Journey of Faith: Austin's Transformation in Nicaragua
Episode 4 | 10 Minutes | Jul 20, 2024
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.
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
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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.
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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.