Amanda Hall
I write with such excitement to let all who read this know that my name is Amanda Hall, I am from the United States of America, and was a participant of MI6 last year!!
For me, there are many, many reasons why I want to participate in MI7 and I really don’t know where to begin. I guess I will start by giving you a little insight into how my past year has affected me and my choice to be apart of MI7.
This past year has brought much my way. First off, I experienced the loss of my grandfather which was very hard time for me. I had a very special bond with him and it took quite a while for me to recover from my grief, but the Lord was an ever present helper in my time of need. My grandfather was a strong believer in Christ and supported my sister (Mary Rachel) and I spreading God’s word. It is in his memory that I want to continue sharing my love for Christ with others and why I want to be apart of MI7.
Secondly, this year I got a job at an ice-cream shop. It has been very challenging for me. I am the only Christian at my work and daily I am surrounded by teenagers my age who continually put down Christianity and slander God’s name. My soul aches for the people I work with, but my soul also feels immature. I want to help the people I work with, but it so hard. Many days I go to work and feel like my faith is oppressed by the hate I feel from my co-workers. This challenge at my work has caused me to reflect on my faith and my relationship with God. It has brought me closer to God, but has also made me feel like my faith is weak. It is hard to stand up to my co-workers all alone. Many a night I prayed to God for help. God is good. He helps us when we are alone. God answered my prayers and let me know that even one Christian can stand up to a million non-believers and make a difference. And now I go to work knowing that I have God’s strength on my side. My job has increased my conviction that Christians need to put on the armor of God and take on the world. We should be spreading God’s love and hope to a world that needs it desperately. Even one Christian, spreading God’s word, can do much. And this is another huge reason why I want to be apart of MI7. I want to share what God has taught me in my life to others. I want to show to others that no matter how alone you feel around non-believers, God is still with you!!
Thirdly, being surrounded at my job, by non-believers, makes me yearn for Christian fellowship. It is such a blessing from God to be able to fellowship with those who love God as you do. And I so badly want to come together with Christians from all over the world and fellowship! This is another huge reason why I want to be apart of MI7!!!
Fourth, I am dying to see those who I made friendships with and those who I am yet to know and become friends with. I yearn to just hug everyone and talk of old times. And most of all, I want to make new memories with my fellow Christian believers at MI7!
Fifth, God has placed it on my heart to be involved with missions. I feel his blessing in helping others and in serving him. I truly believe he wants me at MI7. And it is so great to know that!
Sixth, being apart of MI7 gives me a little window of opportunity when I talk to those who do not know the Lord. These people will be talking to me and ask, “So are you going anywhere this summer?” And I respond by saying, “Yes, Ukraine.” And when they ask me why, I answer them that it is to serve God. Thus an opening is created for me to talk about my love for God to others. This does not happen often, but it is a chance given to me to tell others about God and his amazing love!
Seventh, MI6 had such a wonderful impact on me. I am so thankful for David and all the Ukrainian team for hosting MI6. In return, I want to come back for MI7 and lend my service in helping teach others about God.
For me, there are many, many reasons why I want to participate in MI7 and I really don’t know where to begin. I guess I will start by giving you a little insight into how my past year has affected me and my choice to be apart of MI7.
This past year has brought much my way. First off, I experienced the loss of my grandfather which was very hard time for me. I had a very special bond with him and it took quite a while for me to recover from my grief, but the Lord was an ever present helper in my time of need. My grandfather was a strong believer in Christ and supported my sister (Mary Rachel) and I spreading God’s word. It is in his memory that I want to continue sharing my love for Christ with others and why I want to be apart of MI7.
Secondly, this year I got a job at an ice-cream shop. It has been very challenging for me. I am the only Christian at my work and daily I am surrounded by teenagers my age who continually put down Christianity and slander God’s name. My soul aches for the people I work with, but my soul also feels immature. I want to help the people I work with, but it so hard. Many days I go to work and feel like my faith is oppressed by the hate I feel from my co-workers. This challenge at my work has caused me to reflect on my faith and my relationship with God. It has brought me closer to God, but has also made me feel like my faith is weak. It is hard to stand up to my co-workers all alone. Many a night I prayed to God for help. God is good. He helps us when we are alone. God answered my prayers and let me know that even one Christian can stand up to a million non-believers and make a difference. And now I go to work knowing that I have God’s strength on my side. My job has increased my conviction that Christians need to put on the armor of God and take on the world. We should be spreading God’s love and hope to a world that needs it desperately. Even one Christian, spreading God’s word, can do much. And this is another huge reason why I want to be apart of MI7. I want to share what God has taught me in my life to others. I want to show to others that no matter how alone you feel around non-believers, God is still with you!!
Thirdly, being surrounded at my job, by non-believers, makes me yearn for Christian fellowship. It is such a blessing from God to be able to fellowship with those who love God as you do. And I so badly want to come together with Christians from all over the world and fellowship! This is another huge reason why I want to be apart of MI7!!!
Fourth, I am dying to see those who I made friendships with and those who I am yet to know and become friends with. I yearn to just hug everyone and talk of old times. And most of all, I want to make new memories with my fellow Christian believers at MI7!
Fifth, God has placed it on my heart to be involved with missions. I feel his blessing in helping others and in serving him. I truly believe he wants me at MI7. And it is so great to know that!
Sixth, being apart of MI7 gives me a little window of opportunity when I talk to those who do not know the Lord. These people will be talking to me and ask, “So are you going anywhere this summer?” And I respond by saying, “Yes, Ukraine.” And when they ask me why, I answer them that it is to serve God. Thus an opening is created for me to talk about my love for God to others. This does not happen often, but it is a chance given to me to tell others about God and his amazing love!
Seventh, MI6 had such a wonderful impact on me. I am so thankful for David and all the Ukrainian team for hosting MI6. In return, I want to come back for MI7 and lend my service in helping teach others about God.