On the first afternoon in a corner of the fellowship hall, a little girl named Natalie sat by herself while the others played games. Natalie didn’t say much, so Sonya did the talking. She talked about her life, her favorite Bible stories, and how much Jesus meant to her. Then it was time to leave.

The next afternoon Natalie made a beeline for Sonya and pulled her over to the same corner. She had brought a doll, which she put in Sonya’s lap. Each afternoon was the same: Sonya would sit and talk to the quiet girl, playing with the doll, and trying to make Natalie smile. At the end of the week, the church’s pastor told Sonya that Natalie had a troubled home life, and he had never seen her bond with anyone before Sonya. Sonya fought back tears when she told Natalie good-bye, and gave her a little Bible to take home.

Mission trips are incredible opportunities for spiritual stretching. Not only do you experience new places, cultures, and people, but you are put in situations you have never faced before. These moments drive us to depend on God’s provision and faithfulness, and we see Him come through for us in amazing new ways.

Consider taking a short-term mission trip. Check at your church or denominational website to see what mission opportunities are coming up. If you are unable to go on a trip yourself, you could support someone who is going with prayer and financial help.