From Comfort Zone to Calling
- Peyton
- Mar 9, 2025
- 3 min read
The summer before my senior year of high school, my life changed forever. While chaperoning a kid’s summer camp, I felt an undeniable calling from God to pursue missions. It was more than a fleeting thought—it was a deep conviction that I couldn’t shake. That call only grew stronger when I attended the World Missions Summit with some friends. Listening to missionaries share their stories, seeing the incredible fruit of their labor, and witnessing lives transformed by the Gospel stirred something inside me. These men and women had dedicated their entire lives to serving God and His people all over the world, and I suddenly knew—I wanted to do the same. All I could think of was what Isaiah 6:8 says,“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”
Desperate to go on my first mission trip, I remembered supporting an organization called Lifeline Christian Mission through the church I grew up in. It felt like the perfect place to start. I reached out to a mentor for guidance, and with their support, I was able to arrange a three-week stay in Grand Goave, Haiti. A week after graduating high school, I found myself packing and heading to the airport! Unlike many who travel with teams, I went alone, ready to meet others along the way and immerse myself in the work God had for me there.
Stepping Into the Mission Field
Arriving in Haiti, I immediately jumped into hands-on ministry, working alongside other churches that had sent teams. We built houses—literally from the ground up—offering families not just shelter, but hope. We poured love into mothers and their precious babies, organizing donations of clothing, shoes, and formula, ensuring each person received what they truly needed. The local school children stole my heart as we spent time playing, teaching, and assisting with their nutrition programs. Every moment was an opportunity to serve, to love, and to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
A Powerful Legacy of Faith
One of the most incredible aspects of the community in Grand Goave was the way the local church had overcome the dark remnants of voodoo practices. A remarkable woman named Matilde was a key figure in this transformation. After the devastating 2008 earthquake, she had grown weary of the nightly voodoo chanting and rituals that gripped the area. Refusing to let darkness reign, she took matters into her own hands—quite literally. Every night, as soon as the rituals ceased and the people went to sleep, she grabbed a megaphone and began shouting, “TIME TO PRAY.” She rallied homes together for prayer and worship until the sun came up. What began as one woman’s bold stand against spiritual darkness became a powerful movement of faith, and I had the privilege of witnessing the fruit of her unwavering commitment to the Lord. Waking up to walk the streets long before the sun rises in the morning, and worshipping with these giants of the faith, is a moment I will never forget.
A Step of Faith That Changed Everything
Looking back, I am forever grateful that I took that step out of my comfort zone and into my calling. Those three weeks in Haiti confirmed what God had placed in my heart months before—that missions weren’t just something I wanted to do, it was something I was made to do.
That trip shaped my faith in ways I never could have imagined. It taught me that true ministry isn’t about our own abilities or strength, but about being willing and obedient to what God asks of us. It’s about showing up, loving people, and trusting that God will move in ways beyond our comprehension.
I carry that experience with me always. It reminds me that when we surrender our plans to God and step out in faith, He takes us places we never dreamed we’d go—both physically and spiritually. And that is where we find our true calling.
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” Romans 10:13-15
With Love,
Peyton
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