Patrick Quigley II (10th grade)
The first week on the mission trip was totally shocking. I was full of shock as soon as I stepped out of the airport. We arrived in Kolkata and the place was full of trash. There are no trash restrictions in India, so everyone just throws their garbage all on the ground. The air was thick with dust and it was a busy city. I was totally shocked at their way of living. The streets were full of taxies, cars, and buses that had no idea of traffic laws. Everyone just drove like they wanted to die, or was about to.
Once we got to the island, I started getting stressed. There was so much to do and it seemed like there was so little time. First we had to set up our living quarters. We pitched our tent and threw everything in we started preparing for that night’s meetings. The sermons were so confusing, so we edited them so it made perfect sense. Then we practiced with our translators and headed to over to the meetings. By this time I was really nervous, but all I could do was pray.
Once it got to 5:00, my nerves settled. The kids all ran up me and I got a lot of flowers from them. Everyone was so nice and they all smiled at me and talked with me, asking about my life and who I was. It was so reassuring to know they wanted me there and they were ready to learn about Jesus. The meeting started and everything went smoothly. The adults were very alert and they all listened carefully to the sermon. The children loved my stories and it was really the best time of my life. I can’t wait till I get to go again.
Ryan Haakenson (9th grade)
This year I went back to the village I preached in two years ago (when I was in 7th grade) on the island of ‘G’ Plot. As I arrived, the translator pointed to a home and said that “believers” lived there. Then he pointed out another home of “believers” and another. The area around my former preaching site was surrounded with homes of believers as a result of my preaching two years before.
Soon a small crowd of children and adults gathered around me. They were all happy to see me. One of the women wanted to keep me there. Another person said I was a hero in their village. Why was I considered a hero? Because I brought the message of Jesus to them.
Stories from Sunnydale Adventist Academy’s newsletter
