Reflections from Summer Missionaries
Discovering God's Future
by Krystal Eakes
Community Ministries Team
I just first want to say what an absolute pleasure it has been to serve with LowCountry Ministries. Every aspect of the summer has encouraged me and made me stronger!! One of the memories that I will never forget is one that changed me forever!! While helping at the Hardeeville First Baptist VBS, I met a five-year-old who will forever be in my heart. His name is Charles. Charles is a typical five-year-old boy. But this five-year-old has changed me and what I thought God had in store for me in the future.
I remember seeing him walk in the sanctuary and thinking how cute he was. That night Charles told me that he watched a movie that no child should watch, about the devil and that the devil was bad!! Later that evening, I saw him sucking his thumb and I remember thinking he is still a baby and yet he is being exposed to things that no one should ever be exposed to. At that moment, my heart was his. We both began building trust with each other and not too long after he had my heart even more and I finally had his.
The last night was hard. I didn’t want to tell him goodbye. My mom was worried because she didn’t want me to be hurt, but I found comfort and peace in the fact that I loved this little boy with every ounce of my being. And realized that being able to love with all you have is only possible with Christ!!!
At some point during the week, Larry pulled me into the kitchen and asked me about my future. I always thought when I graduated I would be in a classroom. After the questions, I realized that God may be calling me into a life of working with “at-risk” children. I am excited to see where He leads me. And I am very thankful that He used Charles to get me there!!
Following Jesus to the Beach
by Deidre Wilson
Resort Ministry Team
One personal experience I’ve had this summer was on the beach, with my team, talking to a lifeguard named Justin. God put him on my heart this summer.
Justin is from England and this is his first time in to the U.S. He just so happens to be a lifeguard at Hilton Head Island. When I first talked with him, I knew right away God put him here for a very good reason. Justin is so lost in this world. His beliefs are so messed up. He is a very fun guy, loves to talk and tell stories, but knows very little about Jesus Christ.
My team and I talked to him about why we were here this summer and tried to answer anything he wanted to know about Christianity. I could really tell that God was tugging on his heart. There was another lifeguard named Jen, who had already begun to talk to Justin for hours about Christianity. A seed has already been planted in his life.
I am so thankful that God put me here as well as the others to come in contact with Justin. He has not accepted Christ yet, but I pray that he continues to talk about things and that he has people like Jen continue to come into his life.
Deidre Wilson
Resort Ministry Team - 2008
Discovering Salvation's Joy
by Rebekah Shearin
Community Ministries Team
I came here this summer needing to find the joy of my salvation again. I needed to experience God in a different way and in a new environment. And that's exactly what has happened. I've met so many people who have encouraged me greatly in my faith and who have challenged me to dig deeper. God means so much more to me than He ever did before, and there's no way that I can repay Him for everything that He has done for me.
I'm a different person than I was at the beginning of the summer. It's a good change. I've learned how to face some hard issues with courage that I've never had before. I'm not afraid to speak up about what is important to me. The only explanation for this change is that I had an encounter with God this summer. And I'm so glad about it.
