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!

FIRST PLACE: Kersey B, age 17 (North Carolina)

For years I have thought that one day my career would involve working with children. I have always felt the need to try to impact their lives and to do what I can to leave an impact that they will always remember. As a rising senior, I have put a lot of consideration into my future plans and have begun thinking about elementary education. I was never sure that was what I wanted to do though, but then I went to Camp Caleb in Islamorada, Florida. I had attended this mission trip the previous year and loved the relationships I had built with the children. I always hoped that I had touched their lives as much as they had touched mine, but going into this year's trip I knew it would be different. This time, because I was coming as a returning student, I was assigned to help lead the children's camp by leading crafts. I knew this would give me the chance to see all of the children, whereas last year my attention was fully devoted to growing relationships with a smaller group of the kids. Although my plans were to return and spend my days there with the same children as I had done the year before, God had a different plan which always proves to be best.

I went into the week unaware of the impact I was going to be able to make and thinking very little of my role and the relationships I could build. I began noticing, though, that through simple crafts like playing with play-dough, creating animal masks, and decorating visors, I was still given the daily opportunity to get to know these children. I was able to apply Bible stories to the crafts that the kids were making while leading them in scripture memorization as well. One craft in particular opened multiple doors for me to share the gospel with each child that was attending Camp Caleb. I led the children through the process of making "Salvation bracelets." I got to teach the children about the meaning behind each of the five colored beads on their bracelets. My memory of one child in particular will always stick with me.

After our craft, one of the other children's leaders pulled me aside and asked me to go over the meaning of the beads with one of the little boys for a second time. I was given the opportunity to explain to him that we were all sinners represented by the black bead, and Christ Jesus' blood that was shed to cover our sin was the red one. We walked through the explanation of how we were are made clean and given new life with white and green beads, and then finally the eternal life in Heaven with God represented by the yellow bead. Throughout this explanation I began to see the boy's eyes growing bigger and bigger as he began to understand. The look of awe and astonishment will always remain with me. Not only did he learn about the gospel and openly receive it, but I also began to understand the simplicity of the gospel. This little boy reminded me of the importance of sharing God's truth, even if it is through a little five beaded bracelet. I had convinced myself that presenting the gospel had to be a complicated task, because of all the questions someone may have, but doing so at Camp Caleb changed my perspective on it. This little boy showed me that it is not an elaborate presentation that saves someone, but instead it is the simple fact that Jesus Christ loves each of us enough to die so that we may live.

Leading the crafts at Camp Caleb was not what I expected it to be. I wanted to be able to have close relationships with a few kids, but in the end I got to share something so much greater with almost one hundred kids in just a week's time. The Lord placed me in that position to influence the lives of those children in ways I never imagined, meanwhile change me as well. After teaching those children stories of creation and salvation, I knew that God was revealing to me a small part of the life He has planned for me. I know that elementary education is the field the Lord is pointing me toward at this point. He has shown me the impact leading a classroom of kids can make and reminded me of the calling He has given us to bring the gospel to children, even in the simplest of ways.