Thank YOU

A huge thank you to everyone who has and will support my missions. Without you all, these trips to spread the word of God and help those God has charged us to help would not be possible. I am currently raising support to go on a mission to Memphis, TN over my spring break. If you would like to support me please feel free to send me an email at wilkin17@illinois.edu . Again thank everyone soooo much, it is truly a blessing to have your support.

Honduras post 2

There are 5 billion people in the world today, and of those 5 billion, 1 billion live in extreme poverty. These 1 billion people are daily close to the edge of starvation, have no water to drink, and are plagued by a low life expectancy, illiteracy, and a lack of educated citizens in their country over all as the people who are fortunate enough to receive an education leave in search for something better. This information was presented to me in a sermon the week after I returned from Honduras. During that message, the pastor said something that really made me think, "Do not be a compassion tourist." These words pushed me to understand that the purpose of missions work is not to boast and show pictures of poor degenerate people as if to say "look what I have done for these people."  Missions work is about making your boast in God alone, and helping others because He has commanded us to do so. Before taking part in this mission, I would hear stories of the great things missionaries did in other countries and think to myself "wow, what a great person." Now it is may prayer that when I share my mission experiences with others, they realize that what I have done is not something that is worthy of praise, or even something amazing, what I have done is simply the work God has charged us to do as His people. I entered into the mission to Honduras with the intention of helping others, but also knowing that I would be greatly impacted.  I was right, but I was not prepared for how great of an impact the people would have on me. Though the people there had so little we were invited to come in and sit down in each and every home we visited while evangelizing, and at the homes that were to small to accommodate us, the people found whatever items could be used as seats and brought them out for us. Here in the United States people most likely would decline to invite a group of people doing door to door evangelism to come in and sit and discuss the gospel. It truly touched me to see people who had so little be so generous. It made me re-evaluate who I am and who I want to be, and where God is leading me in my life both short term and long term.