It starts out when I was quite young. My grandmother takes all her grand-children on a vacation every year, there is only 5 of us. When she very first started it I was probably six or seven, and every year she has always said to me "I believe you will be called to missions." well to make a long story shorter, this went on through high school and unfortunately I didn't have the best reputation in high school. Needless to say I denied it every time she brought it up, but I learned soon after I graduated that sometimes you have to learn the hard way but you can't hide from God and His will. I have been on several mission trips, only one to another country though, Bolivia, I had tons of fun on that trip and on all the trips I have been on, but I just wasn't sold out to God all the way and now I am 100%. This first year in college has changed my life completely, its hard to even explain it. I am just so in love with God and what He has in store for me. I knew that God wanted me to do something this coming summer but I just didn't know what. So I just started praying, and I found out about AIM through a girl I know from school that is currently on the World Race. I got on the web and just started going through all the trips I would be able to go on, and it was weird, as soon as I saw "Amazon", I got this funny feeling in my stomach and I just knew it was "the one." This year God gave me a hunger for Him and to just tell everyone about him. We are all going on this trip so serve the One that willingly got beaten, spit on, mocked, and ultimately gave his life for each one of us. I hope we can all remember this throughout the trip so that we can all grow together spiritually.

In His Grip,

Dustin