I always wanted to attend the Joshua Wilderness Institute. I remember the Joshua building being built, learning about what the program would entail, and having the goal to attend. When I graduated from high school, I did not apply to a single college. I applied to Joshua and was accepted into the 2006–2007 class.
Our class was the first to go to Israel. Because we were the first, students didn’t know what to expect; many of us didn’t know how to pay for it. I was attending Joshua through the generosity and kindness of others, and I didn’t know how I could possibly come up with the thousands of dollars needed to go to Israel. My mother was explaining the situation to a dear friend and without hesitation that friend (who did not have a lot of money) cut the check that enabled me to experience this life-changing trip.
While on that trip my understanding of the Bible changed. Israel isn’t a fictional land like Narnia or Middle-Earth. It is a tangible place filled with tangible artifacts and real people. Seeing places mentioned in the Bible in person is like visiting the 9/11 Memorial for the first time. You know it exists, you know what took place there, but envisioning the memorial and experiencing it are completely different.
While my time at Joshua was phenomenal, I have enjoyed watching life unfold post-Joshua. Over the last 12 years, I have seen the results of seeds that were planted. Some people in my class have gone on to become pastors and missionaries. Some have started churches, and others are lights in secular industries.
My time at Hume has left a mark on my life. I know lives are changed for the better at Hume, and I know those changed lives have an impact on others. The trip to Israel showed me firsthand the generational impact one good deed can have. I can’t wait to see what is in store for Hume and how far that ripple will spread.