Hillside Missions Organization

In some ways, my 3 months in Asia felt like an entire lifetime, and at the same time it flew by as quickly as just a few days. I am grateful for the people who taught me so much just through their actions, for the unexpected things I learned, and for the way God moved my heart like I’d never dreamed of.

My trip to Asia was actually the conclusion of a 9 month internship I had done in Connecticut. At the time, Asia was the only location available for my externship so I suppose you could say I went by default. Not that it mattered; I was ecstatic to get to live and work in any foreign country. I arrived in Asia with my team from Ct who planned to stay for a couple of weeks. Together, we traveled to different cities and villages; visiting minority people groups, spending time with the full time missionaries there, and experiencing/enjoying the newness of a country most of us had never seen. Needless to say, it was sad to see them go. “Stay!” I pleaded, half-joking, half-serious. “You need us to go,” our team leader told me. I knew he was right.  There would be much to learn, do, and see in the next 12 weeks. As C.S. Lewis once said, “Experience; the most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.”
 

 After they left, I stayed with an american family of 6 in their lovely home filled with 4 small children and lots of energy and love. They were gracious and welcoming and I loved living everyday life with them.Having already lived and done missions in this country for a number of years, their capability in living, working,and raising children in such a different country was impressive. Naturally,  there was plenty of homesickness and culture shock to deal with at first, but my surroundings distracted me much of the time and eventually the unfamiliarity subsided. It’s funny to look back at those first few days when everything was so intimidating and new. I remember the frustration of trying to communicate or buy something in another language, the awkwardness of social customs I’d never before experienced, and eventually, the occasional sweet victory of knowing how to do something the “right way.” The whirlwind of homesickness, finding my way around the new city, language classes, office work, and getting to know my host family kept me busy during the day and sleeping well at night. Part of my externship included helping out with any of the administrative work the full time workers were involved in. In the first city, there was an office where they worked on translating scripture into written and various other forms. A few Asian Christians belonging to a minority people group called the Rainbow people actually lived in the apartment and dedicated most of their time to translating the Bible into their native language. One of the girls named “Lucy” patiently worked to teach me some basic language skills and through hand gestures, pictures, and a whole lot of flipping through the dictionary we managed to communicate pretty well. I remember one day we went up on the roof of the building to practice some “city vocabulary”. I was frustrated because I felt like I was so incapable of having a meaningful conversation with my new friend. After a few rounds of “What is this?” “This is an apartment.” “What is that?” “That is a street”, I decided to branch out a little. The following dialogue went something like this:

Me: (fumbling through the “religion” section of my pocket sized language book)
I like Jesus.

Lucy: (nods head, smiling at my broken grammar). Yeah, I like Jesus too.

Me. (after about 5 more minutes of looking through book) He saved me.

Lucy: Yes, Jesus changed my life.

One of the very first things I learned in Asia is that you don’t need to speak the same language to be friends. After that, Lucy and I had many more language sessions and hung out together; playing Chinese checkers or taking walks around town. We are about as opposite as is possible, and from different sides of the globe, but it turns out that didn’t matter at all and by the time I left, I knew our friendship was just as real as any I’d ever had back home.

In November I traveled with Lucy to a different city where I would spend the remainder of my time in Asia. It was a long trip (8 hours) and would be the first of many adventures on the train. I spent the next month and a half living with 3 wonderful girls who taught me how to use the bus, how to haggle at the market, how to say important things like, “I feel sick” and how to survive the everyday hassles and struggles of missionary life. Several times, I got to travel with one of my roommates to Rainbow villages high up in the mountains, far away from the smog and chaos of the overflowing cities. We’d buy chicken and veggies from the small towns at the bottom of the mountains and then hike the rest of the way up. The trails going up the mountains are steep, and twist and bend all over the place. Now, I’m not much of a hiker but the view you get while traveling to those villages is enough to shut up even the crankiest of explorers. Usually a trip to a village consists of buying food, hiking up the mountain to the village, cooking the food/visiting with the people (the villages are small so you could theoretically visit everyone in the village), eating dinner with whoever used their stove to make the food, and then sitting around until late in the night telling stories. We use 21 different stories from the Bible to share our faith with the Rainbow people. Since all of their stories and traditions are passed down orally from one generation to another, this method works pretty well. Sometimes one of the people listening to our stories will volunteer to tell one of their own. After a while the crowd thins out and we head back down the mountain or camp out in somebody’s house. The Rainbow people are super hospitable and generous.

The following is taken from an entry I wrote in my journal after one of my first visits with the Rainbow people.

“Today we hiked up the side of a beautiful green mountain to visit the Rainbows. The view was incredible (as was the pain in my lungs). The tumbling mountains, squares of rice paddies and hay fields, muddy ponds, and velvety patches of grass all melted together like a giant, perfect quilt. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that before today. We hung out at the village, passed out a little candy, told a couple stories, helped a woman gather some rice (it was still in its yellow husks) and had a good time. I used the Rainbow’s bathroom-it was connected to the where the pigs stay. Need I say more? I offered to help a lady with her laundry but she wouldn’t let me. The villages, despite the dirt and smells are so lovely and colorful they are almost surreal. Every house, animal, shirt, bucket and rain boot looks like something from a fairy tale. More villages tomorrow. I am excited.”

By the end of December, my 3 months were just about over. I spent the last few days traveling to where I’d need to be to catch my flight, packing, and doing all my favorite things “for the last time”. The months following my return to the States have given me time to process and realize some of what I learned in Asia. I miss it everyday. I love that Asia is more to me now than just a splotch of color on a map. It is real and it has changed me.

finished up my time as an intern for Hillside Missions in Central Asia. For three months I lived and worked in the capital city. Most of my time was spent teaching English to adults with an organization made up of Christian foreigners who want to plant churches among the native people.
If the neighborhood mullah didn’t wake me up with the call to prayer in the middle of the night, I would wake up around 7. Time with God over coffee or tea and then off to a team meeting where we would discuss items of business nature of the organization or spend time in prayer for the native people the team interacts with. Some days I had local language lessons, or I would go to an Internet Café to check email, or go shopping in a neighborhood bazaar. By noon I was back at the Center preparing the days lessons, grading homework, and learning English grammar so I could teach my own language! At 2 o’clock the first class started with 7 adults. It took a few weeks for me to get used to the students and they to get used to me. Being American, female, and teacher are all seen as different roles in their culture yet I combined all three. They were a fun bunch of people and I was able to learn about their country during the two hour class. Then at 4 o’clock my second class of students came. These students were a bit more shy but loved to play different games. Seeing my students five days a week and interacting with them I was able to develop a relationship with these people that I will always treasure.
One of the highlights of my experience in this country was spending time in the homes of local people. I spent the night at one of my language teachers’ home because my housemate had become great friends with her. I also went to visit two of my students during the holiday of Eid. Another teacher brought me to this girls’ house and that is where I found out my student is a Christian! We were able to pray together with her and her sister who is also a believer and share what God is doing in our lives. It was an awesome moment to be a part of. Being a part of an organization that wants to see churches planted in this country I was often surrounded by the long term workers planting seeds in their friends. I was able to plant some seeds in the life of an English student as well. She was a student in the upper level course; her spoken English was very good. She became friendly with her teacher (one of my housemates) and we had the honor of hosting her for tea several times. Storytelling is a big part of this culture and during our visits we would all share a story or two. During one visit I was able to share a story from Genesis about a man who had to work 14 years for the woman he loved. Not a huge step in her understanding of Christianity but I hope, at least something to start her curiosity. It is like the proverb from this land “Many drops make a river”. Knowing that God is being glorified by people in Central Asia is a heart warming thought. God used me to encourage a Christian who has lived all her life in a war-torn land. She showed me that the peace of God is more powerful than anything on this earth. My students were full of hope, for a better job, a better future, a better life for their children than what they had suffered through. The previous conditions of this country made the few hours of electricity we had every other day and the one room with heat in our house seem like luxuries. To know that God’s mercies are new every morning and that this country is beginning a new season lives me hope and a passion to see all what God has planned come to pass for this country.

For the past 2 years I have been praying, fundraising, making travel arrangements and sending teams on short-term trips to Central Asia. Each time I waved good bye to the team and went home to my baby girl. This month she turned 2 years old and it was my turn to go with the team. I always pictured Central Asia as a dry and scary place. What a nice surprise it was when I stepped out of the airport to see women walking down the street holding their children’s hands and men smiling to each other. We only had one week to spend in the area, so we were very busy. I woke up every morning to the sound of children playing soccer in a dusty field a cross the street, the kids started playing early every day - as early as 4:30 in the morning. One day my friend and I had the opportunity to teach Mexican cooking to a group of Central Asian women. They are learning cooking to be able to get better jobs and help their families. We made rice and beef and tortillas for burritos. While everything was cooking we had time to drink tea and talk to our new friends. Three of them spoke very good English and helped us translate. We talked about our families, countries and the most special part was to be able to share with them the meaning of our Christian names, telling them about the God from whom we receive joy and we praise.
One day we painted some classrooms where teachers have neat opportunities to share the love of Christ with Afghan students. We were there for the day of Pentecost and had the opportunity to see one of the teachers explain to the students the meaning of that special day and read some scripture. We also had the privilege to meet one of the few believer families and share with them, for the first time, the story of Daniel in the Lions dean. That story was so relevant to that family because, as Daniel did, they are enduring a difficult time for what they believe. Before the trip we spent many hours preparing a seminar for the full time workers in the area. We were able to teach and encourage them. It was great to see them learn from us and from each other’s experiences.
My heart is full with joy to see what God is doing in Central Asia. I want to encourage everyone who wants to be a blessing to that country. If you are going to visit Central Asia, be ready to meet friendly people and have good tea.

Kati Willems

While stepping off the plane in New York three months ago, I had very little idea what I had gotten myself into. I’ve always been extremely interested in long-term missions work, and an internship in a missions organization sounded like an awesome opportunity to gain some perspective into what life as a missionary can entail. I felt God pulling me toward Hillside, despite the fact that it is about as far away from my home in California as I could have gone without leaving the country. From a few interview phone calls, I knew I had a strong chance of going to Mexico for a few of those weeks as well as being a part of a bigger vision to build a school of missions for Latin Americans in Mexico. I was also told I would be living with a family from the church, and would be provided necessary transportation. But the phrase that put me most at ease was that I would “become part of the family.” Excluding my own biological family, that statement has held more truth for me in these past three months than anywhere else I have ever visited or lived. I roomed with another intern in a colonial-styled house with a younger couple from the church and their one-year-old daughter. I really enjoyed it. Some people have asked me how I can sacrifice so much by living with strangers in a strange place all summer, but the truth is that it would have been more of a sacrifice to know what I would experience and give it all up simply to be at home. Most importantly, I have had the opportunity to grow closer to God. I can openly worship Him in prayer every morning with the team and throughout the day in my work. I have never been satisfied with a “Sunday morning” level of Christianity, and this summer’s experience has provided me with the knowledge of what life is like when lived continually in light of God’s presence. It has heightened my motivation to continue growing closer and becoming more like Him because I have been again reminded of how nothing else compares to it. Secondly, I have had the blessing in knowing that I have been performing His work (Mark 16:15). If I am going to take up space and time in this world, I want to know that I have counted for something worthwhile and that my life’s purpose will be achieved. I can’t do it alone, but in living out the plans God has placed before me, I can be at peace knowing that God knows what He’s doing, even if I don’t. This is both a relieving and a humbling experience-that God has chosen me to be a part of something greater than I could ever dream on my own Thirdly, I have been stretched past my previous abilities and even taken joy in assignments I never would have before considered an option. The job description of a missionary can not really ever be exhaustive because it encompasses all of life. I’ve discovered that “missions” is not a project or a fundraiser, or even a trip to another country. It might mean something different to everyone, but I’ve discovered that living as a missionary is learning to hear God’s voice and then to obey it without excuses, without reservations, and without parameters I entered this internship with a lot of questions about details concerning where I would live, what my job would look like, and with whom I would be working. However, as I look back on my experiences, I realize that God has provided. I stayed with a wonderful family and have amazing memories with many friends whom I will be reluctant to leave. There is no better place to be than in the middle of God’s will, and the details become known when they become important. I have learned that if God is calling me somewhere, the specific situation I will find there is beside the point in making my decision. I realize this is more easily stated than believed, but living it has been both my greatest challenge and enjoyment.

Lindsay Boykins
My internship with Hillside Missions has been a joy from start to finish. When I stepped into the airport last May, I was greeted by Kris, the director of missions. He took my fellow intern and I on a tour of New York City before we started our internship, which gave us all a chance to get to know each other better. We met the missions team during the second day of the trip, and we quickly got to know them as well. By the end of the first week, I felt like a part of the Hillside family. Working for Hillside has been amazing. During a typical day, we would read a morning devotional, take a missions class, go to lunch, and work on our projects in the afternoon. Our main projects were marketing the internship, making a Sunday school curriculum, and writing materials for the school of missions mobilization. Each of these projects was necessary for Hillside to grow as an organization.
My main task was trying to market the internship. I compiled lists of contacts, made an internship brochure, and constructed a tradeshow booth to take to college career fairs. The main personal benefit of working for a smaller missions agency is that I knew that the work that I did needed to be done. By doing even the small tasks, like mailing letters, I was helping to further the Gospel by not letting these tasks build up.
Knowing that our work made a difference gave each of us a sense of satisfaction. This internship was unique to any other experience that I have ever had. The program is designed to give interns a broader worldview. During the internship, we visited 2 mosques, learned about church planting, and went on a missions trip to Mexico. Our trip to Mexico really made the idea of missions a reality to me. We spent one week at Lilly of the Valley Orphanage where we played with the children and taught them about missions. It was so encouraging to see that the kids were happy without many material possessions. – An idea that is alien to most American kids. During the second week, we worked on establishing a school of missions mobilization for Latin Americans. We met with several church denomination leaders, and we now have the support of major deominations and more than 100 churches in Mexico! My experience with Hillside Missions has been a positive one. Hillside has opened my eyes to the fact that the world is much bigger than what I can see on television. Out of everything that I have learned, I now truly understand that the world can be changed one life at a time.

by Jonathan K. Morton

My goal coming to Bristol, CT to work with Hillside Missions was to broaden my views about missions and get connected with individuals who have had experience working in cross-cultural ministries. To say that I got that is an understatement. As an intern there is great emphasis placed on learning about the different aspects of missions and how different techniques can be utilized in order to reach people groups in other nations. I do not say that lightly, because coupled with the opportunity to study about missions and talk to individuals who have worked in other nations you are given different tasks that will work towards your short term mission trips and that will give you the opportunity to support other missionaries. Everything that you do has a purpose, from learning about how you can be more effective as a missionary, to actually working to support missionaries in other countries, and participating in short term mission trips.

Furthermore, those three characteristics of the internship are magnified by the fact that you are encouraged to come up with innovative ways to express the gospel on the short-term mission trips and to help the organization be more effective in other endeavors like fund-raising, publicity, and other emerging projects. For example, in July we went to an orphanage in Mexico. That one week experience at the orphanage will reverberate through my entire life. I cannot describe in words the joy and love for God that these kids had and how much that their joy rubbed off onto me. From the first night when a young boy in a wheelchair kept pointing at a sign that he wanted me to look that translated into “Jesus loves you” to the last day of morning devotion that included young and old, Mexicans, blacks, whites, and children from indigenous backgrounds, all being led in one accord in praise and worship by the orphanage choir showed me what God’s love and kingdom is all about.

The atmosphere and the passion that permeates from the people of this organization to impact unreached nations around the world with the gospel is astounding. I was stretched during my entire time here to think outside the normal “Christian box” and develop creative ways to share the gospel and concepts about missions. My 3 months working with Hillside Missions, ultimately, matured and transformed my attitude towards world missions and 2-3 years of seminary was rapped up in one week at the orphanage. That maturity is grounded in the fact that the burden is not on us to be this great, significant figure that changes the world but abiding in God as He accomplishes His will for the nations through willing and humble hearts. This internship got me to that simple but paramount point. Consequently, that has been the essential component that I got from my time with the organization; the component that was necessary for me to grasp before I head into long term missions.

Llegue a formar parte de esta organización el 10 de enero de este año, puedo decir que al principio fue una emoción algo que sentía que podía ser excitante, siempre había sentido el llamado de Dios para el ministerio de misiones, pero nunca lo había visto tan concretado como el día que dije que estaba preparada para ser modificada e instruida en lo que debo de hacer para poder alcanzar a las naciones con la palabra de Dios.
Por un momento fue toda una lucha dos días antes de salir de México a Connecticut le dije al director, que ahora es como un padre para mí, y a la coordinadora académica que no podía, puse mil pretextos. La realidad es que no quería renunciar a lo seguro a lo que ya conocía no quería cambiarlo por algo de lo que no tenia la mas mínima seguridad de nada. Siempre había pensando en estudiar la universidad, tener una linda casa, enviar a mis hijos a los mejores colegios, no quería dejar mi hogar el lugar donde la gente que esta adentro me acepta tal cual soy no me podría haber tocado mejor familia que la que Dios me dio, las relaciones que tenia, mis amigos. Un día antes decidí venir, sin saber que estaba dejando todo eso para encontrar mas de lo que pude haber imaginad. Estaba consiente de mi llamado pero pensaba talvez que alguien mas lo podía hacer, hoy me doy cuenta que no es así, y aquí estoy, esta es mi experiencia de 6 meses de internado.

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Llegue la noche del 10 de enero y debo mencionar que hacia un frió que jamás había pensado, pero llegue, y me toco una excelente compañera de cuarto Susie, también me toco una excelente maestra de ingles que lo que sé ahora puedo decir que lo aprendí por ella, excelentes amigas y compañeras (Vanesa,Stacey,Sonya,Susie,abi,Gaby,Daniela y Yanina) y unos excelentes lideres que han llegado a ser como mis segundos padres de los cuales me han tocado regaños pero a la ves también consejo y amor. Pasamos de ser una organización a ser una familia con los mismos objetivos donde el objetivo principal es invertir nuestra vida no en un trabajo que dure 5 años si no en un trabajo de consecuencias eternas basado en la necesidad de la gente no por nosotros, si no por que las personas puedan tener la oportunidad que tenemos nosotros de tener una relación con quien nos ha dado todo lo que tenemos.
El trabajo que hago es mi felicidad y pienso invertir todo lo que pueda y permitir que Dios me desgaste haciendo esto que ahora es mi pasión: misiones.

En estos 6 meses me ha tocado aprender muchas cosas entre las cuales se incluye trabajo intelectual como físico, desarrollar proyectos de oficina hasta tener que cargar muebles, recolectar dinero para los viajes de misiones de corto plazo, trabajar en el proyecto de la escuela de Matachi y no todo queda allí, lavar mi ropa, cocinar y ser una persona mas independiente y mas responsable.
He aprendido que lo que haga hoy no solo afecta el presente también el futuro. He aprendido ha valorar las amistades y sentirme aquí como en mi casa aunque este en una cultura diferente.

Las clases que me han dado me han enseñado lo importante que es el llevar de la palabra de Dios a otras naciones hoy mi vida ya no gira en torno a lo que yo quiero hoy gira en torno a lo que Dios quiere y a la importante responsabilidad que tengo de compartir del evangelio, me siento feliz de poder hacer su trabajo.

Estuvimos dos semanas en México donde una semana fue de trabajo de renovación del campus de lo que será la Escuela de Movilización Misionera y la otra de misiones. Donde descubrí lo apasionante que es tratar con gente tan similar a nosotros pero a la vez tan diferente aprender a valorar sus diferencias como sus similitudes acerca de lo que yo conozco como cultura.
Puedo decir con seguridad que sentí tanta adrenalina una adrenalina de la que quieres más, eso lo descubrí cuando nos encontramos visitando un hospital y cuando a la gente que ministraba y por la que oraba me decían que querían recibir a Jesús tengo que decir que cada vez que una persona de algún cuarto recibía a Jesús tenia que salir al pasillo a punto de gritar de emoción estaba tan emocionada, fue algo único.

Ya no pienso en estudiar una carrera para tener un lindo hogar y “seguridad”, pienso estudiarla pero para utilizarla donde hace falta, no por mi seguridad. Mi meta y sueño es que mis hijos puedan crecer sintiendo una pasión por Dios como la que Él a puesto en mi. No me preocupo por el mañana me preocupo por lo que es importante las consecuencias eternas de cientos de almas, allí es donde esta mi corazón y mi meta, Dios me ha hecho libre y creo que hay gente que necesita de esta libertad. Si alguien me preguntara que por que no hago algo “mejor” con mi vida la respuesta seria muy simple por que no hay algo mas que me haga más feliz.

Pienso estudiar medicina o enfermería, y pasar todo el tiempo que me sea permitido en alguna de las naciones no alcanzadas.

Hoy puedo decir que la decisión que tome no creo cambiarla por nada, por que es lo que me hace feliz.

Yanina Alvidrez 

Hola soy Yanina Alvidrez y tengo tres meses de interna y hay muchas cosas que estando aquí me abrieron los ojos, yo sabia que Dios tiene el control de todas las cosas, yo se que su amor es incondicional y que el quiere lo mejor para nosotros, también se que las cosas suceden por una razón y tarde o temprano esperando en Dios todo obrara para bien. Pero ese pensamiento era nada mas por enzima o no se como que le faltaba algo, aquí e aprendido que si todo lo que yo pensaba esta bien que todo eso es correcto, pero hay algo mas; Dios todo lo sabe, el nos conocía desde antes de haber nacido, por lo tanto el hace que pasen las cosas, nada es casualidad!! 

Y como quien dice nada es un error, aunque para nosotros las cosas malas que hagamos, o las cosas malas que nos pasan son errores, para Dios NO, el tiene todo bajo control y por algo el permite que pasen las cosas ya sean buenas o malas. En un principio Dios creo TODO, pero desde antes de crearnos El ya tenia planeado que Adán y Eva pecaran!!! El lo planeo, ¿por que? Por que también ya tenia planeado traer a nuestro
Salvador: Jesús!! y todo con el fin de que estuviéramos agradecidos con y de que podamos tener una razón por la cual anhelarlo, OK entonces ahora mi pregunta era Dios entonces planeo que su hijo fuera crucificado?? Claro a el nada se le escapa o no es como que algunas cosas se le fueron de las manos y ahora va a tener que planear un segundo plan no!!!!!!! Todo absolutamente todo Dios ya lo tiene contemplado. También comprendí que Dios lo hace por nuestro bien y para su gloria y honra.
Otra es lo importante de la oración y el ayuno, antes de venirme si oraba y me encantaba hacerlo, pero normalmente no ayunaba, ahora e comprobado que la oración y el ayuno complementados hacen mas fuerte la batalla espiritual, este tiempo aquí me e acostumbrado a poner en practica el ayuno y me e sentido de maravilla y la verdad me hace estar mas cerca de Dios.
También e aprendido a depender de la voluntad de Dios, a poner mi confianza en el y tener una actitud positiva y de servicio.
También e aprendido que mientras mas involucrado estas en las cosas de Dios , mas mejor estas espiritualmente. Ya que servirle de tiempo completo a El te trae paz y bendiciones.
Por lo tanto quiero que a partir de ahora mi trabajo, en un futuro mi casa, mi familia y todo mi tiempo dedicarlo a El por el resto de mi vida, que de alguna forma buscar siempre la manera de como yo pueda servir al Señor y a la vez ser de bendición para mucha gente. Y para terminar también eh aprendido que no hay cosa mas importante que obedecer a Dios yendo con la personas que no conocen de EL y llevarles las buenas nuevas. 

Daniela Guerra

Antes de venir al internado sabia que iban a pasar muchas cosas que me harian crecer, que mi entendimiento acerca de Dios y de su palabra serian mas fuertes.
Las clases que hemos tenido no solo me han hecho crecer en conocimiento sino que me han abierto el panorama en muchas areas.

Pero creo que la experiencia que mas ha marcado mi vida fue el viaje a China, el poder ir a compartirles un poco acerca de Dios, el ver sus caras cuando por primera vez escuchan hablar de El, el saber que somos parte de Su plan, eso me hace entender el proposito por el cual fui creada.
El haber ido hasta alla y ver la vida de los misioneros, su entrega, su dedicacion el como arriesgan sus vidas por causa de Dios, el que no les importen las consecuencias terrenales sino que solo busquen lo eterno, el impacto que son ellos, el como sus vidas dejan huella…esto me hace ver que hay mucho por hacer, que se necesita gente con la misma pasion, con la misma entrega.
Los pocos creyentes que hay en China tambien impactaron mi vida, como mantienen su fe a traves de los años, muchas veces no hay nadie que les de seguimiento a esta gente sino que una vez conocen de Dios y ellos solos se mantienen firmes, ellos saben que el seguir a Dios los pone en una situcaion en la que se tienen que esconder, que van a ser perseguidos, que van a ser odiados, pero no les importa esto sino solo seguir a Dios…y que tanto hacemos nosotros por Dios? Esto mueve todo, te pone a pensar si realmente estas haciendo lo que debes de hacer, muchas veces nos conformamos con ir a la iglesia los domingos y realmente no apreciamos la bendicion que es el poder conocer a Dios, el no tener que escondernos, creo que llega un punto en el que nos acostumbramos a las bendiciones de Dios, y no le damos el lugar que debe de tener. Este viaje cambio mi vida, me enseno que hay mucho por que luchar todavia, hay mucha gente que necesita de Dios y no lo van a tener si no hay alguien que deje la comodidad y deje de pensar solo en el y vaya y se lo diga.

Dios me ha ensenado muchas cosas en estos tres meses de internado, y esto solo es el principio de lo que Dios tiene para mi. Todavia faltan muchas cosas por hacer y por aprender, estoy segura que cuando termine mi internado jamas volvere a ser la misma de antes, esto va a cambiar mi vida y me va a poner en la direccion en la que El Señor me quiere.
 

What do I know differently now?
By Stacey Snyder

I have now interned with Hillside for five months. During that time my life as a Christian has changed dramatically. Before coming to Hillside, I was ready to make a change in my life. I had been a Christian for fourteen years with parents who are both believers. I thought that I knew a lot of information and beliefs on being a believer of Christ. 

Once I began my internship, I began to think that maybe I was living in a closet all these years. I see many views in a different light now such as predestination, God’s glory, salvation, etc. All of these topics are great to understand and form your own opinion on after extensive study on the bible and discussions with others. However, the most important view that I see and know differently now, is the importance in knowing how to defend your faith. I remember having to memorize bible verses in Sunday School and going to Dare to Share conferences. I have attended Christian concerts and gone on short term mission trips. Do you know what the theme in each of those activities; sharing your faith. That’s why I wanted to come to Hillside so that I could share my faith to people around the world. But could I defend my faith before I came to Hillside? I thought I knew all the things it meant to be a believer but I could not defend my beliefs. I couldn’t answer questions on the textual authenticity of the Bible, the Christian doctrine of God, the deity of Jesus Christ in the bible, and historical and spiritual issues. Knowing all of this information is very important in defending you faith. In addition, it is also important to know not only your own religion but your audience as well. We did very intense study of the Muslim faith for almost four months. We read the Qur’an, studied to history of Christianity before Muhammad, the life of Muhammad, history of Islam since the death of Muhammad, and the differences between Muslims and Christians. I learned to defend my faith with Muslims. I am so excited to go to Turkey and have discussions with Muslims and build relationships with them. Even if they never accept Christ, I can demonstrate a Christ like love to the Turks. Knowing the Muslim faith will allow to tear down some of the boundaries that separate Islam from believers. Coming to Hillside has changed my life and I pray that my next four months are just as amazing! What I am learning here will impact the rest of my life.