Discovering Deeper Purpose: Noah Swanson’s Journey
Episode 3 | 13 Minutes | Jul 18, 2024
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.
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.
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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.
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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.