My Journey to and Life with AIM

I was a part of the Adventures in Missions program, through the Sunset International Bible Institute, from 2003 to 2005. It was a pivotal point in my life. I didn't know much about the program, in spite of having grown up at Sunset, and I had no real idea about what I was getting myself into. I joined AIM for a t-shirt. I had always really loved the AIM t-shirt, with all the flags.

I was discouraged with the Christian university I had attended, so I quit. I was living at home, working, taking care of my baby sister, and was drifting through life. After encouragement/insistent badgering from a few people, I called and spoke to the AIM secretary. It took Barb 2 minutes to convince me to apply, 5 minutes to convince me to keep an open mind, and by the time I hung up the phone, I had a the feeling of change weighing on my shoulders.

Adventures in Missions changed me; not like a new hair cut changes you, but my whole heart and personality was changed. My eyes were opened to real love, real service, real faith, real ...life.

My life before was full of cynical bitterness, my life was full of deceit and pain, and I wanted to share it.  During AIM, during my time in Lubbock, during my time in Mexico City, Mexico, and through the selfless love of amazing people that God placed in my life, my heart was broken and sewn back together with patience that only God provides.

Honestly, looking back, I am realizing that AIM didn't really change me. It didn't change me because Adventures in Missions doesn't really exist. AIM is just made up of people, people filled with the heart of God's spirit, willing to love and serve, share and love some more.
AIM is just a means to God's ends. AIM didn't change me, because God alone did that, but he used people, people who come together for the glory of God, under the banner of "Adventures in Missions" and I am grateful everyday for the opportunity that they afforded me: to learn to love.