The reason I chose to go to Latvia was the opportunity to go across the world and see what Christianity looked like in a completely different culture and environment and be able to serve in a completely different and challenging capacity. What made me keep going back is the relationships we built and continue to build. Having the opportunity to pour into people and grow not only in my faith but grow as a leader and disciple is something that I would not give up the opportunity for. It impacted my life across various avenues, my perspective on the southern bible belt was shifted as well as my perspective on how there are so many different ways to lead and not just one way.

The biggest thing I learned was that this country was completely fine and functioning before we went and we did not go to fix it or prove we were doing something better but instead we went with the opportunity to share the gospel and pour into the lives and the way they lived and learned which grew me exponentially adapting to their way of life while also their with the goal to help them grow.

The need for missions in Europe is huge, the culture there is very different from ours, you are seeing the younger generation starting to get involved but they do not have the support or knowledge from the older generations the same way we do in America. Missions in Europe are huge for educating the leaders and showing them ways to lead and also teaching these kids who are on fire for God how to spread and teach that to others while also encouraging them to be strong and bold and committed to their faith.

I was so scared that I was going to go to a country that did not understand me and I did not understand them and it was going to be the longest 2 weeks of my life. And while it was the longest 2 weeks from pure exhaustion I can say some of my best friends came from camp. There is a language barrier, but there is also ways ultimately it and everyone has a willingness to get to know each other and I appreciated how everyone worked together to communicate and it was so easy to build relationships and these are relationships that are in person 2 weeks of the whole year and here we are going on year 3 and I talk to people from latvia almost everyday so if that doesn’t speak to the strong connections we have made I do not know what will.

I cannot imagine going to Europe and serving without Tory especially year 1 never having been outside the country, but specifically every leader needs someone leading them in how to lead. And for me I was an 18 year old girl thrown into a different country in a different continent with a different language and no idea what to say to these people. Tory helping me understand the culture and being able to break down how to approach what we were there to do was not only necessary but also having him there the years we’ve been back, sure I know the process and how camp works now but he has been apart of my faith journey and the way I have grown with God and his support and encouragement and guidance as we go on these missions has helped me to be a better team member, a better leader, and a better disciple. His connections to Europe and vital, and his real life experience living in Europe and traveling internationally helped our trip run smoothly, and helped us ultimately be successful as a team.

I wanted to go to Latvia because it would be such a crazy experience with so many new aspects to me such as traveling out of the country, working as a camp counselor, experiencing a different culture, and working on a mission team. 

Latvia impacted my life in many ways such as broadening my view of the world, learning how to rely on the Holy Spirit, and seeing that God is the same God everywhere in the world. I had never been out of the country and it was humbling so see how much bigger the world is than myself. The trip was really hard physically and mentally and it forced me to rely on the Holy Spirit and God's strength not mine. I could also see that even though the language, food, people, culture, etc. were different, God was exactly the same and working so much in a place so different from the south in the U.S. 

The need for mission trips in Europe is so great because many people shy away from it because it is far and expensive. A lot of churches stick to nearby countries, the U.S., or within their area. While those are all important, this caused Europe to get left out when they are so far from Christ. Latvia specifically needs the love of God so much and if teams from the U.S. don’t go because it is “too far” or “ too expensive” the work will not be replaced by people there because it is so spiritually dry. 

I built relationships that went past just my time in Latvia. A few weeks after I got home from the trip, I flew to Oregon to work a camp with and meet back with a few of the people I had met in Latvia who were in Oregon for a period of time. My family has hosted someone I met there who has come to visit SC for a couple years now. I plan on going back to Latvia this Fall and the relationships have kept up where I have no fear I will have connections there even a couple years later. 

Going with Tory, especially coming out of my senior year of high school, was significantly helpful. I had never left the country and Tory helped by not just doing the steps of travelling abroad for me, but teaching me to do it myself. Since then, I have been to 3 countries with no adult help and I felt confident to do so with what I learned on that trip. He gave me confidence to go abroad for the first time which opened up my heart for missions and Europe and has led to my next steps of Serving in England this whole summer and studying abroad in Greece this fall.

Honestly, I didn’t fully know what I was signing up for when I went, I just knew I wanted to go. And it ended up being one of the most impactful experiences I’ve had. There’s something wild about standing in another country, singing songs in a language you don’t even speak, and still feeling completely connected to the people around you, that’s something only God can do with people. You realize really quickly how much you depend on your team too. You’re out of your comfort zone, figuring things out together, even learning bits of Latvian just to connect with people, and somehow those moments end up being the ones that stick with you the most.

What surprised me most is how open Latvian people were. It wasn’t forced or awkward. Conversations just happened, relationships formed naturally, and you could tell there’s a real need there. Europe might not look like a “mission field” at first glance, but there’s a spiritual hunger that’s very real once you’re in it.

Going with Tory made a huge difference. He has a way of leading that just works. Everything felt intentional but not rigid, organized but not stressful. He knows everyone and handles logistics well so you can focus on what matters instead of worrying about missing your flight. At the same time, he’s loads of fun and he really genuinely cares about people, both the team and the ones you’re there to reach, and that shows in everything he does.

If you’re even thinking about going, just go. It will stretch you, it will challenge you, and it will stick with you long after you’re back home.

The reason I did missions was because I was stuck in a loop and I was tired of being scared so when the chance arrived I took a leap to learn more about God. Missions has changed my life so much because now I know there is more to life than just my hometown. I know God has big plans for me and I still need to learn more and be more for the lord. A Mission trip to Europe is unreal. It can show you who you are, change how you see the world, and can help you depend on the Lord more! Europe is a different world from America in so many ways but a mission trip there is even cooler, especially the connections you can make and build. I've made connections I never thought I could. Going with Tory made it 10x more fun and engaging, and he’s just an all-around amazing guy. He pushed me to be better. He listened. He taught me so much that if it wasn’t for him I wouldn't know the Lord.