Summer is on the way, despite what the bitter winter will let you know. Summer is always on our young adult minds for a variety of reasons: work, personal projects, reading, and usually a vacation or two to fit in before the warm weather leaves. What might surprise you, however, is just how many of our youth travel during the summer. They travel all over the globe, actually.

I present to you, RP Missions.

For my first two years in college I have been very active in the RP Missions process, and very sorry that I did not start sooner. I’ve flown across the ocean the past two summers, and they have been some of the best summers of my life. My freshman year I led a team of four to Landstuhl, Germany. My sophomore year I helped lead a team of three to Larnaca, Cyprus.

Let me break it down for you. Both of my trips involved working with a medium-sized group of kids in a VBS-style camp. Few things are as encouraging as seeing children so young all over the world learn and grow in their faith.

In Germany, I spent time with U.S. military stationed there, as well as their families. I got to go to Switzerland and hike up incredible, snow-tipped mountains. I rode in trains and learned a bit of German from the kind locals who ran small shops. I ran around real, historic castles.

In Cyprus, I spent time with a church mainly comprised of refugees. I babysat, visited, cleaned, and painted for them. The food, beaches, and hospitality were greater than I had ever experienced. The kids taught me some Greek and we laughed and played together. I swam in the Mediterranean on the Fourth of July, I jumped off a cliff into the sea, walked to the local bakery, and tasted island-grown fruits and vegetables.

It is a surreal experience. Placing yourself in an entirely different culture with a heart of service is an amazing opportunity to which our youth have access. God has certainly blessed the RPCNA with connections, friendships, and opportunities that I feel were much more scarce when our parents were growing up.

Don’t let these opportunities pass. You would be surprised just how many churches all across the world need our energetic, hardworking, service-centered hearts. As you may have noticed, the trips I went on consisted of three to four people. Small teams, but with a lot of work to do. They need help to make it all worthwhile. You have to sacrifice a lot to make these trips work, but, believe me, it is well worth it. I will be planning my summer towards another mission trip, and I hope to see some of you alongside me.

Visit rpmissions.org for more information.