what we learned, but how it apply to our Gordon community.

So that's what I really love about it is that we're taking something that they learned in Ecuador and we're bringing it back to a Gordon community and saying, okay, the meaningful thing was being present with each other and bringing and asking God to be in those moments when we are present with each other. And I think that's something that they're trying to also, this group is particularly asking Gordon students, their own community to say, Hey, can we be more present with each other? Because that's actually something that will help increase our mental, health, our physical health, our relational, emotional, spiritual health is all connected to this idea of being present and what they learn from their experience in Ecuador.

So that's what I love about it, is that it's not just a one way I've had an experience and I'm done. It's know-how, what is the fruit and how is that affecting and impacting our, students and the body and community here in the States.

Yeah, it's amazing to see those students take that initiative to see what they want to incorporate from trips and bring it back. Another student they talked about how they got really close with the people that they worked with and they want to continue to build those relationships when they come back to the States. And it's just a long-lasting impact from these trips. And I think that's super cool.

Advice for Future Trips

So as we look forward, what advice would you have for someone who is planning a future trip?

Oh, my so many things. I think one advice is to do the preparation first with your group to make sure that you know each other really so that you're not bringing in your own conflicts with your own group into an experience. That's always something that I share with groups who want to travel and have these kinds of experiences overseas is to say Hey one way that we can help and not harm is to actually be a representation of Christ within our own group. How are we loving and caring for each other? So doing that pre-work and getting to know each other and bonding as a group, putting yourself in maybe some uncomfortable positions together first before going, overseas and having that experience really is is helpful preparation. And I would say also a lot of prayer.

And that might come down, for some people it comes down to praying for their fundraising. I know my group was at the last minute. They're like, oh my goodness, how are we going to raise all this money in a week? God will do it. If he wants us to go, he will do it. And all, they are practicing their faith in their fundraising. So that's another thing that groups can do, is to practice praying and sharing what God is doing. And just allowing other people to join you in that by, by supporting. I think is really helpful. So that pre work and that I would say also recommendation is that when you come back, take that time to process and it may take, multiple weeks, not just the first three days that you're back.

It may take multiple weeks or months afterwards to continue connecting with each other and trying to be concise sharing concisely the meaningful things about your experience. So practice doing that so that when somebody asks you, how was your experience or how was your trip, you can say something that's meaningful and concise and could translate, all of this that you're feeling and the transformation that's happened in your life.

Yeah, that's super helpful a preparation has consistently come up. It is a key aspect. It's not just going into the field, but it's what you do before that has consistently come up. And one of the things I asked a student was, how do we prepare? And clearly there's that spiritual aspect of praying and seeing how that works out.

What else would you say to a student who's asking how do I prepare for a trip? How do I prepare for a cross cultural experience? How do I prepare to spend long time with people that I might not have met before? What would you, what advice would you give to how to actually prepare? I would say, yeah, one of the preparations that you could do is just trying different things in your own world.

Go out, try some new food be adventurous, try some new experiences, and just see how you react to them take notice of how these new experiences are affecting you. And that could even be a cross cultural experience of going to a different church that worships differently than you do because that could be a part of your experience. So taking that time and searching out what's a church that I could go to and have a different worship experience. What are some of the language or just, yeah, things that I could prepare for in that way that are practical learning about the culture. I know that we did a lot of looking up what is the government like? What is the food like? What are the people like? Those are practical things you can do, even on your own, you can do some Google searches and find some information, hopefully confirm with your leaders that's actually true, but yeah, those are some preparations and definitely a lot of prayer being in the word, and I think having those times of just worship and fellowship together with the group before you go, good preparation, and then another thing I would say is also prepare yourself, To think about what is sustainable for the places that you're going to serve. So a lot of times we want to think about bringing things from the states or helping them with certain resources, but we have to remember that, that they're there for, could be the rest of their life in that situation. And we want to make sure that whatever we're doing, we're thinking more sustainably.So that's one. Prep that you can do is to think about what it is that we're actually bringing and is it sustainable. What we're doing as we're interacting with the people of that country.

Yeah, those are all super helpful. I'm sure many people will benefit from that tangible tips and tangible advice for sure.

Looking Forward: Sustainable Impact

The last question I have for you is, what are you, as you think about the future, what are you looking forward to in future cross-cultural ministry? I'm actually really looking forward to, I think maybe that last part of what I said, of how can we be sustainably impacting the places where we're going.

So one example of this is I know that we did a dental treatment for the kids in Shandia. And it was something where we're like, Oh, could we actually do this every six months, do like a fluoride treatment. But then one of the issues was also just in the health of their teeth, like actually brushing their teeth. And having toothbrushes and toothpaste and the group was like, Oh maybe we could bring down toothbrushes for them. And I was like, Great, that's a great idea. But why don't we also ask them what are ways that we can help them to be sustainable in their the health of their dental health? Because it's possible that they have a solution to this that's much more accessible than what we're trying to solve. So I think for me it, it excites me that my students are actually thinking about that afterward too, to say like how can we be sustainable and not just what's the next group that can bring down something that they can use, but what are things that the community would want and how can we help and facilitate that.So that's what excites me about these, is to come back and maybe see that some idea or some question that we asked about sustainability and dental health or something like that could be implemented.

Yeah, for sure. We've seen that these trips have a long-lasting impact and there's longevity in relationships in the work.And it's cool to see how God really draws that out and makes this. this trip much longer than the time that you're actually in the field. It's a whole, it's a whole process and it's always building the kingdom.

Conclusion and Farewell

Those are all amazing answers. I'm really grateful. And I loved, hearing your story. Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your story. It was all a great testament to the work that you've done, the work you've been involved in, and also how God has worked through these trips and through you. And so thank you again for joining us, and I hope you have a great rest of your day. Bye! Bye!

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