Collegiate Scholars on Mission

On June 2, twelve Collegiate juniors and graduating seniors and two alumni leaders went to Belize to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15). Nicole, a scholar at Collegiate, wrote about her time on mission and how the Lord worked in her heart while she was there.

"Before Belize, everything to me was pretty confusing. I knew that we would go help and that we would praise the name of God. However, I never knew that I would feel a connection to students in Belize that would make me feel a great deal of sadness once I left.

The first day that I met the boys we were all pretty shy, but I took it upon myself to start a conversation. Even more, a game of volleyball paved the way to what I would like to call a family. A couple of days later, my faith was questioned and broken down by William. I asked him a simple question, “Do you believe in God, and how did you come to know him?” His response was shocking because he said he did not believe in God. What could he be doing at a Christian school if he did not believe. He then asked me, “Why do you believe in God? And if God is real, why do people suffer?”

I got frustrated with myself that night because I could not answer the question. My reason for being in Belize was to be a missionary and proclaim the word of God, and I could not even convince William of why I thought God was real. Later that night, William came up to me and told me that he loved God and that he was simply trying to test my ability to explain God and who He is. For the rest of my whole week I felt even closer to everyone, especially God. He had allowed me to know the kids and Himself in a more loving way.

Although the people of Belize seem like they don’t have much, I’d like to say that they have everything they need and much more. They are people who are rich and full of love and are determined to be something in life. I resonate with that determination, and because of that, I was moved. Something in me made me ask the lead pastor to let me come back next year as an intern for the summer, and I think about it every day.

Now back in the states, I can proudly say that I will sponsor two of the boys at the school and that I will return to be with them, help them, and encourage them to be the intelligent men that God has called them to be."

"Before Belize, everything to me was pretty confusing. I knew that we would go help and that we would praise the name of God. However, I never knew that I would feel a connection to students in Belize that would make me feel a great deal of sadness once I left.

The first day that I met the boys we were all pretty shy, but I took it upon myself to start a conversation. Even more, a game of volleyball paved the way to what I would like to call a family. A couple of days later, my faith was questioned and broken down by William. I asked him a simple question, “Do you believe in God, and how did you come to know him?” His response was shocking because he said he did not believe in God. What could he be doing at a Christian school if he did not believe. He then asked me, “Why do you believe in God? And if God is real, why do people suffer?”

I got frustrated with myself that night because I could not answer the question. My reason for being in Belize was to be a missionary and proclaim the word of God, and I could not even convince William of why I thought God was real. Later that night, William came up to me and told me that he loved God and that he was simply trying to test my ability to explain God and who He is. For the rest of my whole week I felt even closer to everyone, especially God. He had allowed me to know the kids and Himself in a more loving way.

Although the people of Belize seem like they don’t have much, I’d like to say that they have everything they need and much more. They are people who are rich and full of love and are determined to be something in life. I resonate with that determination, and because of that, I was moved. Something in me made me ask the lead pastor to let me come back next year as an intern for the summer, and I think about it every day.

Now back in the states, I can proudly say that I will sponsor two of the boys at the school and that I will return to be with them, help them, and encourage them to be the intelligent men that God has called them to be."