What happens when American teenagers step outside their comfort zones and experience a completely different way of life? In this heartfelt conversation, high school students Brooklyn and Julianne open up about their transformative first mission trip to Cancun, Mexico—far away from the tourist resorts and beaches most Americans associate with the region.
These young women share candidly about answering what felt like an unexpected calling from God: "It wasn't that I had a want to go," Brooklyn explains, "it was that I had a need to go." From fundraising challenges to language barriers, they faced numerous obstacles before even boarding the plane. Yet what awaited them would forever change their perspective on happiness, generosity, and purpose.
Working at Kingdom Academy—a school serving children from a former squatter's village—mixing concrete by hand under the hot sun, conducting Vacation Bible Schools, and visiting homes with dirt floors and outdoor bathrooms, Brooklyn and Julianne encountered profound joy amid material scarcity. "I don't know how all these people are so happy when they have nothing," Brooklyn reflects with wonder. Meanwhile, Julianne was stunned by the hospitality she experienced: "The minute I walked in, I was handed food. But in America if you go to someone's house, they're like 'why are you here' and kick you out."
The most challenging aspect wasn't the physical labor or cultural differences—it was reconciling their experience with returning to comfortable American lives. Both teens now grapple with maintaining this newfound perspective while surrounded by abundance. Their strategies include consistent prayer, physical reminders like handmade bracelets, and sharing their stories whenever possible.
Whether you're considering your first mission trip, wondering how to maintain spiritual growth after a transformative experience, or simply curious about seeing the world through fresh eyes, this conversation offers honest insights from two young hearts forever changed by stepping beyond their comfort zones. Listen now and rediscover what true joy might look like in your own life.
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