Joshua Expeditions

2009-2010 Essay Contest Winners

Congratulations to winners of our 2009-2010 Essay Contest, and thanks to every person who participated! Every essay was an encouragement as students shared the many ways their lives are impacting communities around the world. Watch for another contest to be revealed very soon!

HONORABLE MENTION: David W, age 17 (California)

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." Romans 12:6 contradicts the inferiority many people feel about themselves when trying to measure up to the world's exorbitant standards. Even I, in my younger years, once thought that I had no gifts, no purpose, and overall, no worth. Thank God for revealing to me how much worth I have, not in myself, but in Christ.

I now realize the impact I can have: even just by smiling. I make a constructive ripple in the lives of others simply by reflecting God's love. So imagine what a tremendous splash I can create by serving the way Jesus served. Both Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 state how "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve�." If we, His children, are called to serve as Christ did, then the question should be, "How can I combine my gifts with service to make an impact on the world in which I live?" If service is a lifestyle, then shouldn't that affect how I live my everyday life? For several years now, Joshua Expeditions has given the opportunity to positively affect, to have fellowship, and to serve in the places that my school's senior classes have traveled to. This is both God glorifying and sets an example of how, even in the leisure of a senior trip, we can serve in the communities we encounter.

For the past few years I've served and used my gifts in various ways. First off, I serve at my school. Since my freshman year, I and three other friends have always been the serving crew. We tear down, set up, clean up, move equipment, run errands, and do whatever needs to be done. The office, and especially the principal, started calling us the "Fantastic 4." We are always reliable and ready to help when needed. It now goes unsaid that we set up and tear down for chapel every Wednesday, and also do other routine services for the school administration. Since freshman year we've been serving, and now we're seniors. Secondly, I serve in my community. I'll do yard work, help people move, take care of pets, and other practical services for free as just another way to reach out into my local community. I also serve at my church by being on the Audio Visual Team. Most Sundays I get there an hour and a half early to help set up for the worship team, and then I set up the computer so that we can run the powerpoint presentations for the service. I help make sure everything is ready to run like clockwork before the congregation begins to arrive. Then after church I stay for another half hour and participate in tearing everything back down again. These three main areas, my school, community, and church, are where I've created the largest and most influential impact. God gave me the gift to humbly serve and that's where I've been focusing my efforts during this period of my life.

Two other areas that I feel like I'm gifted in are photography and technology. I have always had the desire and skill to create art through the lens of a camera. This past year I put that ability to use by being a part of the yearbook class where I helped to journalize school gatherings and sporting events. Hopefully, the school, students, and families were blessed by the film-captured memories in the yearbook. I was also a part of the student council and utilized my computer and software ability by compiling, editing, and producing the short films advertising upcoming events. Furthermore, this coming year I will be the Student Body Historian, which is a new position on student council that they added specifically with me in mind. I will be orchestrating the photography and journalism for all our school's sports and events. As part of this position, I will assemble and present my class's graduation slideshow. This will be a year-long project that is in addition to my student council responsibilities. Moreover, I will again be a part of the yearbook class this coming year. It seems that my school responsibilities are escalating quickly and I will have a very occupied year.

Another gift I feel God has blessed me with is in the area of music. I am sometimes a part of the worship team at the school's chapel on Wednesdays. I play piano, sing, and hope to soon add my guitar to the praises intended for the Lord. Sometimes the worship team can be very unorganized, in which cases the school chaplain and I try to quickly assemble a worship team. I know that God is pleased by my efforts to please Him.

I have found the importance of using my gifts and I look forward tremendously to being able to use them on the senior trip that Joshua Expeditions has made possible. I've always heard great testimonies from previous senior classes, and anticipate being changed even more by the experience. From my knowledge, I've found that service humbles, changes, and satisfies in ways that often surpass understanding. It changes the followers into leaders, the arrogant into servants, and children into men. When I was a child, I walked and talked like a child, but now I serve.