Ben's Testimony

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  Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Sunday, February 15, 2009

My Testimony

My name is Ben, and I was raised in a Christian home with Christian parents. I accepted Christ into my life at a very young age. I went to a private school in Anchorage and was essentially spoon-fed the Gospel throughout my elementary and high school days. I went to youth group as a student during junior high. The situation in Burma was made aware to me during my eighth grade year in Bible class. Dave Eubank came to our school and did several presentations. The Karen people have been on my heart ever since. In high school, I started volunteering in youth group as a leader and on the usher team. I went on several short-term mission teams to Mexico, Russia, Costa Rica, and Bush communities in Alaska. I don't think I had a single "non-Christian" friend when I lived in Anchorage.
Shortly after graduating high school I moved to Fairbanks to pursue firefighting and paramedic school. I left everything I knew behind and this in itself was an adventure for me. My girlfriend ended up breaking up with me during that first summer up here and I felt very alone. I did not have the support of my family or friends in the capacity that I used to. All the new friends that I was making up here were in the Fire Academy with me and were not always the best influences. This was a difficult time for me and I turned to God for help. It was during this time that I started getting more involved here at Friends. I got involved in the senior high youth group here as a leader, I also got involved with Young Life as a leader. I started making friends that had more positive influences on me and I learned about Partners and the annual mission trip with the Martins'.
I knew that this trip would be very important for me and I had high expectations for the work that we were going to do over there. My favorite part about the trip was leading youth services, having kids hanging off my arms; their smiles gripping me to not let go, and the building project with Matt Fetters at the farm. It was at these places that I felt my gifts being put to the most use. I can't say that all my expectations were met, and I can't say that I had complete life change. However, I have made new friends over in Thailand and I have connections to possibly go on a more specialized team suited to my abilities in the future. I thank God for the chance to have gone on this trip. I would encourage anyone that wants an introductory-style mission trip to see what is going on over there and where they can help out, to consider this annual short-term trip. Allow God to use you to the best of the abilities that He has blessed you with.

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