Do people still go on mission trips during Covid-19? Most certainly, and Michael’s story is certainly an inspiration to all of us. Read his mission story and the blessings that he experienced while serving God.
1) How has God led you to become a Missionary in the first place?
God led me to the mission field at my first international GYC (Generation of Youth for
Christ) conference in Kentucky last year. There, I met Daniel Cerna and Julie Bowes members
of the IYMC (Institute of Young Musicians for Christ). I was immediately drawn by their title
and their booth that emphasized the importance of music ministry.
2) What miracles have you experienced since you left home?
On my way to Thailand, a miracle happened firsthand that let me experience that God is
always with me. I left home on Thursday, January 28th heading to Bangkok, Thailand, and with
a layover in Frankfurt, Germany. I arrived with several hours between my flights believing that
everything was according to plan. I caught up on sleep, ate some food, and prepared for the next
part of my journey. When it came time to board the plane, however, I discovered that I was
missing a critical piece of documentation that I was required to have, or I would not be allowed
into Thailand. The “Certificate of Entry (C.O.E.)” document was necessary, but I did not receive
it from the Thai Embassy before leaving the United States, nor was I informed that it would be
required. The staff at the Frankfurt airport would not allow me to fly without that document.
Suddenly, my 10-hour layover turned into a 5-day sleepover at the airport.
I called my Missions Team (IYMC) to get help with this ordeal. I also made calls to my
family and friends to let them know that I was okay, and I asked them to pray for me that God
would provide a solution for this situation. Thankfully, there was a hotel at the airport! Because
I could not leave the airport, the hotel being on the premises was a major relief, as I would not
have to constantly worry about my carry-on luggage, and I would have a stable place to obtain
the document. There were many issues during my time at the airport.
I could not get a change of clothes from my luggage because the negative COVID-19 test that I
took in NY was too old, and the staff would only accept results within the past 48 hours. Despite
the challenges, I was determined to obtain the document.
The miracle happened when I was trying to figure out how I was going to cover the
expenses of being stuck in Germany. I did not know how I was going to pay for the nights I
spent at the hotel. The next day, I received an early morning call from my mission’s leader,
Daniel Cerna, who told me that someone had randomly donated $2,000 for my trip to Thailand.
At that moment, I could not believe how good God was to me. Those funds were more than
enough to cover my hotel stay and gave me extra time to find the C.O.E. document without being
worried about financial coverage. My faith in God was restored as He proved Himself to have
everything under control. He is my Father and my Provider. It reminded me that the devil will
try to stop missionary work and put many obstacles in the way, but God will always see you
through. I was able to receive help from the German embassies in Berlin and Frankfurt and
finally had the C.O.E. document in hand. After so many rejections, setbacks, and obstacles, God
saw me through them all.
After receiving my C.O.E. document, Daniel shared this very inspiring chapter in the Bible with
me from Psalm 66 from the International Children’s Bible translation:
“Everything on earth, shout with joy to God! Sing about his glory! Make his praise glorious!
Say to God, “Your works are amazing! Your power is great. Your enemies fall before you. All
the earth worships you. They sing praises to you. They sing praises to your name.” Selah
Come and see what God has done. See what amazing things he has done for people. He turned
the sea into dry land. The people crossed the river on foot. So let us rejoice because of what he
did. He rules forever with his power. He keeps his eye on the nations. So people should not
turn against him. Selah
You people, praise our God.
Loudly sing his praise. He protects our lives and does not let us be defeated. God, you have
tested us. You have purified us like silver. You let us be trapped. You put a heavy load on us.
You let our enemies walk on our heads. We went through fire and flood. But you brought us to
a place with good things. I will come to your Temple with burnt offerings. I will give you what
I promised. I promised to give you these things when I was in trouble. I will bring you offerings
of fat animals. And I will offer male sheep, bulls, and goats. Selah
All of you who fear God, come and listen. I will tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to
him with my mouth. I praised him with my tongue. If I had known of any sin in my heart, the
Lord would not have listened to me. But God has listened. He has heard my prayer. Praise
God. He did not ignore my prayer. He did not hold back his love from me.”
This chapter encapsulates my entire traveling experience to Thailand.
3) Share an experience that happened to you recently within the mission field.
While I was in New York, I was contacted by a man named Josh who had a task he
wanted to entrust me with that would save a life. We became friends online, and he asked me to
bring a machine with me to Thailand called The Vest which would help to clear mucus from the
lungs of a girl who had cystic fibrosis. Upon arrival in Thailand, this was my first project,
allowing me to step right into mission work. I met Palm, the young girl’s mother, and showed
her how to operate the machine so that her daughter would be able to use it when she got home.
It was a blessing to be able to help this family.