The week that changed my life

If any of you have ever gone on a missions trip you know it's an amazing experience. Obviously, I knew I was in for a good trip because even thought I felt completely unprepared I just had a feeling that the best trips come out of me going in blind, and being completely open for Whatever God chose to do in and through me. That being said, as I was expecting a good trip, I could never have imagined how amazing, life changing and eye opening this trip would really be. Jamaica is unlike any place I have been in before, and it saddens me that most Americans will never see this side of Jamaica. Trash filled streets, shacks made of scrap metal, the smell of weed coming from almost every house.... It's really just heart breaking. The first day we were here I got to walk the streets of down town Kingston, which is the most dangerous part of the area.  My heart was breaking for the cycle of poverty found here, and I wanted to be a light in any way I could. As we were walking we came to a house that had a few teenage girls sitting out front blaring the radio and singing along at the top of their lungs. Beside them was a little girl dancing her heart out. If you know anything about me you know I love to dance and so I took the opportunity I saw God allow me to walk into, and I went over to the little girl. I asked her if she liked to dance and she said yes. I told her that I did too and so we began to just dance around together in the streets of this broken down little town. The smile and joy on her face as we danced around like no one was watching was just amazing to see. I got to dance with her for a good while and invite her to the VBS that we were having later that day as well. That is just one of the amazing experiences that I have had this week. We went to an orphan home yesterday and my heart broke yet again. For a few years now I've been saying that I plan to adopt a little girl from Thailand and now I may add one from Jamaica to that list. God really tugged on my heart about adoption even more than he has been during this trip, and while that terrifies me, I have decided that if he is calling me to it then he will provide for me mentally, spiritually and financially to enable me to follow that calling when the time is right. 

Children were a big part of this trip but God also taught me a lot about myself and my relationship with him during the week too. I thought I was here for the children and yet some how God used them to teach me so so much. 

I can say with confidence that while I came on this trip afraid of how I would sustain a strong faith during college, I am leaving this trip 100% positive that not only am I closer to God than I have been in a long time, but I know for a fact I will only grow closer to him during college as well. 

So many stories I could share (we are currently crammed into a van driving to the beach for a fun day) but I've written enough, find me when I get home if you want to hear more. 

Hello to my parental units and my brother. Can't wait to tell y'all about this trip! Love you 

Madeline Elizabeth Shover - more commonly known as Madz :)