Embracing the Unknown: A Year of Spiritual Growth and Global Adventures w/ Sydney Derosier

What if the journey of a lifetime began with a single, unexpected suggestion at church? In this episode, hosts Leah and Nate sit down with Sydney to explore how a chance conversation led her to join the Global Year program, a path that completely reshaped her faith and understanding of the world.

Listen as Sydney recounts her mission trip revelation in Michigan, the courageous decision to spend nine months in Italy, and the challenges she faced while navigating societal expectations, college paths, and even leaving behind beloved pets. Despite these obstacles, moments of surrender, prophetic conversations, and the support of family guided Sydney into a life-altering spiritual journey.

Leah and Nate also reflect on their own Global Year experiences and the beauty of adapting, engaging, and growing within diverse communities in Italy, Honduras, and Belize. Together, they explore the humorous moments, the emotional highs and lows, and the profound growth that comes from living in the present and embracing the unknown. Join us for a conversation on the transformative power of dedicating a year to spiritual growth and discover how saying "yes" to God's call can change your life.

Resources Mentioned:

• Global Year application link: https://www.globalyear.org/applynow
• Follow us on social media:
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/global.year/
  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlobalYear/

Key Topics:

• Sydney’s journey from a mission trip in Michigan to nine months in Italy
• Navigating faith, societal pressures, and personal challenges
• Spiritual growth in diverse cultural settings
• Lessons learned from stepping into the unknown

Chapters

• 0:00 Global Year Experiences and Influences
• 7:03 Journey to Global Year Decision
• 17:53 Deciding on Global Year Preparation
• 21:56 Surrendering to God's Call
• 33:16 Living in the Present - Raising Support
• 46:13 Preparing for Global Year Journey
• 50:14 Baptism, Training, Flight, and Honduras
• 56:13 Adapting to Challenging Conditions Abroad
• 1:06:48 Year of Dependence on God
• 1:16:00 Impact of Saying Yes to God
• 1:25:12 Navigating Challenges in Belize
• 1:29:49 Life-Changing Experiences in Honduras and Guatemala

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hey guys, welcome to the Bridge the Gap podcast, where we connect faith and life on a global scale, offering real conversations about living authentically and purposefully in today's interconnected world. Join us as we explore practical ways to follow Jesus and bridge the gap between the sacred and the everyday across cultures and continents.

Speaker 2: 0:23

Do you want us to introduce ourselves? Yes, so we're here with Sydney.

Speaker 1: 0:25

Introduce yourself every day across cultures and continents. Do you want us to introduce ourselves?

Speaker 2: 0:29

Yes, so we're here with Sydney. Introduce yourself, hey. So I'm Sydney and I did a global year in 2022 to Honduras and I went as an intern in 2023 to Guatemala Sweet.

Speaker 4: 0:43

Okay, who are you? Okay, who are you? I'm Leah, and I did my student year also in 2022, but I went to Italy and then I was an intern in 2023 in Southeast Asia.

Speaker 1: 0:59

Sweet, I'm Nate. I did a gap year in 1972, a gap year in 1972 and, um, I never interned. No, I don't even know. Uh, when was it 2011? I was gonna say, you weren't even born.

Speaker 4: 1:20

I'm kidding, yeah, it was 2012 to south africa.

Speaker 1: 1:22

Um, yeah, it was great, so let's start with you okay could you just give us like, um, a little bit first of your, like, your background, just give us like an overview of like where you come from, who you are yeah so, and then we'll get into kind of why you chose to do a gap year in the first place.

Speaker 2: 1:44

Okay. So I mean I grew up in a Christian home, always like knowing the Lord and stuff, and my dad was actually a pastor, so like I was always just surrounded by the church and always going to church and stuff like that. And when I was in first grade I accepted the Lord as my Savior and I wanted Him to be my life. Obviously I was young, so like it was to the best of a first graders understanding that that could be and then moving forward. I we moved around a lot as a kid so through all of that then I later on just was really praying through some things and just realized that like I need to get baptized and so kind of went through that journey of just realizing like the Lord is like the first priority in my life and so really just like learning how to die to myself in some areas and surrender those things to the Lord um, really became a journey through like high school probably. Um, and yeah, I mean that's how like I really like came to know the Lord for myself.

Speaker 1: 2:45

Um, and then yeah, I've known you for a long time.

Speaker 2: 2:50

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 2:51

When did we meet? When did we meet?

Speaker 2: 2:53

Um, probably like officially like my freshman year of high school. Crazy yeah. So like six or seven years ago, and you were like 13 or 14.

Speaker 1: 3:04

You were like preaching when you were like a freshman.

Speaker 2: 3:09

It felt like it. It felt like it. I did go on stage a couple of times.

Speaker 4: 3:13

Yeah, that's awesome, I did not know that.

Speaker 1: 3:16

Oh, dude, when we were at Thrive Chapel you did like the thing on Sunday we had like a next generation service.

Speaker 2: 3:26

So like me and a couple other students, and then um and like the student thing. I know a couple of times.

Speaker 1: 3:34

Yeah, I remember thinking even back then, like just how, like, how dedicated you were to the Lord, like or that's, that's how you, that's how you came off, like yeah, Like you were super yeah, like dedicated to the Lord at your age and just mature beyond your years.

Speaker 2: 3:57

Yeah, I think for me, like growing up, I always just like watched other people and, and so then I was like, wow, I think I really just realized, through moving so many times and making different friends and just being in different environments being in the church environment, being in the public school environment I just realized all of those things can change in a split second. All of those things can go away. Everything could be falling apart in every area of your life and I think I just realized, like the Lord is the only foundation, like that stays the same, um, and I think that like I realized that early on.

Speaker 2: 4:36

Yeah and I think that just by like watching other people and realizing what's truly important is really like what set that foundation for me, because I don't know like who was your biggest influence? My biggest influence like in that.

Speaker 2: 4:52

I think the thing that really changed my faith was I went on a mission trip in Michigan and we live in the Bible Belt here in the south and everybody goes to church, everybody goes and does the youth group, everybody goes and does the Wednesday night church, and so I grew up just in those rhythms and patterns and that was great. I learned a lot, I gained a lot of knowledge. But when I went to Michigan as a summer after eighth grade, that's when I realized okay, this isn't just about going to church, this isn't just about reading my Bible and learning who God is Like. This is a true relationship, because I saw something outside of the Bible Belt and I saw something that was more raw and real. I saw people who wanted to go to church, not because their friends were going, not because it was a thing to do but, because they wanted to go, they wanted to grow their relationship with Jesus, and that's when it clicked for me.

Speaker 2: 5:49

That's when I was like wow, like there's so much more to this than I even realized. So I don't know that it was like one person, but I think it was going and being in that environment and seeing so many people that actually desired relationship. Yeah, and.

Speaker 2: 6:05

I was like I want that and like that's when I got baptized, that's when I like really felt, like I really like completely turned my heart, not that like I didn't know the Lord and believe in the Lord before, but like that's when, like the realization of relationship hit for me.

Speaker 1: 6:21

So that's awesome hit for me, so that's awesome. So I guess, when, when was it that you decided? Or how did you hear about global year and when was it that you decided?

Speaker 2: 6:35

to yeah. So I actually heard from your brother Isaac. Oh, the first time my freshman year he like spoke at he spoke at one of the youth groups.

Speaker 2: 6:43

Yeah, and that was the first time I had ever heard anything about global year and I like never really thought anything of it. I was like no, that's not really like my lane, like I can't ever really see myself being like a missionary, that's for like super christians. Like I was like that's not me, and so I never really thought about it again. But then the summer before my senior year of high school, your dad came up to me at church and I didn't even know your dad but he was like hey, I know your dad and I was like, hey, nice to meet you.

Speaker 2: 7:17

And he was like I think that you would be a great candidate for global year. You should come on a global year and go on to another country with me.

Speaker 2: 7:25

And I was like, okay, Well right after that I got in the car I was like guess who came up to me, to my parents, and I was like I would never do that before college, like can't imagine that. So I mean, that's how, like the first initial, like hearing about global year and like the introduction and like hey, you should go home. When came about cool.

Speaker 1: 7:48

But when did you hear, like how did you hear about global um?

Speaker 4: 7:53

my dad is friends with josh okay um and has been for the past few years, I guess. I don't know, but they were in um some group together um like a small business networking group oh, yeah, bni.

Speaker 1: 8:10

Yes, okay that group and um.

Speaker 4: 8:13

So your dad, um, johnny, was at one of the meetings to talk about global year and it he was talking about um, italy, because they needed one more female um to go on the trip.

Speaker 4: 8:33

And my dad it's funny because when I graduated from college in 2021, one of the things that my dad said was like now you, like, your doors are open, you can do whatever you want. He was like you can. He listed off a few things and he was like or you could be a missionary. And I'm like how many? And I was like how many dads would tell their daughters, oh, you can just go live overseas. Like I feel like no dads want their daughters to go overseas. And I was like that's weird, I would never do that.

Speaker 4: 9:04

But then at that meeting, johnny was was talking about the italy trip and my dad said that he just felt like the a pull from the holy spirit, like I need to go and talk to him about that for leah, yeah. And so he went and talked to josh and johnny about it, um, and he called me and he was like how would you like to go live in Italy for nine months? And I'm like what? Why would I want to go live in Italy for nine months and at the time I was about to turn 23. And in my head I was like, okay, I'm 23. Like I should be focusing on my career, like saving money to move out, like you know all the steps getting married when you're a young adult. And so I was like that would put me behind of what I thought in my head I should be doing. And my dad was like, well, maybe you should at least meet up with Josh and Candice and talk to them about it, and then you can decide if you want to do or not.

Speaker 4: 10:10

And so I met up with Josh and Candice and if anybody knows Josh and they know that he's very good at talking to people about the if anybody can convince you, it's josh lambert and so, um, we talked about it and that was the first time I met candace and she shared a little bit of her testimony and, um, they talked to me a little bit about italy and just like what a global year would look like. And I was still like I don't really know. And I told Josh everything. I was thinking like, well, this is what I want to be doing. And he was like, well, actually, those are all the best reasons why you should go. He was like you have no commitment here, so why wouldn't you go on a global year? And I was like, wait, maybe he's right.

Speaker 4: 11:04

And so then it was like a few days later and I was like you know, like why not do this? Because this is the only time I will have an opportunity, like to leave for nine months and like solely purpose or solely focus on the lord, um, and so, yeah, that's how I found out about global year. Um, and decided to do a global year. It's always crazy to me this is kind of getting off topic, but it's crazy to me, like people who say they found global year like looking it up online. Yeah, because I would never think to look up something like this online. Oh, gap year missions program.

Speaker 2: 11:48

Like young adult, like I would never tell some people find it yeah just crazy yeah, I mean it's like I think it's when global year started.

Speaker 1: 12:01

It was not that popular of a thing like gap years weren't uh, I mean they were a thing, but it definitely wasn't like in the last 10 years.

Speaker 2: 12:16

It's like blown up the society has like flipped because it used to be. You have to go to college it's changed a little bit the culture of it now yeah, it's still like there's still tension in there in a sense, yeah, like with parents and there's still kind of that expectation.

Speaker 1: 12:30

But it's just like the I think, the need, like maybe people realize the, the need for it and uh what, what my dad's heart was when he started? It was like the bridge in the gap, essentially right. Of, like all these kids going to college and leaving church and you know not, I mean a lot of them leaving their faith altogether.

Speaker 1: 13:01

So it's like I think, over the last 10 years, people 10 years people have realized like, oh yeah, this is like actually a thing yeah so if you I say all that to say like when you search gap year programs, like there's a lot yeah, there is pages yeah, like it used to be like you search. It'd be like global year you.

Speaker 4: 13:22

And then now we weren't the only one, but there's like hundreds, and hundreds, yeah, so and some people just go in a gap year, like they just make their own gap year. Because when I went to Ireland, there was this girl that I met while I was there and she was on a gap year, but she was just traveling by herself, not with an organization or anything.

Speaker 1: 13:44

Yeah, I mean I think a gap year, but she was just traveling by herself, not with an organization or anything. Yeah, I mean I think that, like, the whole idea of it is this it's kind of an ancient practice right, like taking, taking off into the wilderness, discovering yourself.

Speaker 1: 13:54

You know, it's something that I think people have been doing for a long time, um, and it's just something that we've taken and gone like, hey, I think this would be really helpful in our culture culture because it's we live in, such a busy, hyperactive culture, which is what both of you said of like I can't imagine myself. You said, like I could, I would never do that before I go to college. And you're like why would I do that? You know, like it's this idea that, like, people are not thinking. Like why would I do that? You know, like it's this idea that, like, people are not thinking, the first thought like out of high school is not like, oh yeah, I should take a year off, you know, yeah.

Speaker 2: 14:31

I think that growing up in any school, in this culture, like it's so, like that's usually the path that most people go yeah and so like. For me, I never saw any other path yeah and even when it was mentioned to me, I I was like, well, why, like, why wouldn't I go to college first and do something like that later?

Speaker 4: 14:50

Which is why I did yeah, something I've been thinking about is like which I heard.

Speaker 1: 14:58

I was actually listening to another podcast.

Speaker 4: 15:01

This one Talking about a podcast on a podcast.

Speaker 1: 15:04

He said and just I think it applies to what we're talking about but he said like when he was turning his life around, he was like like his intention was to be counter-cultural because he wanted to be extremely disciplined. So like where he lived it was like beach town, so it was like flip-flops and t-shirts and he like intentionally wore like nice pants and tucked his shirt in.

Speaker 1: 15:30

And I think a lot of people just live with like, just flow with the culture and to be counter-cultural feels like a little scary, yeah, but when you look at the the like you kind of step back and look at the the you know I can't picture yeah yeah, the big picture like the you get the, the full view of culture and where it really leads people, like even just, and I'm going to college can be really good for some people it's like even just that being the norm you know, is like when you really step back and look at it, you're like what is that really?

Speaker 1: 16:15

what is that really doing for people on a deep soul level?

Speaker 4: 16:19

yeah, I will say, because I did college right after high school. Yeah.

Speaker 4: 16:26

And I have thought about this before because you know, most global year students are right out of high school and there's so much that I went through like in my personal life while I was in college and I feel like it was all in the Lord's timing of when I did my global year. So I don't think when I graduated high school I would have been ready for something like that, but when I did go on a global year it gave me like the time to process and work through so many things that happened while I was in college that if I would have just went straight into working in my career, that those things would have just kept following me and never been like processed or worked through.

Speaker 1: 17:10

Yeah, I think it works both ways right. Yeah, because it's like even just high school like.

Speaker 4: 17:14

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 17:20

It can give you the time to process what just happened the last four years or eight years, you know whatever and for some people it could be like I think it works at any point. Yeah, like post-college in in the middle of doing college or before, because really what you're doing is just giving god a year right of stillness um to to move into work in your life. It can be preparation for college or it can be, in your case, like post yeah processing you know what just happened and and going forward into the rest of your life.

Speaker 1: 17:49

So it's like either way, um. So I guess, in light of that, like choosing Global Year, um, what was that process like for you? What was that process like for you deciding you were going to do it, but also like preparing for it.

Speaker 1: 18:10

Okay, because we get a lot of questions this is like a specific thing we don't have to tell them right now, but we'll get to. We get a ton of concern and questions about how much it costs, and this comes up like all the time, like how am I going to pay for that? Or, and you know, obviously everybody's circumstances financially are different, right? So for some people, like you know, twelve to fifteen thousand dollars is like there's no way I could ever do that um, so we'll get to that.

Speaker 1: 18:40

but first, just like, even emotionally, like how did you prepare? How did you first like what was that process? Because you kind of got to like hearing about it, thinking about it, but how did you actually decide that you wanted to do that?

Speaker 2: 18:56

Yeah, so I. So I heard about it from your dad summer before senior year and I said I'd never do that and I went about my time. I went to school, I applied to all the colleges I could and I was just like, okay, now I've gotten into the colleges that I want to go to, I just have to decide where I want to go. And I was hyper-stressed, I was like nothing's right.

Speaker 2: 19:23

I can't go there. It's too expensive, it doesn't make sense to go there. I can't something about that school. Just, I go walk around the campus and I am not in peace. Like I was like what the heck is happening? I'm like is it? Am I choosing the wrong major? Like what is going on? And so then, like Christmas break comes around and I'm like, ok, I have to like just stop. Like I just have to let go of everything college for this break. I was like I just need to literally like set it aside and not worry about it the whole time that I'm on Christmas break with my family and I just needed to like just be, like I was trying so hard to make these decisions and do these things. It's like I just need to be.

Speaker 2: 20:05

And one day I was. I don't remember if I was in my quiet time or if I was, I don't know where I was, but I just remember for some reason, global year came in my mind and I was like this is weird. And I was like whatever kind of threw it out the back window, like not really thinking about it, and then it just kept coming back to my mind and I was like what the heck is happening. And so then I'm like, okay, you know, I'm gonna call my best friend, like she's so for college. She's gonna tell me, no, sydney, you need to go to college. And so I call her and I'm like, hey, I had this random like thought and I just can't get it to go away. She's like Sydney, I actually think that'd be amazing for you right now and I was like shout out and I was like you're not supposed to tell me that.

Speaker 2: 20:43

You're supposed to tell me like, no, sydney, just go to college, like you're crazy. And I was like okay, I was like maybe I'll think about it some more. And then I like mentioned it to my mom and my mom was like, yes, sydney, like that would be so amazing, I could totally see you doing that.

Speaker 1: 20:59

And I was like, okay, you're like when is someone going to tell me no?

Speaker 2: 21:04

Yeah, well, then the next day I went to church and it was just like me and my dad we went grocery shopping after church and I mentioned it to my dad and he's like I don't know, sydney, like I don't like, are you sure you're not just deciding that because you're stressed about college? Like what's the thought behind this? And I was like I don't know. I said I just something about it. Just, it keeps coming back to me. He's like all right, he's like I'm not telling you. No, you need to do what the Lord says to do. He's like, but I don't want you to just choose it out of stress. In the midst of it, my parents like hey, you know that college that we said was kind of too expensive. They're like if you want to go there, you can go there, and it was like my dream school.

Speaker 2: 21:44

I was like okay. And then that moment I'm like, what do I do? And I was like, okay, well, I need to like take a few days to like, just like really think about it and pray about it. And that night I was going to the passion conference and I like so many of my plans had fallen through for me to go. But I was like like no, I just like I need to go. Like, and I literally like my brother went with me or dropped me off and like I ended up sitting with some random group of people from Michigan, from the mission trip. I went on, yeah, and it was just like such a blessing that I was there, because the whole theme of that entire weekend was send me. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 22:26

And I was like, like that night, after I had the conversation, my parents and I was like what the heck?

Speaker 1: 22:28

that was like the theme of passion a passion, no way.

Speaker 2: 22:31

And I was like, okay, this is crazy. And then the last night, the next day, the last night of passion, they give us this card and it says, or they tell us, they say, hey, everybody, write down what you're going to do for the next year of your life on this card. And I was like, ok, lord, I get it, that's amazing.

Speaker 2: 22:49

And in that moment I just like broke down in tears because I was like I know where I'm supposed to be, I know why nothing about college is working out. And that's when I was like, ok, I surrender. And of course there were like. After that I was, was like I was fearful to like tell people like no, I'm actually not going to college and this and that. But I was just like so confident, but that's what the Lord said, like he had just given me sign after sign after sign, confirming, confirming, confirming that I was like okay, I have to like let go and like, whether people support me or not, like I have the Lord fighting for me, so yeah, that's awesome, that's like yeah, I thought that's like so clear yeah, god literally like here you go, this is what you're gonna do yeah, I feel like most global your students.

Speaker 2: 23:39

When you talk to them about their like story of how they ended up doing a global year, everybody's first response to hearing what global year is no, no, because it's so like out of the ordinary, yeah, and like a lot of people, um, don't think that like going and doing that is logical right after high school.

Speaker 1: 24:01

So like I mean, like literally, I grew up, like you know, with it.

Speaker 1: 24:07

Like it was a kind of like like even before my dad started global year, he was with another gap year program that he worked with, and then, but even back to since I was a kid, it was kind of like the vision of like sending students to the nations, and even growing up in it there was still hesitation. It's like just because there's fear and the unknown, and like well, you know all that, so I even rest. I mean, you know, like I think there was a part of me growing up that felt like that was the expectation to do it, but I wrestled with it. I was like I don't want to. You know, like I think there was a part of me growing up that felt like that was the expectation to do it.

Speaker 1: 24:45

But I wrestled with it. I was like I don't want to. You know, I don't know, but it was like similar, like I remember I was leading worship and it was like God gave me clear vision. You know, just like, because I was like in the middle of wrestling with it, and I remember leaving the church that Sunday like I'm going to South Africa, like it was like no question, you know, it's just like I remember leading worship almost like having.

Speaker 1: 25:12

It was almost like a physical vision on the back wall of the church, like, while you know, like, yeah, like God being like go.

Speaker 3: 25:14

You know I was like okay, you know, that's what it felt like it was like so clear, you know.

Speaker 1: 25:19

So was your experience like that?

Speaker 4: 25:21

I feel like was it like more mine, um, I think when I definitely knew that the lord wanted me to do a global year, um was when I was talking to my grandma about it and she started telling me about how, like a few months ago, she was talking to my dad about I guess they were just like talking about like me, I don't know how it got brought up.

Speaker 4: 25:56

They started talking about how they thought I was going to do missions. And this was separate from when I had graduated college and my dad told me that I should be a missionary. From when I had graduated college, and my dad told me that I should be a missionary, and my grandma was like, yeah, I have always thought that that was what you were going to do. And I was like this is two separate times. Like people have told me, without me even saying anything, that, oh, I think that you should do this. And so I was like, oh, like okay, like maybe this is what the lord wants me to do, um, and so I was like okay, I'm just gonna do it and it was a hard.

Speaker 4: 26:35

It was like an easy decision, but also a hard decision because, like you know, committing to a global year, there's a lot of like sacrifice, um that is involved with it, and I had just gotten a puppy you're like no, don't leave the puppy yeah, but then I was like, no, like I. This is what I need to do, and it's like, not a.

Speaker 1: 27:00

That's not like what I expected you to say, oh. I just got a puppy. That's awesome. I mean, dogs are big commitments.

Speaker 4: 27:11

But yeah, I was like I just made a commitment to taking care of this dog and now I'm leaving it. Poor puppy, yeah, it's okay.

Speaker 1: 27:22

He is still with me every day now. This is a great lesson, right?

Speaker 4: 27:26

Your puppies will still be there when you get back, yeah, but I think it was good because it was like something that I had to sacrifice, like whether I was going to have to, I could find somebody to watch him, or if I was just gonna have to give him up altogether. But it's like having um, like having to make that sacrifice to do what the Lord is calling you to do because like a puppy is not that big of a deal compared to what the Lord wants you to do.

Speaker 1: 27:58

Yeah, yeah, I mean puppies are important, but yeah, yeah, I mean obviously not everybody's experience is going to be the same but, I feel like it is often that like um god makes it clear, you know when it's like he want. He wants us to do something like um, I don't know if y'all know mike donahue. Don't know mike donahue. He wrote a book called finding god's finding god's life for my will I don't think so some.

Speaker 1: 28:34

The name sounds familiar okay, anyway, he talks about like god's will for our life and it's like a commonly posed question, especially obviously in christian circles. It's like what's god's will for my life? You know, but he talks about the difference between like god's will for our life and god's call on our life.

Speaker 1: 28:53

Um, because, like our calling or the things that we do like doing, taking a gap year, um, often those things change, right, like our calling is not always the same like um, but god's will for our life is something that remains steadfast, you know, and we can see that like throughout, like first thessalonians 5, which is like rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of will for your life. It just what we're talking about reminds me of that, like when you're deciding, like is this right for me or is it not? Yes. Often it's like does it serve? Like, am I able to do the will of God inside of this thing?

Speaker 2: 29:41

Right, this last year in Guatemala we talked a lot about that, because every year on a gap year, everybody hits point of oh, what's next?

Speaker 4: 29:48

because, okay, now we've gotten through a gap year and there's gotta like and you get that question like a gajillion times oh, what are you gonna do after your gap year?

Speaker 2: 29:56

I'm like I don't know. And so we hit a point where, like everybody was talking about it and, um, I remember like somebody saying and we even have like a little way to draw it with some verses, I but I don't have it with me, but it's asking, like we always ask, what is god's will for my life? But, instead, why don't we ask what is god's will and how do I fit in it? Yeah, because we always make it about ourselves.

Speaker 3: 30:20

What is god's will for my life no, what is his will yeah?

Speaker 2: 30:24

and where do I fit into? It and so like we just like. To me that's so comforting yeah because it doesn't become about me, it becomes more about the lord and it becomes more focused of okay, well, he's called all of us to be disciples and he's called all of us to go make disciples. Okay. Well, what is my strength? What is what is the lord given me to be able to do that? Well and like so how do I fit into his will?

Speaker 2: 30:46

yeah and so I don't know, I just always liked how simply put, that is that's from the spirit walk yeah, I think it's in spirit walk and then, uh, we also do a training with nlgm that they do like a whole like diagram with some verses and scriptures that help you, like, really visualize it yeah.

Speaker 1: 31:04

So yeah, it's like got like the our call in our life is where, like the thing that we um like being figuring that out and what that is is like the thing that we love to do, and how do we use that to serve other people right, you know, and if like you can find that sweet spot, like because people talk about what about, like you said, what am I going to do next?

Speaker 1: 31:28

and all this, that doesn't really matter as much, as am I living life in the kingdom of God to the fullness of God, serving God in what I'm doing. Because you can work at McDonald's, which can be a great job, nothing against that job. I'm saying you can do that and do it to the, to the glory of god, rejoicing, praying over people and giving thanks and those and I mean that's just one aspect right um of god's will, but that's really sums it up it's like how do we?

Speaker 1: 32:04

we can. So people like wrestle over what am I going to do, and I that's fine. But sometimes I'm just like do the thing that you want to do and serve the will of God, and you're in that because, what you said is important, like it's God's will. How do we you know?

Speaker 4: 32:20

yeah, just well, I also think like it's important to like be present, because that's something that I struggled with, is like being present in where the lord has me, like in that moment, because I feel like if I think too much about the next thing, then I'll like continue to like focus on that and I'm I just missed out on all of this stuff because I was there but not actually there and the biggest question that I feel like people ask me all the time now is oh, what country are you going to next? Where are you?

Speaker 4: 32:55

going to next and I'm like, well, the Lord hasn't called me anywhere. I'm not like just going to go to a country, and so I'm like he has me right here, and so I don't know if that means that I'm going to stay here in America and do what he has for me here, or if he will call me back overseas at some point.

Speaker 2: 33:16

It's crazy. You say that because literally somebody came to me earlier today and was like hey, I just want to share with you something that the Lord's really teaching right now. And was like, hey, I just want to share with you something that the Lord's really teaching right now. And he was like the Lord's really telling me that like we can look forward to heaven all day long, but if we're not present here in this moment with what the Lord's calling us to do, then we're missing out on the present. And he was telling me like just the same thing you were saying and I'm like okay, Lord, that's so important.

Speaker 1: 33:43

It is what you are saying, because even one of my heroes, dallas Willard, he talks about the objective of the church has been teaching people. It sounds grim, but teaching people how to die and go to heaven. And the objective, the objective of Christ was to teach peach, to teach people how to get heaven into them. So not teaching how do we go to heaven, but how do we get heaven into us. That was like that's what Jesus did. He brought heaven to earth right. So it's like it's.

Speaker 1: 34:23

There is something, there's hope in what we look forward to but what you said, being present in the moment, and not missing heaven now. Like the experience that God has given us like why did he give us life here if it was just to look forward to dying? Right. You know it's like the life of Christ is just as important as the death of Christ. Right, you know it's like the life of Christ is just as important as the death of Christ. Right and.

Speaker 1: 34:45

I think we're to like learn from that and go like how do we live in heaven now? And I think when we do that, it actually creates more anticipation of heaven later.

Speaker 2: 34:56

Yeah, exactly Because we learn how to live in heaven. Yeah, and I think that's what he was saying to me earlier and I was just like that's so good, like heaven's a great thing and it's a great thing to hope for, it's a great thing to look forward to.

Speaker 1: 35:11

But if we get so fixated on that, we miss out on what god's doing right here in the present which he brought heaven on earth. It's like jesus literally came here and created pockets of heaven inside of us like, yeah, that's just so good.

Speaker 4: 35:20

Living in the present, yeah, I feel like it is hard here sometimes, like in america, because the culture is so busy, but like when I was in southeast asia, it just seemed so much slower and like people were just worried about like in the moment and what was happening yeah like then and there yeah and it was like, and people would just make plans on the spot.

Speaker 4: 35:45

They're like, oh, I'm here, do you want to come meet me for coffee? And I'm like, oh, okay, sure. But here it's like, oh, I'm here, you want to come for coffee? And they're like, oh well, I can't do this until this day or next week and people would be like.

Speaker 1: 35:59

That's so inconsiderate of you to invite me to coffee so last minute yeah, but like or like or like.

Speaker 4: 36:05

there's no like. If I was having a conversation with somebody and they had like a commitment to go to in like five minutes, Well they would be late instead of cutting our conversation short, and I feel like I respect that so much. It's really beautiful actually. Yeah, because they are so intentional with like relationships.

Speaker 1: 36:33

And what's in front of you?

Speaker 4: 36:34

Yeah, and that they're like so present, yeah, with what's in front of them and that person yeah that is in front of them, instead of like oh well, actually I have to go because I'm going to be late to this the next. Thing and nobody there gets upset if you are late, even if you're like 30 minutes or an hour late because they know whatever you were doing before was probably like an important thing for you to continue doing. But I feel like here. It's not like that at all, it's the same way in Central America, though Just very slow paced.

Speaker 1: 37:05

Yeah, well, so you know Beta's Mexican and her mom is full Mexican. But it's like, if you throw a party like we had a baby shower one time that her mom threw and scheduled it for like I don't remember, let's just say one o'clock. You know people like actually showed up at like four o'clock that's just like how that's the culture.

Speaker 2: 37:30

This is like how they, how they function I feel like there's maybe a balance in there.

Speaker 1: 37:34

There's probably a middle, a middle ground somewhere I I think that the cool thing, what you said, is just like the just being present in the moment where you're at.

Speaker 2: 37:44

In our, our culture, we kind of value the next thing more than we value and we're just so committed like we're like, okay, gotta move, gotta keep going our schedules, we we overschedule everything.

Speaker 1: 37:56

And so it kind of stretches us then to where we can't be present in the moment.

Speaker 4: 38:02

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 38:05

Anyway, that was a really beautiful sidetrack thing we just did there. Back to our global year experience. Our global year experience, like I want to get through kind of a little bit more of your experience, um, with your gap year, um, so I guess, getting back to the let's just hit the money thing real quick, um, yeah, what? And again, this, this experience is different for everyone yeah, for sure some people, fifteen thousand dollars may not seem like a lot of money um some. Well, I mean it's true, like it's like.

Speaker 1: 38:48

Oh, you know my dad can reach into his pocket, and here you go, like whatever yeah um, the, the, the real, the main objective even for for our students, um, even as a staff, like raising support and all that is like, even if some students can do that or their parents could pay for it, it's really about like doing the work to raise that support um, because we feel like that's a part of the journey it's like it's a, it's almost a part of the commitment process of like committing to it, being willing to put in the work to raise that support.

Speaker 1: 39:27

Some people have never done that before some people have taken short-term trips and done that or whatever um but what was that like for you?

Speaker 2: 39:35

yeah, um, I would say that when I first heard about how much money we had to raise, I was very like overwhelmed by it yeah, and I was like oh which is interesting.

Speaker 1: 39:45

Sorry side note, because when people think about going to college it's way more. I'm like it's like you spend a hundred,000 plus to go to school. True. But people get really psyched out about $15,000.

Speaker 2: 40:01

But it's like you have to raise it by a certain amount of time. Sure and it's not like you can just pull out a loan necessarily.

Speaker 1: 40:08

So I think I don't know it puts a little more pressure on you.

Speaker 2: 40:11

But yeah, I don't know. But I was very overwhelmed with the number and I remember before I like I had even like gotten my commitment or anything. I was already like making all these plans and ideas and my dad was like Sydney, you have to leave room for the Lord to work. And I was like oh crap. And I was like you're right, though. Like I was like OK, he was like you're right, though. I was like okay, he was like just take a step back. He's like I'm not saying you don't need to do those things, I'm not saying you don't need to put in that effort and that work, but allow the Lord to do what the Lord's going to do. The.

Speaker 2: 40:44

Lord is going to provide for where you're supposed to be. And.

Speaker 2: 40:48

I was like okay, and he's like so just start with making an announcement and then we'll move from there. And so, like I always encourage people when they're starting on their global year, starting on their gap program, whatever it is, I always encourage them like allow the lord to work and don't underestimate the lord's power, because that's what my dad told me and it really convicted me because, I was trying to take control of the situation and trying to control um just all the money things because it feels tangible.

Speaker 2: 41:20

It feels like something I can control. Sure. And I'm kind of a control person. That's just my personality Learning and growing, of course, course, but, um, just like releasing that, like that tangible control that you could have, yeah, yeah, and allowing the lord to work through different opportunities. So, for me personally, the lord really just like provided above and beyond and I can't say that I had to do a ton. Obviously, all glory to the lord in that.

Speaker 2: 41:54

But I know that, like I know, a lot of people who do have to work really, really hard for it, and I don't think that changes the fact that that's where the Lord wants them.

Speaker 1: 42:06

So I don't know, we, I had a, like it was coming down the stretch when I was raising support, and I remember that I had like three thousand two hundred and something dollars to go and my dad was like hey, dude, like you need a, you know get out and raise the money, like the whole thing, and I'm like dad. You know I was young, full of faith. Dad, the lord will provide it provide. It's fine, it's going to be fine, you know A little naive whatever.

Speaker 2: 42:38

Or maybe a little bit the opposite.

Speaker 1: 42:41

Yes, yeah, and sure enough. It's really cool though, because I think with the money thing is where a lot of the miracle happens, Like pre, like going on, and it's just like because you see it over and over. But for me, so like, uh, a friend of my family's had gotten like a tax refund or something and there was a message that the pastor of the church had had taught Sunday about giving or something. The Lord like specifically laid it on her heart to give this check that she had gotten to me for my trip and it was literally like to the like cent the exact amount I needed, which is just insane.

Speaker 2: 43:29

Yeah, that is crazy.

Speaker 1: 43:31

And, but it's like those types of things happen all the time. Yeah, we hear those stories all the time. Yeah, Was that like? What was that like for you?

Speaker 4: 43:40

I feel like my experience is kind of similar to Sydney, because at first I was trying to like control everything. Also, I was like I think I had to raise yeah, like $14,000 or $15,000. And I was like I don't even make this in a year in my job. How can I raise this in like a?

Speaker 4: 43:59

few months and I had signed up. Later, I committed. It was like April oh, wow and so when I went on the kindful page, people on my team were already like halfway funded and I was like, oh man, like I got a long ways to go and I was really stressing about it and I wasn't getting like any um support. Well, okay, my grandparents were very gracious and they gave me half and so I only had to raise half.

Speaker 4: 44:32

That's awesome, so it wasn't really that scary, but like in my head still was and I was like I can't even raise the rest of this half like nothing is happening. And I was at church um one sunday and, um, my pastor had went on sabbatical and so they sometimes we do like a summer series and so it's like different pastors come in, yeah, and one of the guys came in and he, um was preaching about um I think it's in mark, well, it says it multiple times in the gospels, but how like things are like impossible for us, but but possible for God.

Speaker 4: 45:16

And I think that's like when the switch flipped in my head. I was like, wait, this amount of money is completely impossible for me to raise on my own, but like for the Lord, this is easy, like this is possible for him, and so I just gave it to him. I was like, if you want me to go to Italy, like then I will go to italy, and so then that's when, which, of course, like it doesn't go without doing the work, like you can't just, I mean, some people can, I guess, just sit there and like, oh, I'll get fifteen thousand dollars, but like you

Speaker 4: 45:50

know other people do you have to put in the work, and so, yeah, after I gave it to him is when the money started to flow in, and that's what I tell people who are support raising and I'm like you just have to give it to the Lord and know that if he wants you to go, like you'll go. There's so many examples, kind of like what you were saying, of people who get exactly what they need, like the day of yeah, and so it's like it happens yeah, it's crazy and I think it's an important time to like you know if you, if your parents, can financially like give you all the funds you need.

Speaker 4: 46:37

I think like it's important to support raising on your own. So I feel, like it's important time for your relationship with the Lord and like growing dependence on him and trusting in him, and I feel like you learn a lot before you go on your global year.

Speaker 1: 46:55

It's a faith builder for sure.

Speaker 2: 46:57

Definitely.

Speaker 1: 47:00

So give us a little bit of what your I say a little bit, it's a long sum up your experience a little bit Now that we're finally getting into, like you going uh-huh finally yeah, like you can only do two sentences, you have your whole global year oh, I guess we can go as long as we want. Um well, I guess just kind of start from the going part. You've raised your money, you've done the work to get there, to get to orientation training. I don't know, do you want to?

Speaker 4: 47:48

Wait, Sydney. You should tell them about your travel day to get to Honduras and then landing and having to lead a small group.

Speaker 1: 48:02

First, is there anything that you want to hit on training?

Speaker 2: 48:08

We did training together, we did, we sat next to each other every day, I love training. I think it was really cool to be able to build relationships with other teams of people that were going to do the same thing in different places because, like even me and Leah, like we've been able to keep in contact after and like be able to share our experiences and although, like we started at the same place, like our experiences were drastically different, but like serving the same God and so like it's just like super cool to hear, just like the testimonies For people who don't know the training we do training for four weeks In the States.

Speaker 2: 48:46

Before we all head off in our own directions. But I felt like training was really formative for my heart and mind before going because it really set the tone of what the Lord was going to do. And it really set the tone even in my heart of what the Lord wanted to do in and through me specifically. And it was during that time that I really realized the Great Commission, I guess how to be a disciple. That goes to make disciples. I'd heard the Great Commission, I'd known of it, but I never really dived into the true meaning of it and it was really really formative to my mind and heart, I think, to know those things in the states in a very like, familiar place and be able to go talk to people, yeah, in a english, like talk to people in english before going to another country and doing it in another way.

Speaker 2: 49:51

Because, yeah, it just like shaped everything and although, like going to Honduras, we weren't doing the same thing we were doing in training, it like helped me realize, like what the goal was and like what my focus should be if that makes sense for sure so I felt like training was just very formative to setting the tone of the stage so wait setting the tone of the stage, setting the tone of the year.

Speaker 4: 50:14

Well, I got baptized. Setting the tone of the stage. I got baptized during training the first week, so Nice, it was very yeah, yeah yeah.

Speaker 1: 50:24

No, training is super formative. I feel like we didn't have training when I did a gap year.

Speaker 4: 50:29

I feel like a lot of students, and me included, I honestly had never heard of the great commission. Um, I didn't really know what doing missions like being a missionary, which I don't know. Being a missionary, a lot of people think it's only overseas, but it's anywhere and everywhere that you are. Yeah, um, but learning.

Speaker 4: 50:50

But learning about the Great Commission is what led me to get baptized again, because I was like I had always grown up knowing the Lord, but I wasn't living my life solely for Him and what he has called and commanded us to do. And I was like how can I go overseas and share this with other people if I haven't done it for myself?

Speaker 1: 51:16

No doubt, yeah, training is awesome. So back to your flight. What was that?

Speaker 4: 51:23

I just think it's a funny story.

Speaker 1: 51:25

I don't know if I've heard this.

Speaker 2: 51:29

Okay, so rewind a little bit. Before I signed up for Global Year, I talked to your dad, johnny condry, and I was like, hey, so I really want to come on a global year. This is after I decided yes, that I was gonna go yeah, I was like I really want to come. I said, but I have one issue and he was like okay, what is it? And I was like, well, my sister is getting married and I really want to be at her wedding naturally and I was like in my head, selfishly.

Speaker 2: 52:00

I was like I'm not gonna go on a global year if I can't go to my sister's wedding. And then my sister was like, no, sydney, you have to go even if you can't come to my wedding. And I was like, well, that's so kind of you. Okay, we'll see. I don't know about that. But then I talked to your dad. He's like like, oh, he said, well, that works out so perfectly. Our flight to Honduras leaves the day after your sister's wedding.

Speaker 1: 52:21

And I was like wow, which is funny because you didn't you leave training early. I did okay, that's what I remember.

Speaker 2: 52:27

Yes, and what's funny is actually all of the flights left the day after my sister's wedding anyway. Um, I know that honduras is where it's supposed to be, so yeah um, so anyway, I left training, we went, we did like a service week at the end of training, yeah, and I left like after the first day of service week, okay, and I flew. I flew to Louisiana for my sister's wedding.

Speaker 2: 52:51

And while I'm there we're like doing all the wedding prep stuff and I'm like oh wait, do I need a COVID test? And I'm like I don't know. So I text my intern. I'm like hey, do we need a COVID test? And he's like I don't know, I'll check with Johnny. And I'm like okay. So he texted me back. He said Johnny says no, we don't need one. I'm like okay, cool.

Speaker 2: 53:14

Well, I was already like when he texted me that I was at a clinic office to get a COVID test. So I was like I'm just going to get one.

Speaker 4: 53:16

Was it like three in the morning or something?

Speaker 2: 53:19

No, no no, no, no. So I was, was like I am not paying 250 for a covid test, yeah, and so we leave. I'm like, whatever they said, I don't need it, I'm not gonna get it. So that's like the day before the wedding, the wedding comes around. Wedding was great.

Speaker 2: 53:40

Sister got married, partied up and then at like 10 or 11 o'clock at night, we have to drive three hours to new orleans to go to the airport. And so I'm like we're getting the car. It's 11 o'clock, we have three hours to the airport, four hours to our flight. Like I'm like, okay, I'm gonna check in for my flight. I go on my phone, check in and um, it's like, please upload proof of negative COVID tests. And I was like, oh, my gosh.

Speaker 2: 54:12

So then I'm like calling my intern, calling Johnny. I'm like what do I do? And Johnny calls me and he's like, oh, just like, try to find an emergency room or something that you can go to. And so I'm like calling all of the like hospitals around, like where we're going and stuff. I'm like, hey, can I get it? And everybody said no, they're like you can't get a COVID test. I'm like, great. I'm like well, and I like call your dad back, call Johnny back and he's like, oh, maybe just go to Walmart and get one from there. So at one o'clock in the morning I'm marching to Walmart in my rides made dress, getting a COVID test, and I like take it and it's like an app one. So they like emailed me with the results and it was negative and apparently none of the other students had one either.

Speaker 2: 54:56

So they were doing that in Georgia the next morning right before their flight yeah and then, like we like, went to a hotel and I showered, and then we left for the airport. So, and then I got on a flight and then met my team in the airport, said bye to my family and headed to. Honduras and so on. Like 30 minutes of sleep, maybe yeah um, then I got to Honduras and I was like half asleep and we went to a bible study and I was like the lord is good, this is exactly what I want to be doing, but it was like adrenaline at its finest and it was amazing.

Speaker 2: 55:33

It's a story to tell now.

Speaker 1: 55:35

Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 2: 55:36

It was a mess in the moment.

Speaker 1: 55:38

That's hilarious. So tell us a little bit about your experience. I know it's like it would be impossible to sum it all up in the next few minutes, but just give us kind of like some highlights. What's some things that you, some things that you learned from your experience.

Speaker 2: 56:04

Yeah, in Honduras specifically.

Speaker 1: 56:07

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 56:07

Okay.

Speaker 1: 56:10

Like what was it? Like? Mean, let's just the simple stuff. Like you get to honduras and it's like what's your first impression?

Speaker 2: 56:17

yeah, um see, I don't know what I expected. Um, it was definitely I don't know. I don't know what I expected, so like, but I mean, it's all like dirt roads, um there's no air conditioning, so it's definitely hot. Um, we're not that far from the airport where we lived. I mean, it was just like interesting like see like people were like there had just been maybe flooding or something I don't remember people were living like in the middle of the streets under like tents and stuff like you're just like taking it all yeah it was just an interesting like time to just like go in and absorb everything.

Speaker 2: 57:01

I really don't know what I expected like so I'm not like. Oh my gosh. Wow, I knew we didn't have air conditioning yeah I knew. I think one of the hardest things is we didn't have water for a really long time while we were there, and so that definitely like just.

Speaker 1: 57:14

It's like welcome to another country. Yeah, you never know if you're going to have water or not. Yeah, Bucket showers.

Speaker 2: 57:18

I mean we were without showers for eight weeks and a bucket and like pouring some water, like, but like.

Speaker 2: 57:32

I think that like it was really good to be able to just be in an environment where, like, flexibility was just what it was for, because it requires you to pin on the lord yeah and I think that like the water and like not being super, like reliable, and the electricity not being reliable and there not being air conditioning, and if it rains the streets flood, like it just was super, like all right lord, like what's, what's the day gonna hold, like I trust you and yeah I mean that was like yeah, the first like glimpse, I guess, yeah, at the year. So what was that? That was like the first, like glimpse, I guess, at the year.

Speaker 1: 58:09

So what was like a typical day like in Honduras?

Speaker 2: 58:14

So in Honduras we were partnered with another ministry, wellspring of Life, and with them they had a school and a ranch. So at the beginning of the year, all of us, there was four people on our team, two guys, two girls and we were all in the school at the beginning of the year, all of us. There was four people on our team, two guys, two girls and we were all in the school at the beginning and then, towards like maybe a month in, the boys started going to the ranch every day and we were in the school every day teaching. And so a typical day, I mean, we went to school every day, came home, went to Spanish class, um. Some afternoons we'd um have like a free afternoon and we usually go into what we call the harvest um, which is like time to be able to go sit down with people and like, hey, let's just read the bible and for what it is and let's learn, hey, how do we follow Jesus better together, um, and so we utilize a lot of our like free time to be able to do stuff like that. So that was like a typical day for the most part.

Speaker 2: 59:12

At the beginning of the year we were assistant teachers. I was in kindergarten, first grade. It's a fun time. I didn't know how to speak Spanish, so I was like um, just like trying my best. By the end of the year there were some things that happened with the school and the year. There was some things that happened with the school and the teachers there. So I was like full-time teaching eighth through 11th grade English, which I actually loved because I got to build relationships with the students and although it was hard being a full-time teacher just here you go I really, really like, grew so close to all the students and I still got to see my kindergartners and first graders and it was just sweet. So I mean, that was like the typical sum up of the year, that's awesome.

Speaker 1: 59:57

So Italy was a lot different.

Speaker 4: 1:00:01

Very different.

Speaker 1: 1:00:03

So what was like a?

Speaker 4: 1:00:04

I can't really say like a typical day. Typical day because, like our weeks were always the same, but like we had different activities that we would do like each day throughout the week, yeah, and so like.

Speaker 1: 1:00:16

But what was like a normal day, like if it wasn't like a super active day, like what was it being?

Speaker 4: 1:00:23

Well, so on Tuesdays me, and so there were four of us on team, two guys and two girls, just like Sydney.

Speaker 4: 1:00:55

And so, like, on Tuesdays was probably other than Sabbath, like Tuesday is probably like the chillest day because, for well, for the boys, they would go to the big city and they would serve with another missionary, with his organization, um, and the girls we would do that on thursdays, but on tuesdays the girls would stay in the village and, um, we would have our one-on-ones with eva and I would usually go to the market. So on tuesday there would be a market and so, yeah, I would buy like whatever produce.

Speaker 4: 1:01:15

I would buy these smiley face french fries and, yeah, I always enjoyed our one-on-ones with Eva, and then we would do salt on that day, which is something we also did in training, um, which is like spiritual life counseling and so we continued that with caleb and eva um, and then we would always do some sort of like service project on tuesdays, because where we lived in italy it was kind of like a big hotel for different ministries and so there's always something to do because there's groups coming in and out, so we would usually be like cleaning and prepping for something, so we would spend a few hours doing that, but most of our time during the week we were usually out and about doing something, so whether that was like we serve at the Salvation Army a few days, a week which was really fun, and we would help out with different church things, and then we'd also have Italian lessons and a lot of like.

Speaker 4: 1:02:23

In our free time we just do team building things, even if it was just going for a walk or playing cards at Calebaleb and eva's house nice fun.

Speaker 1: 1:02:35

Yeah, south, you know, uh, south africa was. We lived on like a mission base so it was like a little bit like we went into the community like fairly often, but it was like almost kind of isolated like inside this. I mean it was awesome because we got to serve the missionaries that live there and that was kind of the main objective. But it was just like, you know, waking up, eating breakfast, doing some sort of maintenance around the property. You know it was like kind of putting your head down and just like doing the work, but it's so. I mean that kind of stuff is so formative like the daily, like because you like when you get into.

Speaker 1: 1:03:17

You know month two, three of your gap year, things start to become a little mundane. Like for sure like the, the all of it, the, that kind of wears off and you're just like okay, I think I'm right. You know, like you start to, it's easy to like fall into that like I don't know. It seems like there's a point, there's a wall that people hit, where things get hard yeah, and you're like why am I here?

Speaker 4: 1:03:43

like what's the purpose?

Speaker 1: 1:03:47

there's a, there's a wall, but it's like there there's something really amazing on the other side of that too, right? Like breaking through what God does and all that Um, what was like, do you remember for you, like, did you hit that wall?

Speaker 2: 1:04:01

Yeah, um, probably like oh gosh, I don't remember exactly when it was, but there was a point where I really really struggled with being in the school every day A lot, because I couldn't communicate with anybody. And doing it every single day was just super, super exhausting and the heat and I don't know. There's just something that wasn't like right for me. I don't know there's just something that wasn't like right for me and I just like. I also think that like our team dynamic at home wasn't like top notch, and so I think being in the school and then going home, and then going to the school and then being home, like it just like, was so like mentally, emotionally, physically exhausting. I would say like I just hit a point where I was like I need a break.

Speaker 2: 1:04:55

Yeah, yeah, and eventually we did end up changing our schedule around a little bit to have like Tuesdays was kind of like a team day where we'd have like a Bible study time and just like it was like a refresh day, um, because on the weekends we were always like getting our groceries and like resetting, so like we never really had that time until towards the end of the year they gave us kind of like a reset refresh day and we still had spanish. But that was really really like helpful for me. Um, I mean, obviously there were other hard days, but like I would say like just I had a point with the school that I really really struggled, like I did not want to get up and go to school.

Speaker 1: 1:05:31

I did not want, I dreaded it honestly, for a point in time, I think a lot, I feel like a lot of including myself. Like when you go do something like a gap year, you, you, like, you have this tendency and I think, I don't know, this is like a young, I don't know, maybe this is like my thing.

Speaker 1: 1:05:48

But I feel like you kind of go into almost like feeling like you're escaping something. Um, it's not like everyone feels like they have to escape their life. I mean, like when I went on a gap year, there was an aspect of that. I'm like, oh, I just need something different right but people don't realize like when you go on a gap year you're still taking yourself with you yeah it's like you still have to deal with the internal battles, just like you do here.

Speaker 1: 1:06:11

It's not all rainbows and sunshine on the other side and you're gonna hit those yeah those moments where think there's something you don't like, there's somebody you don't like yeah something you're doing you hate? Yeah, and you just, you, definitely you just start to get frustrated with certain things for sure I feel like just the fruit, though, of get making it through, it, finishing it's like everybody that comes back.

Speaker 1: 1:06:42

It's those things that get highlighted right the most, and I think that's just life like. It's the moments where you hit the bottom and God makes a way and you make it, and so I just noticed a lot of our students and I think this is for me too but when they come back, it's like this happened there was this moment, or this was really hard, but God or whatever you know like exactly um but, but this person got saved yeah like this work was done and you know it made it all worth it right so it's like I think the those are like really become those.

Speaker 2: 1:07:25

Those moments become really powerful moments yeah, I think that a lot of people ask me, like, what was your biggest, like your biggest takeaway? And like, although I had those like super, super dreadful moments, I like look back and I'm so grateful, um, because, like I mean, praise the lord, he did give me a way where, like I ended up moving to eighth, through 11th grade and like it was a blessing, um, and I know that was like the Lord's hand, just like really protecting me in the midst of it and just holding my hand through it all um.

Speaker 2: 1:07:57

But I think the biggest thing that I like learned about the Lord, um is that, like, sometimes our comforts are going to be completely stripped away from us. I'm not going to have my phone and just call my mom and dad or call my best friend. I'm not going to have air conditioning to be able to just go home and rest. I'm not going to have just the most like comfortable area to be in. I'm not going to be able to take a hot shower. Like taking away all those comforts, whether it's a person, whether it's physically, whether it's mentally, emotionally I just realized that there's something about the Lord doing that on purpose to create a greater dependence on Him.

Speaker 2: 1:08:32

And I think that everybody in some way, shape or form, learns that on a global year, it's like man. It's so easy in the States, when you've just grown up in this rhythm and pattern, to live a certain way and, yes, you still take yourself, like you were saying, and so there's still these battles and things that you're gonna have to work through and heal and figure out while you're on the field, but there's something about allowing yourself to depend on the Lord in the midst of it, and that's what I learned.

Speaker 1: 1:08:58

Yeah, I feel like that sums it up so well, Like the true purpose of a gap year is that is learning dependence on god like that's what we tell, you know, and we and it's funny, the thing that we've, I feel like, has been repeated the most is like it it may end up being the hardest year of your life, but the best year of your life yeah, like everybody hears that and it's like you don't fully grasp that until after you're done you're like, oh, that's, that's what that you know, yeah.

Speaker 1: 1:09:30

Because they say it to everybody right. Like who is going, but I don't know if it resonates as true, you know, as on the other side, for sure. Like oh my gosh.

Speaker 2: 1:09:44

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 1:09:45

That was hard, but it was so worth it.

Speaker 2: 1:09:48

Something that I also always say is like I thought it was just for a year but, I, didn't realize it was for my whole life. Wow Like.

Speaker 2: 1:09:56

I really thought like, oh, I'm just going to go on this year and then I'm going to go to college and I'm going to do this. But like that, one year changed the trajectory of my entire life. And project the trajectory of my entire life. Yeah, and like that's truly like the lord's hand, yeah, and so, like I just am, like so grateful to have learned, just like the closeness with the lord that I was able to on my gap year.

Speaker 1: 1:10:20

That's awesome. Well, to wrap up, two things. One, what? What would you tell this is what we're talking about before, but like what would you tell a student that right now, like considering it um, maybe from this conversation they've heard that what they need to hear but like, if there was, you know, one thing you could give them to help them kind of like process that decision or make that decision, what would you say?

Speaker 2: 1:10:45

I think that or make that decision. What would you say? I think, that. I'm trying to think sorry, I think it would just depend what they're battling.

Speaker 1: 1:11:00

Yeah, I think what you said was like what we've said this whole time will probably be helpful. But like I think, it depends, like what is the?

Speaker 2: 1:11:10

barrier for them if that makes any sense because, like, if their barrier is finances, then I would tell them something different than I would tell them is their barrier college like well, I'm just like you know.

Speaker 1: 1:11:19

I think my thought is, like, when it's like, what I would, I the thing I want to tell people that are like and this can be different than what you would say or what you would say but the thing I want to like tell students when they're like wrestling with, like cause I'm coming from a place where, like, I feel like everybody should do it.

Speaker 4: 1:11:38

Like just cause.

Speaker 1: 1:11:39

I believe in it that much. I'm like, you know, no matter the circumstance, like if, if everybody in the entire world took a year off of whatever their normal life rhythm, to give God a year to reorient, to find some sort of wilderness to catapult their life forward. I feel like everyone should do it. So I'm coming at it from that angle. But I feel like I want to tell students is like number one, like is it? Because I always think like, is it worth it? Is it worth to give God a year? You know, I mean if we're really truly, if our lives are truly fully submitted to the kingdom of God and to God himself. Like because even I think about like things like Sabbath. We don't, a lot of people don't practice it and keep it holy and guard it and and, but it's like it's really just giving God a seventh of our you know of our life one day a week, you know.

Speaker 1: 1:12:43

Right. So when you think about one year, like that feels overwhelming. But it can be like the impact? Obviously, just what we've heard right here of what god can do through that. Um so anyway, you know, I think when I think about like students wrestling with that, should I do it, should I not do it? I'm just like yeah, like you have no idea what you're gonna find on the other side of that yeah and a lot and most of what.

Speaker 1: 1:13:14

Most of the things that people are wrestling with are like material or tangible, or you know things like money or like even college or whatever.

Speaker 2: 1:13:22

It's like all this stuff, it's like gonna be there yeah when you come back, you know I think that I would tell somebody to go back to what their faith is built on and just go back to the root of it. Yeah, are you willing to give up this time, because it will change your life.

Speaker 2: 1:13:41

It will be hard, it will be demanding, it will be tiring, but it also is so rewarding yeah and so I think I would just say go back to the lord, go back to the root of your relationship with him and just decide is he worth it to be able to go and spend a year of your life serving him? And not only that, but, like I think I've heard so many people say, like you think you're going to serve other people, but little do you know how much work the Lord's going to do in you. And so, like I think that I would just encourage people, like, no matter where you're at in your faith, like the journey of a gap year with the Lord is something that is healing to your soul. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 1:14:26

It's forming a greater depth of your soul, and so I think I would just ask somebody hey, is that something you want? Do you want? To bring depth to your soul and to your relationship with the Lord, and I think if somebody is going to say no to that, then a global year is probably not for them. But if somebody truly wants to grow their relationship with the lord and truly go and serve others and truly wants to go be a disciple, that's going to make a disciple that's great then that's what a global year.

Speaker 2: 1:14:57

I think that's like what it's all about, and so totally if you want to learn what to do, that, like I would say, go for it you won't regret it.

Speaker 1: 1:15:04

Yeah, that's so good, and I think for you mean thinking about it changed the trajectory, everything it changed the trajectory of your life you know, like in my life.

Speaker 4: 1:15:14

So it's like we're all sitting here. I definitely would not be sitting right here, Me neither.

Speaker 1: 1:15:19

Like we're all products of like doing this thing and giving God a year and thing, yeah, and giving god a year, and I mean we know like what god asked of us is that we be still and that we recognize and know that he is god yeah that we draw near. Yeah, and the in a gap year is just that process yeah we do, and when you do it too, like at an early age, like when you're young, like there's something so powerful that god wants to do in young hearts, like I mean, jesus was, you know.

Speaker 1: 1:15:51

Even his disciples were all young people, you know.

Speaker 2: 1:15:54

Yeah, I would love to share one more thing.

Speaker 1: 1:15:56

Yes, I have one more question too.

Speaker 2: 1:15:58

Okay, well, okay. So I would also encourage somebody like don't let your yes bring down somebody else, because I never realized how much my yes to Honduras would change my entire family. I said yes to Honduras and since then my brother's life has been changed. My parents have completely changed. My sister has been rededicated her life to the. Lord, my cousin is now going on a gap year. Like the like wave effect of people yeah is like.

Speaker 2: 1:16:36

I just like think about, like, the weight of like, not that I need to carry the weight of like. All these people are depending on me because they're not.

Speaker 1: 1:16:43

They're depending on the lord, but like but it's like you never know what your yes will do right, and so if I said no, like how much could that have delayed somebody else's yes?

Speaker 2: 1:16:54

because of me, you know.

Speaker 1: 1:16:56

And so like testify that, because I've seen, I've seen your dad stand up and say how much this has changed his life? Yeah, which is, and so?

Speaker 2: 1:17:06

I really like would just encourage somebody like you never know, like even I know there's a lot of students that go through a gap year that their parents are completely against it yeah and then they see something different and they realize there's a greater purpose behind it. Yep, and so I think that, like that's just something I thought about when you were talking I was like I'm glad you said that the yes can be a chain effect and so like, let it be like, let the lord do the work.

Speaker 2: 1:17:34

Our responsibility is just to say yes and so, like, if you're like dwindling between, like, oh, I don't know, like do I need to just go to college? Or like, is it really what the lord wants for me? Like just be willing to say yes, because if it's not what the lord wants for me, like just be willing to say yes, because if it's not what the Lord wants, like he's going to shut the door? Yeah, I'll shut it.

Speaker 2: 1:17:50

Yeah, like and I've seen him do it for people. I've seen people say yes to a gap year and the Lord shut the door. And so I'm just like say yes and be willing, um, or at least take steps forward in the process. My my parents always tell me like hey, sidney, just like keep taking a step forward in obedience, and like the Lord's going to direct your path, like direct.

Speaker 1: 1:18:11

It's so good and just like Because we make the plan. Yeah, you know, like that's the thing he directs us. Yeah, we make the plan. Let God direct it and. I think a part of that directing is like sometimes doors shut, let that be our deciding factor.

Speaker 2: 1:18:25

I guess I just want to say you never know what your yes could do. So it could save somebody else for eternity.

Speaker 1: 1:18:32

We've seen. We've seen just as many parents lives changed through this as we have students Like I mean every year we see those testimonies of like parents that are like this has completely changed my life, which is so cool, yeah, last question, because I want to end on this If you I mean if you're like I don't know, I can't remember, but first, what was, if you could pick a day out of your experience that was your favorite day or best day of your gap year and or internship experience?

Speaker 1: 1:19:06

that you, you could highlight, and then the other one would be. That's a lot of days. It's a lot of days.

Speaker 2: 1:19:12

Just pick one, oh god if there's one that like pops out um wait, so just best day best day.

Speaker 1: 1:19:19

You can answer too okay, best day of your gap year and then worst day all right, maybe we should should we do worst day first and then end on yeah?

Speaker 3: 1:19:29

I definitely think so Okay, worst day, then we'll end on a positive.

Speaker 1: 1:19:32

But this could be funny.

Speaker 2: 1:19:33

I don't know, do you want to go first? Sure, okay, you got it.

Speaker 1: 1:19:39

Do you have your worst day?

Speaker 4: 1:19:44

I don't have my worst day, but I know my best day. I'll start.

Speaker 1: 1:19:48

So this may not be my worst day, but I know my best day I'll start. So this may not be my worst day, but it's just kind of funny because this highlights what it's like to live in other countries. So we went to Durban, south Africa, on a trip and we stayed at this mission base called Missions Ablaze and the facilities there like we were just going to like serve and like do some like maintenance and dig trenches and all this different. Anyway, the places like the. They had these like dorms, almost like a camp, like you're going to like church camp, but like worse, and they smelled so bad. Like we went in there and we're like gagging. It was smelled so bad.

Speaker 1: 1:20:37

Hopefully they don't ever watch this and so we decided to sleep in a tent, like on the. We just like pitched a tent somewhere on the base but they like released guard dogs too, like at night, so you can't like get out of your tent. Um, and that was really interesting. So there's like all these guard dogs like walking around our tent at night and monkeys like banging on our tents and stuff. So that was just like a crazy wild that was your worst day I mean, you know, it was like funniest day maybe it was uh let's just say it was interesting.

Speaker 1: 1:21:14

Yeah, it was interesting yeah, it's just like that. That's like a lot of a lot of days where you're just like what, what is happening? You know, like what am I just wild? There's a lot of those that just came up, so anyway.

Speaker 4: 1:21:30

I feel like for me, one of the most like frustrating days. Well, okay, so if you've ever been to Italy, they have some of the best like public transportation, because there are so many buses, so many trains, which is amazing, but also sometimes they just decide that they don't want to work or they're going to do a transportation strike, which also can cause frustration. Um, on saturdays we would serve at this daycare that one of our friends we went to church with started, and so we would do like um english program, kind of teach the kids english or do like american culture things. Um, so we would be there for a couple hours.

Speaker 4: 1:22:27

Well, this happened twice, and so we would have to leave at a certain time because the bus would be at the bus stop at a certain time. Well, the first bus didn't come, and so we were like, okay, well, maybe the second bus will come. The second bus didn't come, and so this is at 12. So in smaller cities in italy, um, this, everything is shut down from 12 to 3 because for lunch breaks, everybody just goes home from 12 to 3 and so during the middle of the day there's nothing open so we couldn't go anywhere to get snacks or go eat lunch or get coffee.

Speaker 4: 1:23:10

So we're just sitting at the bus stop for five hours waiting for the bus because caleb and eva didn't have a car so they couldn't come pick us up. So we're all hangry and frustrated and, um, we're texting Caleb and Eva and they're trying to text the church group chat to find somebody to come pick us up. And yeah, that happened to us twice and like now it's funny to look back on because you're like, yeah, it's very typical, like Italian culture, but in the moment I was like this is the worst thing ever yeah yeah, that sounds awful, it's funny.

Speaker 1: 1:23:53

Worst day probably always has to do with, like some sort of hangry food thing. Yeah, it's just like being hangry always highlights like a negative situation yes, do you remember like uh um, do you want my like actual like worst day?

Speaker 2: 1:24:09

you want my like funny, worst day?

Speaker 1: 1:24:11

give me your actual worst day. I can't think like I would give you.

Speaker 2: 1:24:14

Okay, my worst day probably was like when I got sent home yeah, I got kicked out of south africa, so that was pretty terrible I mean, I would say my worst day was either like christmas was just like hard, the first year in Honduras, um, just like being away from my family and we didn't really like do much, so it just like it was just like hard and then like to call my family and see everybody together like without me there. I was like well, this is sad um, and so Christmas was probably hard, but then also like right after parent week, when my parents left yeah I was like we still have a whole another half year, like um, those are probably like two of like my hardest moments but like yeah probably

Speaker 1: 1:24:58

have any like like uh, crazy culture experiences that were like um, so for our visa trip yeah I can tell you about that one.

Speaker 2: 1:25:10

I'll try to make it quick even though it's a really long story.

Speaker 4: 1:25:12

So we went to belize okay, these stories are always funny to belize and so we jump on a tire or something, just well, we probably did that too.

Speaker 2: 1:25:24

I don't remember though. Um, no, I don't think we did that trip, but the drive was supposed to be about 12 hours. Well, it ended up taking like 25 hours, because, I mean, we were traveling with four little kids plus the four of us, plus our leaders and so, like it ended up taking so long.

Speaker 2: 1:25:44

Well, we finally get to Belize and our Airbnb was a scam and so we have to go like stay in this like little jank hotel like in the middle of Belize. And in that moment I'm like where am I? Maybe I should take this out for parents. I was like where the heck am heck am I? Like I don't even know. And the lady at the desk is like, oh, we only take cash here, like no card, and we didn't have like police money, like we had just gotten there. So the boys go walk out and it's like midnight, they go walk out to the middle of the city of belize to get cash, while all those girls and the little kids are unloading the car and, um, we like take it up to the rooms and we get in the rooms and they like paid and everything like that.

Speaker 2: 1:26:39

And so I'm in the room. I'm like I am so thirsty, I need water. And in central america you can't drink the water out of the seas. And so I'm like, okay, um, I have to get water, I will not sleep tonight. And like bella's or like my roommate's, water was empty. My water was empty.

Speaker 2: 1:26:58

So we go knock on the boys door and we're like, go downstairs with us and get water, please. And so we get downstairs and all the lights are off and I was like great. And then, like the lady comes out and she's like, what do you guys need? And I was like great. And then, like the lady comes out and she's like, what do you guys need? And I was like, um, I just need some water. She's like, well, we're closed. And I was like, okay, she's like but I guess I'll get it for you. And so she like goes back there and gets me some water. And then all of a sudden it's like a door with like glass, like it's like a glass blinds and you know how you can lift them up. So like, and that was the door, was like the glass blinds. And this guy starts lifting up the glass blinds outside and I'm like what is going on, like this is creepy. And so then the lady starts going security, security, mr scott, security. And I was like what is this?

Speaker 2: 1:27:48

feels like a movie at this point and so then, like the security guard starts walking down the dark hallway and he comes out, he just opens the doors wide up, but I'm like, here we go. And he like just walks out in the middle of the street and like nothing happened but it was just like we went back to our rooms and I was like lock, lock, lock.

Speaker 1: 1:28:08

This is what it's like to navigate in other countries. Yes, this is like. This is real.

Speaker 2: 1:28:13

And also that day we got pulled over by the police seven times. So, like that, just like defines, like it's so real.

Speaker 1: 1:28:20

It's like the conveniences that we have in America are just like we so take for granted. We do Like water and like ice yes, there's.

Speaker 2: 1:28:31

In most hotels there's a water fountain. Yeah, not this one and you can't drink tap water yeah, you can't so.

Speaker 1: 1:28:38

Okay, so real quick. What was one of your favorite days?

Speaker 2: 1:28:45

me first.

Speaker 4: 1:28:45

Yeah, oh, okay you have a favorite day in mind, go ahead okay, um, I think for me, one of my favorite days was so my first three months in italy. I really struggled. Um, I feel like I was mentally fighting against the culture instead of just accepting things. And I remember when we flew back from flew back to Italy, from Ireland, as soon as I saw the Alps, I was so excited.

Speaker 4: 1:29:22

I was like this is my place, Like this is where I want to be, and I don't know, Like it was, just like I was just ready to be there and I was so excited to like do ministry stuff there, so that was probably one of my favorite days.

Speaker 1: 1:29:38

That's awesome. Not a bad place to be, by the way. Yeah, the Alps you can never complain Not 100. That Italy location is amazing.

Speaker 2: 1:29:49

Yeah, tullis, I would say for me, I'm going to share one from Honduras, one from Guatemala, but they're quick-ish, I would say in Honduras, I think my like one of my favorite days. We actually had a team from First Baptist Woodscom. That's right. And it was just like they were, were such like just a blessing to have. But one day in particular we did like a field day and like all of our students from school came and it was just such a sweet day to like truly just like build a relationship with our students because so much of our day, like at the school, we weren't allowed to speak spanish, them we could only speak English.

Speaker 2: 1:30:27

So like the relationship could only go so far, and so it was so fun to just be able to play with the kids and just like talk to them and just like build true relationship, and that was one of my favorite days. And then, I think, having like a team there of Americans.

Speaker 1: 1:30:41

I heard so many good things about that.

Speaker 2: 1:30:43

Yes, and so that was probably like one of my highlight days is just spending time with the kids and building relationships with them, and, man, I still talk to some of them, which is so amazing, um, and then in guatemala, um, there's this one lady that we met. Her name's julia, and she is one of probably my favorite guatemalans ever. Sure, when we met her, she was like kind of just in a season, oh gosh, I thought of another favorite day, but so many yeah but she was just like kind of at a point of like desperation and she was just really broken hearted.

Speaker 2: 1:31:25

She was completely blind in one eye and she's partly blind in the other, and it was just like so like hard to see her that way, because so many people had just told her, like she told us, people had told her like oh, you're like not worthy, like you can't go out and do anything, like you're worthless, like, and it was just so sad to hear that like people would treat her as like an actual outcast, like to actually like know like that's the way people think about you would be so hard.

Speaker 2: 1:31:57

And so we ended up getting to like sit down and we started meeting with her every single week and like there was just a complete like flip by the time we left, complete like flip by the time he left. And like one of the last days that we were there, she was telling me all about how, like she knew that she was worthy and she knew that like the lord loved her and that he had called her um on purpose to go and share with other people who maybe didn't feel worthy like her, and like just to like see the complete flip. And then to hear like she started her own bible study with a group of people, like in the to like see the complete flip. And then to hear like she started her own Bible study with a group of people, like in the evenings. Like it really just like. It really just spurred on, like my heart for the ministry of like that's what we want is we want disciples who are going to go and do it themselves, and so like.

Speaker 2: 1:32:44

just to see the complete script flip in her heart was just like so amazing and like really changed my life.

Speaker 1: 1:32:53

So awesome. Yeah, thanks for coming to do this yeah, of course, thank you all

Speaker 4: 1:32:57

for having me.

Speaker 1: 1:32:58

Yeah, I feel like this is given, I think, people who are considering it and won't want to know more or more about the experience, a lot to chew on. So, yeah, thank you for sharing your course your journey and your story and yeah, thank you.