On the Mountainside

Hey Friends & Family,

Hope you all enjoy these testimonies from one of the many missions trips this summer. On this trip, about 14 middle school students and 3 high school students stayed on the mountainside of Black Mountain, North Carolina, just outside of Asheville. 

The students had opportunities to work with children at a day camp as well as work on numerous landscaping projects for a nearby orphanage. These projects created deep bonds between the students and their newly hired youth pastor, Justin. 

Justin had been hired by his Church only 2 weeks before this mission trip, and I vividly remember him telling me that this one week mission trip created the same amount of spiritual fruit that we would expect from a whole summer of programmed youth ministry.

Personally, I found this trip to be the one of the most encouraging trips from the whole summer. On this trip, 4 different students prayed for Jesus to be their personal Lord and Savior. I was blown away by the way these students were hungry and thirsty for more of Jesus.

One student, Joshua, talked about how he felt like he really learned how to connect with God and that he felt the Holy Spirit surrounding him. And it was so evident that that was true for him. For such a small and timid boy, Joshua prayed as loudly and boldly as any student I have ever heard. I am so eager to see how God will specifically uses his life as he grows and matures into a man of God. 

I am so grateful for all your support this summer. There is no doubt in my mind that God will use these testimonies to continue bringing more and more students into deeper intimacy with Him. I am so excited and privileged to play a small role in God’s big Kingdom work. None of this could be possible without all of you. 

Grace & Peace,

Ben H.