Full Transcript for Looking Back, I wouldn't Change it | Gabe & Kari Wendt | Trevor Schmidt

is priorities, come on. 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:33.439 Yeah. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:37.680 So that's how we met is Trevor joined the worship team. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:38.319 Yes. 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:38.720 Yeah. 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:40.319 By force, actually. 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:42.240 It was very forcible. 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:42.959 Yeah. 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:45.839 It was like, hey, you can play the drums, right? 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:46.879 On Saturday. 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:47.519 Yeah. 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:55.199 Because from what what I remember how this all came to be was yes, 2020, crazy, everybody getting sick, getting COVID. 00:04:55.439 --> 00:05:00.399 Uh the church had the rules, and you know, the state had the mandates and all that stuff. 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:12.160 And we had um been attending for uh like two months, and um I didn't know you yet. 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:22.879 Uh we knew one of our mutual friends, and both you and the other drummer lived together, and you both got sick, and you both had to quarantine. 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:23.199 Yeah. 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:28.480 And at that point, I hadn't played drums in a very, very, very, very, very long time. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:34.000 And I pretty much was just forced to get on there. 00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:36.800 It was a high pressure to to try and play. 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:48.560 And so I did that a couple weeks, and then um you came and did um, I think you maybe played guitar or something like that where I played, and that's that's how we met. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:52.079 Yeah, and then just kept playing on the worship team. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:57.040 Yeah, just kind of thrown into the fire, which is usually happens for worship team members. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:05:57.600 Yep. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:05:59.439 Anywhere and everywhere. 00:05:59.600 --> 00:05:59.920 Yep. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:06.720 But yeah, I remember like um the first time I had a conversation with you. 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:14.959 I'm very much like a uh warm up to you type person, and I feel like you are very like you're you're just an easy guy to talk to. 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:20.800 Like you can go up to someone and have a conversation, and you just walked right up to me and started talking to me about shoes. 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:23.519 And I was like, what's happening right now? 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:25.360 So who is this guy, anyways? 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:32.240 And then eventually we became like best friends, and um I'm very grateful for you. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:35.439 And we're very grateful for you and Emily and your baby. 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:37.120 And uh we love you guys. 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:37.600 So thanks. 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:46.079 Yeah, it's now it's crazy to think that we've been here in Iowa for so long, and it feels like a blink of an eye. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:47.199 It feels like home now. 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:54.560 I mean, it's crazy, and it's the people that we've met and the people that we've been able to do life with, and it's it's crazy. 00:06:54.720 --> 00:06:55.519 Yeah, yeah. 00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:56.720 Yeah, that's awesome. 00:06:56.959 --> 00:07:07.839 Emily and I get the joy of listening to you talking about drumming, terminology, your beatboxing, your hand drumming fee. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:10.720 Oh, so much fun being married to drummers. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:11.519 Yeah. 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:15.279 Felt a little sarcastic, but that's okay. 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:19.120 I can't wait until we get to have like all four of us on together. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:19.680 I know. 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:21.279 And that will happen very soon. 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:22.959 So let's get into the game. 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:23.360 Yes. 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:23.759 Okay. 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:27.279 This is just like a fun little, like, not even a long game. 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:28.639 It's just it'll just be quick. 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:29.040 Yeah. 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:32.079 So it's called Choose Your Challenge. 00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:33.120 Choose my challenge. 00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:33.439 Okay. 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:38.959 So you're gonna give, we're gonna give you two options, and you have to choose which challenge you're gonna go with. 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:46.879 And to preface this, just so everyone knows, we've talked about it, but Trevor and Emily are about to have a one-year-old on their name. 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:48.319 So they they have a baby. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:48.800 Yes. 00:07:49.040 --> 00:08:00.000 And so let's go ahead and get the first one locking in a perfect drum rhythm during worship or getting your baby to stay asleep after you set them down. 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:03.120 Which one getting the baby to sleep when you set them down? 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:04.800 That's more challenging. 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:06.399 Oh, that's sorry. 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:07.759 That's what is more challenging. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:09.040 What is more challenging? 00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:09.600 So yeah. 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:10.240 Oh, yeah. 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:12.000 The baby, oh, for sure the baby. 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:12.800 Yeah. 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:14.079 Yeah. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:15.759 Okay, next one. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:20.959 Finishing a woodworking project without mistakes or leaving the house on time with the baby. 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:23.360 Oh, the mistake, the woodworking mistakes. 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:24.399 That is way harder. 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:24.959 Really? 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:25.279 Yes. 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:25.680 Okay. 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:26.800 Absolutely. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:29.600 Trevor's Trevor is a really good woodworking. 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:31.839 Like he's started some fun little projects with that. 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:33.120 Incredible. 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:39.679

Okay, next one is explaining a retirement plan to a client or figuring out why your baby's crying. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:44.720 Which one is harder? 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:48.639 Explaining a retirement plan to a client. 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:49.360 Really? 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:50.080 Yes. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:53.440 Would you have said that like six months ago? 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:56.080 Uh yeah. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:57.519 Interesting. 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:06.720 So it's is it is it are both like really hard, or is it easy now to just be like, oh, I know why the baby's crying? 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:10.879 I mean, the baby, you get like four things that why they're crying. 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:11.039 Okay. 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:14.399 And so you just cycle through them and one of them will work. 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:16.559 Our baby is very easygoing. 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:17.279 I will say this. 00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:25.120 I know that there are some parents out there that have had some tough experiences, but for us, she's a pretty chill, relaxed baby. 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:27.279 So it's been pretty easy to keep her happy. 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:28.080 Nice. 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:28.879 All right. 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:31.360 That that is totally not what I expected on that one. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:33.200 How many more do we have left, too? 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:34.399 Uh yes. 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:35.679 Two more left. 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:36.799 Two more left. 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:37.440 Okay. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:47.360 Next one launching and running your own golf game business or surviving a night of no sleep with a newborn. 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:50.559 Uh, the golf game business, for sure. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:59.039 Um, so I have a company called Yard Golf Co., uh, which allows you to have your own personal golf course in your backyard. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:06.399 It's a bigger cup that you screw in and you hit pickleballs um pretty much around your yard, allows you to hit it as hard as you can. 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:08.240 You kind of make up your own course. 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:18.879 Uh, but what entails is I have to do a bunch of social media videos and I have to do a bunch of marketing, and I have to always videotape myself, and I'm just that is not who I am. 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:23.919 I like to be kind of behind the scenes and just kind of the production part of it. 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:24.320 Yeah. 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:28.480 So that's always tough doing that every single day and keeping it up. 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:29.759 Yeah. 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:32.720 It is a lot to do stuff like that. 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:33.279 Yeah. 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:35.679 But yard golf is so much fun. 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:36.080 Yes. 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:40.639 I've got to play it a lot with you and some of our other friends. 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:42.399 And yeah, it's fun. 00:10:42.559 -->

00:10:42.960 It is. 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:44.480 I have my very own kit. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:45.279 You do, yeah. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:50.399 I live on a golf course and I have my own kit, so it's that tells you anything. 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:58.879 It's in Iowa, you only get a finite amount of nice weather, and people like to spend it outside. 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:07.279 And we know we love our our games, our yard games, and this just allows you to play golf whenever at all times. 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:07.840 Yep. 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:11.039 I have not played because I'm pretty sure I would hit the house or break something. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:12.000 But that's okay. 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:17.120 You can hit the house because it's a it's a pickleball, it's not gonna break anything. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:17.679 Don't worry. 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:21.919 I have also hit my own house a million times for testing purposes. 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:23.919 For testing purposes. 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:27.279 It's seriously so fun to watch you guys play, though. 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:33.519 It's like if I hit the ball at a million miles an hour, will it destroy the house? 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:35.600 It's it's proofed out, everyone. 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:36.320 You can hit your house. 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:36.799 You can. 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:38.720 You can hit the glass, you can hit the everything. 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:42.320 Yeah, we'll definitely have to have another podcast where you can talk even more in depth about it. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:43.039 I would love to. 00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:45.600 Just the process, because it's been really cool to get a watch. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:49.200 Yeah you like start into where you're at today. 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:49.840 Yeah. 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:56.559 It's and it's a fairly new company, so it's been fun to learn and grow as the process um keeps going. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:56.960 Yes. 00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:57.919 Okay. 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:00.720 One more. 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:08.159 Sinking a clutch putt to win the game, or successfully completing a diaper change without chaos. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:11.279 Sinking a clutch putt every single time. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:13.200 Because I have yet to do that. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:16.000 I have changed a million diapers. 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:25.519 And yes, it is harder when they get a little bit bigger, they turn into little alligators and they want to roll and they want to do all that, but you really just gotta hold them down and then you're good to go. 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:29.279 When it's like to win the game and putting, no, I have never done it. 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:30.960 I will miss it every time. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:38.799 Maybe your next uh invention needs to be something that makes diaper changing uh easier when they're at that alligator stage. 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:40.159 Not sure what that would look

like. 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:43.279 I don't think it would be legal to do what I would need to do. 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:50.799 We'll talk when we're done recording. 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:51.919 Yeah. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:54.320 I don't think that would work out too well. 00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:57.279 Oh, that's hilarious. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:00.399 Um thanks for playing our fun little game. 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:08.159 I feel like I want to conclude the game with the challenge accepted from how I met your dad. 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:09.759 Yeah, challenge accepted. 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:12.480 Yeah. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:18.559 Well, I what I learned through the game is that Trevor is already like a master dad. 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:19.039 Yeah. 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:22.399 But he won't make the master's golfing. 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:23.600 That's what I've learned. 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:24.320 Yeah. 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:25.440 Yeah. 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:26.639 Absolutely. 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:29.759 Bar set really hot for the master. 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:33.120 Uh okay. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.960 Let's get into the content here. 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:35.440 Yeah. 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:39.120 So Gabe kind of already hinted at in the episode. 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:53.200 Um, we're gonna be talking a lot about just growing up in Mexico and what it was like um having your parents in the mission field and just your childhood and um just sharing some more insight of what um that was like. 00:13:53.279 --> 00:14:04.480 Because if you listen to a couple episodes ago, we had our good friend Elena on and she talked about working for a company um that helps just prepare and send out missionaries and support them. 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:15.120 And so we thought it'd be so fun to have you on and just give some more um information on just what it's like actually being in that and in the world, um, the mission world. 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:15.759 Yeah, yeah. 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:18.000 And just kind of like what it's like, you know. 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:21.759 I think the first thing I'd want to ask, like, what was it like growing up? 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:27.840 Like, obviously, I feel most of our listeners are from the United States. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:28.240 Yeah. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:35.039 And so what was it like actually being a missions kid and growing up in a different country? 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:37.679 Like, just what was that experience like? 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:40.879 Yeah, it was uh definitely unique. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:44.480 Uh, I am the youngest out of all my siblings. 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:51.360 So I kind of just again, I was born in Costa Rica, so I kind of just remember it as that was my life. 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:51.679 Yeah. 00:14:51.840 --> 00:15:00.159 Uh my sisters had a little bit different situation where they were told we're leaving the United States, we're moving to Costa Rica.

00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:02.559 So they had kind of a bigger transition. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:12.799 Um, but I'm also um a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, uh super white kid growing up in Latin America. 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.120 Yeah. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:33.360 And so I remember my mom having to put a leash on me uh because I was also a very active uh kid, so I'd always want to be running around and stuff, but people would just come up and touch my head because I had golden, you know, I have blonde hair, and that's just not very common in those countries. 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:33.840 Okay. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:41.600 So people would come and they would just touch my hair, or they would just grab me, or they would, you know, it would be kind of just a weird situation. 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:45.279 Um, and so that was me as as a kid. 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:56.080 Uh, and then of course growing up, you know, uh throughout my childhood being the only kind of really the only like white kid around. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:59.440 Um yeah, it was unique. 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:05.440 Um I I mean I was it was I definitely stood out in in these countries. 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:21.759 Um when I grew up and the movie Remember the Titans came out, and my nickname was Sunshine because that's what all the kids would just yell sunshine because I, you know, the blonde haired, yeah, blue-eyed kid. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:26.799 So yeah, I mean I I knew from the start that I it was different. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:29.600 Um, I had access to different things. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:34.879 Like for Christmas one time, I got a case of root beer because we don't have root beer. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:36.559 There was no root beer in Mexico. 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:43.039 And so I remember getting IBC root beer as like a wrapped-up present, and I was thrilled to get that. 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:47.039 Uh, and then we would come back to the States and there would be unlimited refills. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:52.799 And I mean, it was just this it would culture shift, it was crazy to see the differences. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:17:01.919 Uh, and then you'd go back and you'd have to, I would only be allowed one, you know, one drink if I ever got it, because every time you got something, it would cost. 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:04.880 So yeah. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:13.599 So you talk about like obviously from a pretty young age, already knowing like I am different, like to everyone else in this culture. 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:15.279 Like, how did that feel? 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:17.920 Did you feel like mad about that? 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:20.880 Did you have like appreciation for being different? 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:23.440 Or was it kind of a mix of emotions? 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:24.000 Yeah. 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:31.759 It was a little bit of a mix because I um also didn't always fit in. 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:39.279 Um, I got bullied pretty heavily, and so there was

groups of people that I could be around and uh it would be fine. 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:52.559 But a lot of the, you know, kids at school that I would go to, you know, they were all, you know, they'd play soccer or they had just a different, you know, life that I had, and we just did not get along. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:18:01.759 And so um I didn't really, you know, there was that side of it where I didn't really have a lot of friends and it was hard. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:05.119 Um, but then it was, you know, really cool looking. 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:09.839 But you know, I as an adult, I look back at it and I think, wow, that's an experience that nobody else had. 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:10.240 Yeah. 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:10.559 Yeah. 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:29.839 Um, but growing up, it was hard to be kind of isolated, and I wasn't allowed to play any of the sports uh that all these other kids played because um kind of like in the United States with football, I mean, parents can be crazy, kids can be nuts, and I was already having a hard time making friends and stuff like that. 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:36.400 And so my parents didn't want to put me in like a situation where all of a sudden the parents also hated me as well. 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:45.519 Um and so it just like stuff like that, where I just wasn't um able to do the same things as uh the other kids. 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:48.880 So it was hard at some time, and then like learning the language. 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:50.079 I remember having to learn it. 00:18:50.160 --> 00:19:01.839 I was in a class called Special Spanish, where they would put all the kids who didn't know how to speak the language, they had a whole separate class for native speakers because they didn't need to learn it. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:17.519 They were doing the history, you know, they were doing all the more advanced stuff, and so then I was isolated in that all of a sudden, and um I mean you definitely were the I was the odd man out when it came to to my class and the people. 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:31.519 So were there any other like missionary families with kids anywhere like near where you guys were at where like you at least could meet with others that were kind of in a in a similar position? 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:34.720 Um so you felt like less isolated, I guess. 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:40.240 Yeah, so we uh there were there were other missionaries that were there. 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:42.559 Um none of them were my age. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:48.880 And so, but there were people that we could go and um you know, we'd have dinner with or hang out with. 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:56.799 Uh and I, you know, I did have some friends in in other places that were, you know, uh Mexican kids that I was friends with. 00:19:57.039 --> 00:20:00.880 It just wasn't uh all the time in at my school. 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:14.480 Uh one thing that was really cool is growing up, there was another ministry called Engage, where college students would be able to come and do two years uh abroad because they wanted to go into missions. 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:34.240 And so this would be at like schools like Southeastern University or SAGU, uh, which these are assemblies of God universities that had these programs where college kids would come, they would do two years abroad doing missions work, and then after they would finish up their degree in missions or in pastoral care or whatever it may be. 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:41.200 And so I was like a 13-year-old kid hanging out with college students, and every weekend we'd go and we'd do outreach. 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:52.960 So we'd go to these like really impoverished areas and we would, you know, do kids' ministry, or we would go out and do a food uh ministry where we would serve families and stuff like that. 00:20:53.119 --> 00:21:13.119 So seeing my parents do it, and then also that just being a place where I felt comfortable and I actually had, you know, a fun time hanging out with these people and they took me in, but I also got to see the country and how impoverished it is and how important it is to go out into the community and help people. 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:27.039 That's really cool that you had that to kind of like go with the really hard part about the not fitting in and the bullying and just feeling like an outcast, like and just isolating. 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:28.559 Yeah, the isolation. 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:34.640 Like I'm sure, I mean, I know that doesn't feel good ever, you know. 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:46.160 And so I think that's just really cool that like you were there as a missions kid, but God also sent other missions people to be that for you. 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:46.559 Yeah. 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:49.519 And to like uh serve you in that way. 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:54.079 Like you were there serving with them, but really like as you were serving, like they were helping to serve. 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:56.480 I just think that that parallel is just really cool to me. 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:57.200 It is, yeah. 00:21:57.279 --> 00:22:03.440 I mean, if I didn't have some of those people Um, I I don't know how I would have gone through it. 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:07.359 Um, a lot of missionary kids have different experiences. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:27.759 I mean, there's some I know missionary kids that love the country that they're in, and they even turn up to be missionaries and go back to the country and they have this incredible experience, and it is just you know what you think of it when you, you know, when you picture a family abroad that goes and and then there's kind of like my situation, which my sisters had a completely different situation. 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:32.240 They had a lot of friends and they would go out and they would go do all the the fun stuff. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:38.559 And it, you know, again, as an adult looking back, it is an incredible experience, but it it

was hard. 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:56.960 I mean, it's it I longed to come back to the United States because I felt like that's where I could I had because every five years you go back and you itinerate, which itinerating is essentially my parents have to come back every five years, they go to these different churches and they try and raise money again for the next five years. 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.200 Yeah. 00:22:57.359 --> 00:23:01.759 So you do five years in the country, you go back to the United States for a year, and then you come back to the country. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:15.039 So for me, doing five years of absolute hell, going to the United States, having fun, having friends, yeah, assimilating almost instantly because it just it it worked, it fit, and then getting told we're going back. 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:18.799 Yeah, and then doing another five years, and then doing that, it it was it was tough. 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:20.559 And as I got older, it got easier. 00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:26.160 And yeah, you know, you find kind of the people that you want to hang out with, but it it was tough. 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:26.799 Yeah. 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:37.759 I like how you brought up though, like as an adult, looking back, you can see like the things that you appreciate about it and how it's helped you um as an adult. 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:45.440 Cause I definitely can relate to you, not in a in a way that I've like lived outside of the US, but obviously being born with like a limb difference. 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:48.720 Yeah, from a very early age, I knew I was different. 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:54.000 I was bullied, picked on, felt like an outcast, just felt different. 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:54.480 Yeah. 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:59.519 And it's just a lot of like adversity from a young age. 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:15.359 But when I think about it now, it has made I feel like God has gifted me with just a resilience now that it has taught me like, even as a Christian, like we're gonna experience persecution because we're living life so differently from the world. 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:15.680 Yeah. 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:30.960 And I feel like it's helped me manage that better or just like choices I've made of like not drinking, like purity, like and until guy got married, like it made those decisions easier because I started off life just being so different. 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:40.400 And I'm I know that's like not everyone's case, but I think um it does help build this like strength and resiliency, like through the hard times. 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:48.079 Yeah, you can you can either make a choice to let it ruin you, or you can make a choice to make it make you stronger. 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:48.720 Yeah. 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:50.160 Um, and that can be hard. 00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:57.200 I mean, again, growing up doing that as a kid, it can be hard to do it, but I mean, we're here, we've done it. 00:24:57.440 --> 00:25:02.720

I mean, a lot of a lot of people do, and so I look back and I'm thankful for it. 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:06.640 Um but it is yeah, it's hard when you look back. 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:09.039 Yeah, it sounds very hard. 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:09.599 Yeah. 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:12.880 Um, so you moved to Mexico at you said you were five. 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:13.440 I was five. 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:17.359 So you were there until ten and then you came back to the states for a year. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:17.920 Yep. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:24.000 And then wow, so at 10, then you go back at 11 and then you're there for five more years. 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:24.640 Yep. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.119 Wow. 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:30.400 Yeah, I didn't realize that there was that transition every five years. 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:31.039 Yep. 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:49.200 How would you say, like, I know you're like pretty young between like five and ten, but like would you say like when you went back at age 11, was it just like you realize like life for someone who is from America is like different than what I just lived the last five years? 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:49.680 Yeah. 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:51.039 Like, oh yeah. 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.960 I mean, it was it's a complete shift. 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:56.880 I mean, the first time, so this is the craziest thing. 00:25:57.119 --> 00:26:01.839 I we because born in Costa Rica moved uh to Mexico when I was five. 00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:10.000 Um I I pretty much had the language down, and then we moved back to the United States and I completely forgot everything. 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:11.759 I forgot all of my Spanish. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:16.240 And so then we go back after a year and I have to relearn everything. 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:26.480 Um and it yeah, again, you see the culture, the people, how things are in the United States compared to how they are in Mexico, the kids, even. 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:30.640 I mean, there's it's set up completely different, the schools are completely different. 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:41.599 Um, I did go to like a Christian school when I came back to the United States, uh, because I was just, I feel like my parents wanted to do that instead of putting me in the public school system and then taking me out within a year. 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:52.880 Um and so going from like a Christian environment in a school, then to go back to a secular school where it's just a completely different setup. 00:26:53.440 --> 00:27:02.079 Um yeah, it's it was hard to do that and assimilate back into to Mexico. 00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:03.119 Yeah. 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:16.720 Would you say like that had a great effect on like your faith, like today, like who you are as a believer today, like would you say it kind of got you to where you are today or yeah. 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:30.799 Um I think the the heart of um serving and going out and being the Lord's hand and feet. 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:40.880 I think I think I I see such a priority where uh I don't even think that you can fully live out your your faith until you do that. 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:55.359 Because I think at this point in the United States, there's a lot of project self where it's a lot of let me make sure I'm taken care of, let me make sure I'm good, let me make sure everything works for me. 00:27:55.519 --> 00:28:10.799 And it is easy, and I'm guilty of it even, I mean, now, where you get yourself into this little box and you hang around the same people and you do the same things, uh, and then you, you know, maybe go to church and then you, you know, you've done your you know, you check the box there. 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:31.519 But to really go out and to see the the people that Jesus would go and hang out with, which were the outcasts of the world, uh it's a completely different different lens when you do that. 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:36.880 Yeah, you operate differently when you're going out and doing instead of receiving. 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.440 Yeah. 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:38.079 Yeah. 00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:39.519 That's good. 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:41.839 Because it's what we're called to do, right? 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:43.440 Like I don't know. 00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:44.559 It's in the Bible. 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:50.400 We talked about it in Elena's episode, like it, you know, we're called to spread the good news. 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:54.640 You know, the workers are few, but the harvest is plenty, right? 00:28:54.799 --> 00:29:02.480 And um I think there's a lot to be said about the lack of missions work. 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:02.720 Yeah. 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:08.240 Even like, you know, sure, and like outside of America, but even like in our own neighborhoods, I would think. 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:15.599 And yeah, like I'm not sitting here saying that like I'm the one who is doing all these missions works or whatever. 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:18.079 Like, I absolutely need to be better at it. 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:24.319 But like you just saying that was like convicting for me, where I'm like, gosh, like you actually what you just said was really powerful. 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:31.119 Like, I don't think you can I don't think you fully lived out your faith until you've done something like that. 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:31.440 Yeah. 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:35.119 And I think that's true because that's exactly like you said, what Jesus did. 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:35.440 Yeah. 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:36.640 That's so good. 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.200 Yeah. 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:48.319 I was just thinking too, like, kind of back to like it was tough and hard, especially in those like childhood years, but God always brings like treasure out of the hard. 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:53.119 And just thinking about like all the ways that He's been able to use your experience. 00:29:53.279 --> 00:30:03.440 Like, I've watched you get

to use Spanish to connect with people at church that don't know English, and you got to serve them and make them feel so loved and so welcomed. 00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:03.839 Yeah. 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:14.880 Um yeah, especially um at our at our last church, we would do something called um giving hope every Christmas season. 00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:22.160 And um, a lot of families from the 1040 window who had moved to the States would come to this. 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:26.720 And so families who can't speak English, they've never heard the gospel before. 00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:36.960 And um, the whole idea is it of it was to bless a parent who, you know, typically can't afford to give their kids Christmas gifts, but also to share the gospel with them. 00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:45.680 And you were one of the translators and you would walk people through the gospel in Spanish and help lead people to Jesus in Spanish. 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:52.240 And like that is just an incredible fruit that we've got to see from those tough years in Mexico. 00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:52.559 Yeah. 00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:52.880 Yeah. 00:30:53.039 --> 00:31:05.759 And to be able to do it so boldly, because yeah, I imagine even when you're sharing, like sometimes it's hard to like remember the language and just to step out in confidence and boldness that the Lord's gonna show up and be there. 00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:10.319 Um to use just your that gift and experience that you walked through. 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:13.680 I also think like you've gotten to use your Spanish at work. 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:28.000 And yeah, again, I think you have this very unique perspective and lens of what it is truly like to be the hands and feet of Jesus and just like an appreciation for different cultures, even like not just saying in what's comfortable. 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:28.400 Yeah. 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:37.759 So much I can think of, like just really cool fruit that's come from it, even though it's been that it was like a tough experience and not always easy. 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.319 Yeah. 00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:41.759 But growth comes from going through hard things, yeah. 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:49.119 Which again, as adults now we can look back and we all can probably do that with our own childhoods and recognize that. 00:31:50.079 --> 00:32:06.319 But um you just sometimes gotta go through it and then yeah, take what you went through and either use it to um, you know, maybe victimize yourself or use it to be the strength and to be a better person that God has called us to be. 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:07.119 Yeah. 00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:17.839 I'm gonna pivot us just a little bit because I want to know about maybe what are some of like your fun or favorite memories from living in Mexico. 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:27.839 Um or even foods that you know you loved eating there that you might miss that America doesn't do the best at. 00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:29.440 Well, we have Taco

Bell. 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:30.079 Yeah. 00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:31.440 Yes, you do. 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:34.319 And I will hey, I will eat Taco Bell any day. 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:36.319 I just compartmentalize what it is. 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:40.400 And I don't even think Americans would say that Taco Bell is actual Mexican food. 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:42.640 So I think we're good there. 00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:44.079 I think we're good. 00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:47.759 Um, yeah, I mean, uh I did, I had great times. 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:55.039 Um, you know, the even the the eating schedule is different, you know, for people like we eat dinner here at like five. 00:32:55.200 --> 00:33:02.880 There is something called cena, which is, you know, we would go out to these taco stands that are open until like two, three in the morning. 00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:19.599 I mean, we would go out and it would be like 10:30, 11, and we're eating a full meal, and there's people out, and you know, there's music playing, and uh it's you just kind of immerse yourself in in the culture, and that was always great, and it was incredible food. 00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:37.359 Uh, and it, you know, at school there was always cool like parade things that we would do and all the different holidays that there were, uh, Dia de los Muertos, which is uh the day of the dead, which is kind of remembering the people who have died within your family, and kind of a remembrance piece to it. 00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:45.440 Um there was a lot of cool things that I got to experience um that I wouldn't have. 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:46.160 Yeah. 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:47.200 So that's awesome. 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:49.440 Do they also have daily siestas? 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:52.319 No, no, but we did so. 00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:53.519 This is a funny story. 00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:59.440 So um we had like an hour plus lunch every day. 00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:02.400 And we were allowed to go do whatever we wanted. 00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:13.360 We could go outside, you could go, uh the, you know, my sisters, they were old enough to where they could actually leave the school and they would go eat out and they would just take an hour. 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:25.440 And so when we moved back to the States when I was um 16, my first day at school, we go and eat lunch in the like auditorium. 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:35.599 It was like a gymatorium type thing where they set up the so we get our food and we go down the line and we get the food and then we sit down and I finish eating and I go, okay, when do we get to like go out and like go do whatever? 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:40.239 And they're like, no, we have to stay in here in the in the table, and we can't get up and leave. 00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:42.159 If you get up and leave, you'll get in trouble. 00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:44.239 And that to me, I was like, this is prison. 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:47.360 Like I I was I was but and it was only like

20 minutes. 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:52.880 You get your food, and by the time you finish it, the bell rings, and then you're like back to class, and that was so different. 00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:55.840 Um, I I remember that vividly. 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:57.599 Like, this is crazy. 00:34:59.840 --> 00:35:02.000 So there's culture shops on both sides. 00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:03.199 Yeah. 00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:08.480 I finished my food, I'm ready to go like outside and like hang out for a little bit, and then I was like, nope. 00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:10.079 Oh stay here. 00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:12.159 That would have been awesome, honestly. 00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:12.639 Yeah. 00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:15.199 I mean, I was homeschooled for most of my life. 00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:16.480 Oh man. 00:35:16.880 --> 00:35:17.920 That's a different episode. 00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:20.320 Yeah, that's a whole different episode. 00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:21.440 A whole different thing. 00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:24.159 We can talk about that mission field at a new time. 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:25.920 Your prom date must have been. 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:28.559 Yeah, dude. 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:34.719 I went to homescho I went to homeschool prom. 00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:35.360 Okay. 00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:39.679 I was expecting with people outside of my siblings. 00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:42.239 And I did have two dates I have a picture. 00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:43.280 I'll show you. 00:35:43.840 --> 00:35:44.320 For sure. 00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:45.280 I totally believe you. 00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:51.840 Yeah, totally believe that sounds super real. 00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:56.880 Okay, this is not about me or my trauma. 00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:01.039 Oh my god. 00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:07.599 So, anyways, that's what I love about doing this podcast is like the little rabbit holes that we get on. 00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:08.480 Can we get on? 00:36:08.639 --> 00:36:09.920 They're just so fun. 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:28.880 But um, do you remember like maybe how this would have affected your parents as like mission missionaries, or um like any hardships that they may have to go through, or maybe like have they shared any of it with you? 00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:33.519 Yeah, I mean, I they definitely went through hardships. 00:36:33.760 --> 00:36:40.800 Um first, uh, missionaries, contrary to popular belief, don't make a lot of money. 00:36:40.960 --> 00:36:42.000 They're not millionaires. 00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:51.199 So I now, again, looking back, and as an adult, I can look back at my parents and I know they had three kids on the mission field. 00:36:51.360 --> 00:37:04.000 Um, so I know for sure there were struggles in that, in that aspect, uh, especially with a kid like me that's asking for like the X the newest Xbox, like as it comes out, you know, like just as a kid, you don't think about any of that stuff. 00:37:04.239 --> 00:37:06.000 Um, so I I for sure know that. 00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:13.920 And that's I mean, the way that my parents handled everything, I mean, I can't I applaud them because we had a great childhood. 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:20.159 Like, yeah, we we had awesome stuff, they figured out a way to make it great. 00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:30.400 Um, so there was definitely that hardship, which anybody who's married knows that that can money is you know one of the main reasons for conflict within a marriage. 00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:33.440 So I know that they went through that. 00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:47.199 Uh plus my dad was always traveling around Latin America, so he wasn't just staying and what so then it was my mom taking care of three kids and you know, her kind of doing that on her own. 00:37:47.440 --> 00:38:02.079 Uh again, with me having troubles with school and then on the social side and the school, like there was just always tension, like you just with kids and what's going on, and you know, us, we never were like, Thank you so much for doing this. 00:38:02.239 --> 00:38:03.840 It was, you know, we're always taking. 00:38:03.920 --> 00:38:25.360 And so yeah, I know for them to just say like we could be in the United States and they could be fine, and we could have a you know, maybe better paying job, or we could be in a different situation, but I know that their call to be on the mission field was the fulfilling thing, and I know even them moving away from that would have been the wrong move, and they wouldn't have been happy. 00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:36.320 So even though I know they went through struggles and I know that they had hardships, but they instilled that of like you do what the Lord calls you to do and he will provide. 00:38:36.639 --> 00:38:38.639 And he definitely did. 00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:40.880 Yeah, that's really cool. 00:38:41.199 --> 00:38:45.119 Can you think of like an encouragement? 00:38:45.360 --> 00:39:09.760 Well, I feel like honestly, this entire episode up to this point has just been an encouragement for uh this person, but like an encouragement for someone with kids or like a couple with kids who feels like there's this weight on their heart from the Lord that they need to make like a big life decision like that, but they're worried about how it may affect the kids. 00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:10.400 Yeah. 00:39:10.559 --> 00:39:23.039 Like, can you think of anything like from the kids' perspective now, like you're grown up and everything, like looking back, is there anything where you're just like it was worth it? 00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:27.920 Yeah, I mean, if you I I think if you have that calling, you have to do it. 00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:37.119 Um you can find a million reasons not to do it, but if you feel it, you know it's the right thing to do, and it's gonna be the best thing that you can do. 00:39:37.440 --> 00:39:38.719 And you just have to know that. 00:39:39.199 --> 00:39:41.760 Um, and yeah, it's gonna be tough. 00:39:42.159 --> 00:39:47.840 You might go through

some hard times, but that's still the calling that God's put on your life. 00:39:47.920 --> 00:39:52.000 So you you have to do it knowing that there is the other side. 00:39:52.239 --> 00:39:52.880 Yeah. 00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:54.000 That's awesome. 00:39:54.480 --> 00:39:55.679 Yeah, that is really cool. 00:39:55.920 --> 00:40:02.960 I was just thinking, like, do you know when your parents um first like felt that call to be missionaries? 00:40:03.039 --> 00:40:11.360 And were they both like experiencing that call, or was it like your mom or your dad, or like were they in alignment right away with that? 00:40:11.679 --> 00:40:12.000 Yeah. 00:40:12.159 --> 00:40:15.920 Uh, from what I remember, uh, in the story that they've told me, they were. 00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:26.320 Um, but it was kind of a supernatural thing where it was they were youth pastors, uh, and then they both had felt the call and they didn't tell each other. 00:40:26.480 --> 00:40:39.679 Uh, and so then they were individually by themselves, kind of going through this, and then they kind of came together finally and were like, We need to talk. 00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:43.039 And it was like they both had the same thing to talk about. 00:40:43.280 --> 00:40:44.079 Wow, that's incredible. 00:40:44.320 --> 00:40:47.280 So when that happens, you kind of have to do it. 00:40:47.519 --> 00:40:53.360 And then again, my sisters were older, and this is kind of a funny thing how they did it. 00:40:53.440 --> 00:41:06.239 They went to a um a restaurant, and my sisters were eating, you know, food, and it was that that type of food, and my dad was like, Do you like this food? 00:41:06.320 --> 00:41:07.199 And they're like, Yeah. 00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:10.639 Like, great, you're gonna be eating this every day. 00:41:11.119 --> 00:41:16.800 And I think he regrets doing that that way, but that's how they they told my sisters. 00:41:17.039 --> 00:41:19.679 Well, but yeah, that they they both had it. 00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:23.760 They came together, they felt the call, and they went, Okay, we're gonna do it. 00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:24.559 Dang. 00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:26.079 So that's incredible. 00:41:26.159 --> 00:41:29.440 That's a great story, man. 00:41:29.920 --> 00:41:42.400 Well, and I just think too, like, yeah, your parents have a huge went-for it story of stepping in to missionary work, and it's yeah, it's impacted you and your sisters. 00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:47.360 Like we said, yeah, it was tough and hard, but there's so much fruit that's also came from it. 00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:47.679 Yeah. 00:41:47.840 --> 00:42:10.000 And I just think, yeah, now I'm sure like you being a parent yourself, like there's just so many things like where your kids are also your missionary field, and I'm sure they felt the weight of that at times of some of that tension of like, yes, God has called us here to be missionaries in Mexico, but also you guys are their mission field too. 00:42:10.079 --> 00:42:27.360 And yeah, I think that tension can feel hard, but I like your encouragement um of you have to do it if the Lord has called you there, like and just know like and trust that He's gonna bring you through all those seasons and there is gonna be fruit from it. 00:42:27.679 --> 00:42:28.559 Yeah, absolutely. 00:42:28.880 --> 00:42:33.920 Yeah, your family is always your first mission, like it's your first ministry. 00:42:34.239 --> 00:42:38.000 Yeah, and yeah, that's really good. 00:42:38.960 --> 00:42:54.960 Um this may be a question for your parents, but how did they know when God said, Okay, time to move out or time to like move on from the this mission field. 00:42:55.280 --> 00:42:56.559 Like after they left Mexico together. 00:42:56.639 --> 00:43:03.119 Yeah, like how how did they know when God was like, Okay, we're done here in Mexico, like now it's time to move on. 00:43:03.440 --> 00:43:04.800 I don't really have a great answer for that. 00:43:04.960 --> 00:43:05.360 That's fine. 00:43:05.599 --> 00:43:08.800 I remember when they decided to leave. 00:43:08.960 --> 00:43:17.519 Well, we came back because when we we left Mexico, but they stayed my dad still worked for the organization Child Hope. 00:43:17.679 --> 00:43:17.920 Okay. 00:43:18.079 --> 00:43:29.039 So he worked there as the president, and then in Springfield, Missouri, which is the headquarters of the Assemblies of God and a lot of the organizations tied to it. 00:43:29.360 --> 00:43:33.440 But he then traveled all around Latin America, even in the United States. 00:43:33.840 --> 00:43:37.360 So we lived in the United States, but they he was still traveling around. 00:43:37.440 --> 00:43:45.039 And then my mom, she used to be a teacher, went back to kind of teaching and doing stuff when she came back to the states. 00:43:45.280 --> 00:43:56.880 Um, they actually decided to leave the mission, like missions after I graduated college, uh, where they then became associate pastors at a church in Nashville. 00:43:57.039 --> 00:43:57.199 Yeah. 00:43:57.360 --> 00:44:02.239 And they did that for Five years, five or six years. 00:44:02.880 --> 00:44:05.280 And they actually were called, they went back to the missions. 00:44:05.360 --> 00:44:05.519 Yeah. 00:44:05.679 --> 00:44:06.079 Missions. 00:44:06.239 --> 00:44:07.840 So that's what they're doing now, currently. 00:44:08.079 --> 00:44:08.480 Very cool. 00:44:08.559 --> 00:44:08.960 Yeah. 00:44:09.199 --> 00:44:09.599 Yeah. 00:44:09.840 --> 00:44:16.320 Well, and I think that goes to show too that like a lot of times, like we've we want this specific call sometimes. 00:44:16.480 --> 00:44:20.800 Like I want to be like, God, am I called to Mexico? 00:44:21.599 --> 00:44:23.840 And maybe you are, maybe you're not. 00:44:24.079 --> 00:44:29.360 But what I for sure know is I'm called to share your gospel and your good news. 00:44:29.519 --> 00:44:29.760 Yeah. 00:44:29.920 --> 00:44:31.440 And so I'm going to start there.

00:44:31.599 --> 00:44:37.199 And it seems like your parents have found a good rhythm with that, where it's we're in Mexico. 00:44:37.360 --> 00:44:43.760 Okay, like I think it's time to move our family out, but your dad is still heavily involved in it in this way. 00:44:44.000 --> 00:44:47.599 And okay, now we feel like we're just going to do it at this church. 00:44:47.840 --> 00:44:51.360 And now we're like, we're moving to back into the missions. 00:44:51.440 --> 00:44:58.800 And so like I think keeping the center of just getting the gospel around the world is what I'm getting at here. 00:44:58.880 --> 00:45:00.320 And so I think that's really cool. 00:45:00.559 --> 00:45:24.320 It and it is, and it I think um my dad, we've talked about it where he's even said, I don't know why God decided to take me out of missions, put me into a pastoral role at these different churches, um, because he pastored in Alabama and then moved to Nashville and pastored in a church there, and then went back to missions. 00:45:24.400 --> 00:45:25.599 And so that's a big chunk. 00:45:25.679 --> 00:45:30.719 You're talking about almost a decade of being out of missions and just doing pastoral work at a church. 00:45:30.960 --> 00:45:42.800 And he's even said, I don't know why he did that, which is funny because I look at it and I can actually see probably why, because he had such an impact on all of these young families at these churches. 00:45:43.119 --> 00:45:43.280 Yeah. 00:45:43.440 --> 00:45:54.079 Because they're seasoned and they have older kids, and they got to walk through um a couple having a stillborn and kind of walking them through and pastoring through. 00:45:54.159 --> 00:46:00.480 And then the church in Nashville is just filled with young people that are on fire but have no idea what they're doing. 00:46:00.639 --> 00:46:05.679 And so then they get to be the like wisdom for all of these different people. 00:46:06.079 --> 00:46:15.119 And then once they left, the church was ready to to kind of be on its own, and they've been able to grow and and do what they need to do. 00:46:15.199 --> 00:46:28.719 But it's the the the just how my parents have been able to affect all of these different people outside of missions, and now they're back at missions and now he's doing again what he was doing before. 00:46:28.880 --> 00:46:29.199 Yeah. 00:46:29.519 --> 00:46:38.880 Was there at any point in your life where you felt like missionary, like being in the mission field could be something that God was calling you towards? 00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:40.320 No. 00:46:41.199 --> 00:46:42.159 I have not. 00:46:42.639 --> 00:46:50.880 I have not felt that calling, and I don't know if that just comes from my past and just my relationship with that. 00:46:51.280 --> 00:46:56.639 Um, I've never really felt a call to be on staff at a church either. 00:46:56.880 --> 00:47:03.760 Uh I know I can do what I'm called to do, not working in a ministry. 00:47:03.920 --> 00:47:04.079 Yeah. 00:47:04.159 --> 00:47:04.480 Yeah. 00:47:04.639 --> 00:47:11.119 Uh I know that I can go out and be the hands and feet, and I don't have to work at a church or be a missionary. 00:47:11.280 --> 00:47:11.599 Yeah. 00:47:11.760 --> 00:47:13.360 So good. 00:47:13.599 --> 00:47:16.800 And I think so many people need to hear that. 00:47:16.880 --> 00:47:19.679 And I was one of those people for the longest time. 00:47:19.840 --> 00:47:20.159 Yeah. 00:47:20.480 --> 00:47:29.119 Where, like, you know, I feel this call where I'm like, I need to share the news and like I wanted to work for a church and like all these crazy cool things. 00:47:29.199 --> 00:47:30.480 And I think that's just fine. 00:47:30.639 --> 00:47:30.800 Yeah. 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:36.480 But it needs to start with like, but I can do that without it being my full-time job. 00:47:36.639 --> 00:47:36.800 Yeah. 00:47:37.199 --> 00:47:38.400 I can do that without it. 00:47:38.559 --> 00:47:38.960 Yeah. 00:47:39.119 --> 00:47:41.199 And so that's so good. 00:47:41.280 --> 00:47:43.440 And I think it needs to be heard more and more. 00:47:43.679 --> 00:47:43.920 Yeah. 00:47:44.159 --> 00:47:51.440 And I think it just comes back to again, like all of our um gifts and callings can look different. 00:47:51.599 --> 00:47:53.119 Like neither's right. 00:47:53.199 --> 00:47:58.000 It's just like what God has called each and every one of us to do. 00:47:58.320 --> 00:48:04.559 And um yeah, the most important thing is no matter what, we can be sharing the good news. 00:48:04.960 --> 00:48:06.159 Yes, absolutely. 00:48:06.400 --> 00:48:07.840 And sending it out. 00:48:08.400 --> 00:48:12.800 Were there ways that you could see God providing through other people? 00:48:12.960 --> 00:48:22.000 Like, so there's people who go out into the missions field, and there's people who can support by sending money or like, you know, stuff like that. 00:48:22.159 --> 00:48:27.119 Like, do you recall like any specific people who were like big blessings to you? 00:48:27.199 --> 00:48:37.039 And then like, how can more people get involved with like sponsoring missionaries or like getting connected to their church and you know, doing stuff like that? 00:48:37.360 --> 00:48:44.880 Yeah, I mean, there was a lot of um people who blessed us uh every time, especially when we were itinerating. 00:48:45.199 --> 00:48:59.760 Um people were incredibly generous to my family and to us as kids, um, with you know, some of the gifts that they gave and the support that then they gave my parents on a continuous basis. 00:49:00.000 --> 00:49:20.960 I think for people, um I think first it'd be important to educate yourself into get out of your comfort zone and see what it's like, uh, and then learning about what potentially, you know, like I would say the easiest thing would be your church probably support some type of missions. 00:49:21.119 --> 00:49:21.440 Yeah. 00:49:21.599 --> 00:49:25.280 Uh and so that would be the easiest

of let me just learn about this. 00:49:25.440 --> 00:49:30.719 If you're able to get involved in some way, I would encourage whoever to do that. 00:49:30.960 --> 00:49:38.559 And then um, of course, monetary support is always needed for missionaries to continue because that's how they stay on the field. 00:49:38.800 --> 00:49:39.119 Gotcha. 00:49:39.199 --> 00:49:39.360 Yeah. 00:49:39.599 --> 00:49:42.239 So but I don't think you can just throw money at it. 00:49:42.400 --> 00:49:49.840 I think I think that's an easy way for people to kind of feel like they've done what they need to do if they just throw some money and then they can turn around and do whatever. 00:49:50.000 --> 00:49:56.639 Yeah, you need to understand why you're giving money and you need to know the heart of everything. 00:49:56.800 --> 00:50:01.519 So I would say don't just give money, but actually understand these missionaries. 00:50:01.599 --> 00:50:03.920 If you called them up, they would have a conversation with you. 00:50:04.000 --> 00:50:05.039 Yeah, learn about it. 00:50:05.199 --> 00:50:05.679 That's cool. 00:50:05.840 --> 00:50:11.360 Uh, and then, you know, give money and then go do it on your own somewhere. 00:50:11.599 --> 00:50:11.840 Yeah. 00:50:12.000 --> 00:50:12.239 Yeah. 00:50:12.400 --> 00:50:13.199 That's awesome. 00:50:13.360 --> 00:50:14.079 I love that. 00:50:14.320 --> 00:50:20.000 So growing up in the mission field, obviously you and your family are very active in your faith. 00:50:20.079 --> 00:50:26.719 You are going out, like you said, into communities, sharing the word, serving, literally being the hands and feet of Jesus. 00:50:26.880 --> 00:50:33.039 Um, did you ever feel like this was something that you just inherited rather than chose? 00:50:34.320 --> 00:50:37.519 Uh yeah, I definitely feel like it was more inherited. 00:50:37.599 --> 00:50:45.440 And I think that's probably true for a lot of kids who just grow up in in a in a household that's just like just what we do. 00:50:45.840 --> 00:50:48.480 Um, I knew what we did was good. 00:50:48.639 --> 00:51:01.599 I, you know, there was always uh I knew how to follow the rules, but it wasn't ever really my own, I don't think, until probably college, uh until I had to make it my own. 00:51:01.840 --> 00:51:11.679 Um so uh it it is an interesting kind of perspective because you just kind of grow up and kind of you just go through the motions as a kid. 00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:17.920 Um and we were a little different because that's just the way that we were parented, you know. 00:51:18.000 --> 00:51:21.360 It's just like this is just what we do, and it was kind of like okay, yep. 00:51:21.599 --> 00:51:31.679 Uh, but it didn't really mean anything to me until later down the road when I really did have to kind of sit down and make it my own and go through my own kind of refining. 00:51:31.840 --> 00:51:32.159 Yeah. 00:51:32.400 --> 00:51:36.400 And in college, you were back in America, you're at Springfield. 00:51:36.719 --> 00:51:39.840 Went to Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. 00:51:40.239 --> 00:51:53.280 There like a catalyst moment there that like made that like refining start to happen, or was it just kind of like a gradual I it I just had to choose it. 00:51:53.360 --> 00:51:53.840 Yeah. 00:51:54.079 --> 00:52:00.719 Um, and there was an aspect of like I made it to college, got out of the household, and I was free. 00:52:00.880 --> 00:52:24.079 And so um, but kind of as I went through my college career, it was kind of continuous of like, you know, making church a priority, going to church, being involved in a church, um, and then also just spending time every day like praying, reading, studying, and kind of making that um a habit. 00:52:24.400 --> 00:52:30.400 Cause I think it's easy to again, you can go to church and just kind of be there and not really absorb anything. 00:52:30.480 --> 00:52:37.119 I think it takes being by yourself alone, really one-on-one to start that process. 00:52:37.360 --> 00:52:37.760 Yeah. 00:52:38.079 --> 00:52:38.400 Yeah. 00:52:38.559 --> 00:52:51.119 And I imagine like that transition from like coming out of Mexico where yeah, you were you were living that out with your family every day to like now I'm in college, completely different phase of life. 00:52:51.280 --> 00:52:56.400 Like, I'm sure that was another just like big like change. 00:52:56.559 --> 00:52:56.719 Yeah. 00:52:56.880 --> 00:53:00.159 And just trying to figure out like who is Trevor. 00:53:00.400 --> 00:53:00.719 Yeah. 00:53:00.880 --> 00:53:12.480 And it was it was hard too, because I had a lot of figuring out what I wanted to be, because coming from a place where um, you know, there wasn't a lot of friendships that I had when we came back to the States. 00:53:12.719 --> 00:53:23.840 My only goal was to make friends and to be seen as, you know, somebody that's cool that you can be friends with, which can be tough when you're living out your faith. 00:53:23.920 --> 00:53:26.079 You're supposed to be set apart. 00:53:26.320 --> 00:53:26.559 Yeah. 00:53:26.800 --> 00:53:29.360 But my only goal was like, I want to be accepted. 00:53:29.519 --> 00:53:32.800 And so that was kind of the main focus for me. 00:53:33.119 --> 00:53:44.239 Um, and again, getting older and kind of finally realizing that it's probably more important, the this relationship is more important than me being liked. 00:53:44.480 --> 00:53:46.559 And that's still something I struggle with today. 00:53:46.639 --> 00:53:50.079 I mean, that's it's just a battle of of choosing. 00:53:50.400 --> 00:53:54.800 Like your relationship with God is more important than being liked. 00:53:55.119 --> 00:54:02.880 Did you ever feel like that like acceptance of like not feeling accepted by others around you also made you feel not accepted by God? 00:54:05.360 --> 00:54:14.480 Um I don't know if it I don't know if it was uh accepted by God, but more of why did you make me

this way? 00:54:14.800 --> 00:54:15.039 Yeah. 00:54:16.079 --> 00:54:16.559 Dang. 00:54:18.880 --> 00:54:19.679 That's deep. 00:54:19.920 --> 00:54:22.800 So and again, we've said this a million times. 00:54:22.960 --> 00:54:25.599 Looking back on it, it's made me who I am today. 00:54:25.760 --> 00:54:25.920 Yeah. 00:54:26.079 --> 00:54:29.039 And if I didn't go through that, I wouldn't be who I am. 00:54:29.280 --> 00:54:37.119 And I'm glad that I went through that because like you, you know, you go through adversity and it makes you who you are. 00:54:37.360 --> 00:54:38.000 Yeah. 00:54:38.800 --> 00:54:39.440 Wow. 00:54:40.639 --> 00:54:40.960 Okay. 00:54:41.519 --> 00:54:44.079 I think I have one more question. 00:54:44.639 --> 00:54:51.440 So obviously, growing up in Mexico, you had a lot of like really unique experiences and just things you learned from there. 00:54:51.760 --> 00:55:07.920 Now that you are a dad yourself, what are things that you um experienced in Mexico or lessons you've taken from Mexico that you want to incorporate into just how you and Emily raise your family? 00:55:08.400 --> 00:55:20.639 Yeah, I mean, the the number one thing um I want to try and be as intentional to uh not all not not be the household of this is just what we do. 00:55:21.039 --> 00:55:23.039 And that's why, and that's it. 00:55:23.199 --> 00:55:39.920 Um I would like to have more of a open conversation to really dig into the reason why we do something to be to you know maybe more open, um, more available. 00:55:40.079 --> 00:55:52.239 Uh, because I think the this is just why we do it can can foster some like secrecy, and you're just kind of like you don't you don't feel confident enough to maybe be as open. 00:55:52.719 --> 00:55:55.280 And I mean, that's just parenting. 00:55:55.440 --> 00:56:04.400 Uh I mean, with missions, of course, I want her to see um what live like a hard life actually could be. 00:56:04.639 --> 00:56:13.679 Um, and I want her to see the importance of taking care of people and being uh, you know, again, hands and feet, a light to people. 00:56:13.840 --> 00:56:17.840 I want her to be the person who will go help the kid who is bullied. 00:56:18.000 --> 00:56:28.239 I want her to be so empathetic, and I want her to know that, you know, maybe somebody's different, but they are not uh less because of that. 00:56:28.400 --> 00:56:28.800 Yeah. 00:56:28.960 --> 00:56:32.559 Um, that's my goal, is I don't I don't want her to be mean. 00:56:33.039 --> 00:56:42.639 I want her to be the person that somebody can go to and feel comfortable and feel God's heart through her heart. 00:56:42.800 --> 00:56:43.440 Yeah. 00:56:43.840 --> 00:56:52.880 I'm like sitting over here actually tearing up because I'm thinking like everything that you're saying, like I have seen in you and Emily both. 00:56:53.119 --> 00:57:00.000 Um, I mean, not too long ago, Gabe and I walked through a really, really difficult season. 00:57:00.320 --> 00:57:14.480 And the how you describe, like, you want your family and your baby to like experience life and the lessons to learn and implement is exactly what you and Emily embody. 00:57:14.719 --> 00:57:36.639 Um you guys have the most empathetic, caring, servant, loving hearts, and you make everyone around you feel so loved and so accepted and never like a problem or um you just you both have just the most loving, genuine hearts, truly. 00:57:36.880 --> 00:57:37.119 Yeah. 00:57:37.760 --> 00:57:38.239 Thank you. 00:57:38.480 --> 00:57:45.360 Really, and you bring joy to to like everyone you're around, like yeah, now now I'm crying. 00:57:45.679 --> 00:57:46.079 I know. 00:57:46.159 --> 00:57:55.360 I'm like just was like a last minute question that we were like, we definitely need to ask this, and then look what look what it's done. 00:57:55.840 --> 00:57:56.480 Yeah. 00:57:56.880 --> 00:58:05.679 Um but yeah, we um we've witnessed the life that you want to lead. 00:58:05.920 --> 00:58:16.559 Like you you you lead it so well, and we just know that your baby and like I keep saying your baby because I don't know if you want to say her name. 00:58:16.719 --> 00:58:17.440 I don't care if you do. 00:58:17.679 --> 00:58:32.239 You can't we just know that Nora and any other child, you know, that you guys get the blessing to raise is going to turn out exactly like you two, and it's going to be the perfect perfect example for others. 00:58:32.480 --> 00:58:38.880 And yeah, we love you guys, and we're so thankful for you and yeah. 00:58:39.679 --> 00:58:46.960 Yeah, and I I think we've probably nailed this pretty like what's the word? 00:58:47.199 --> 00:58:57.840 I think we've like said this a lot already, but I think when you've gone through like hard in your life, you can show up in hard moments for others. 00:58:58.559 --> 00:59:13.840 And I think again, that's just not that you wish that upon people or that they you want them to go through hard, but I think again you can turn it into treasure and a gift of just knowing how to love people while through hard. 00:59:14.000 --> 00:59:14.480 Yeah, yeah. 00:59:14.800 --> 00:59:19.039 And yeah, you and Emily are amazing at that. 00:59:19.119 --> 00:59:22.719 And just thank you for being such incredible friends to us. 00:59:22.960 --> 00:59:23.360 Yeah. 00:59:23.599 --> 00:59:24.320 Thank you. 00:59:24.559 --> 00:59:25.440 Thank you. 00:59:26.159 --> 00:59:27.280 Any other questions? 00:59:27.840 --> 00:59:30.000 I'm gonna stop myself now. 00:59:36.159 --> 00:59:36.480 Okay. 00:59:38.639 --> 00:59:39.519 Okay, bye.