Hey everyone, my name is Alan- no nicknames! Just Alan. I live in Mishawaka, IN (when I’m not in college) which is sitting right next to South Bend where I grew up. I just have to say that I am a huge Notre Dame football fan! (It comes with the town).

Currently, I am a freshman at Indiana University Bloomington studying accounting and finance. I don’t really have a set career plan but I find it very interesting! Some other things I do in college are play in the marching band, sail, hike, and a few other small things on the side. I started playing piano when I was in the fourth grade and it really sparked a love for music (more for making it than listening to it), so when I got to college, I kept making music! I am also in this awesome organization called Camp Kesem which is a week long summer camp for children whose parents are battling cancer. I won’t be able to be a counselor this year because it is during our Nicaragua trip, but I am completely ok with that because I know God has something incredible, challenging, and life changing waiting there for each one of us.

Just a little more about me:

1)  I have never written a blog before so this is a completely new experience!

2)  My favorite thing in the world to do is go fishing. I learned how to fish when I was 18 months old and it has stuck with me ever since. Along with this comes a love for pretty much everything else in nature. I love to hike, bike, go boating, and go camping. I think the outdoors is where God reveals Himself most to me. The conversations, realizations, and growth that can happen when surrounded by the pure and basic glory of God is something I am very much looking forward to on our trip.

3)  I took four years of Spanish in high school and also my first semester in college. That being said, I am pretty good at listening and understanding, but I am pretty far behind on the actual talking part. But! I’m excited to be somewhat “forced” to learn it.

4)  I enjoy most types of food except black olives, which I actually tried for the first time just a few days ago. I was happy to have lived 19 years before actually going through the experience of eating a black olive.

5)  I eat my cereal without milk. It comes from a time when I was four and waited 45 minutes to eat cheerios that had been soaking in milk!

This will be my first mission trip of any sort. The closest thing I have to missions is being a youth group leader in my high school’s group. On top of that, this will be my first time every really leaving the country. I went to Niagara Falls a few years ago, but I don’t think that counts! My lack of actual mission experience doesn’t worry me though- I know it will be a completely new experience for me and I might occasionally struggle with the culture shock at first, but this is one of the occasions where I KNOW that God is calling me, and each one of you to be His hands and feet! Although I have no idea how exactly He will be using me, I am still super pumped to mobilize my faith!

I think that’s enough about me for now. I’m sure we will have plenty of time to get to know each other during training! I am really excited to meet all of you and hear your stories, because I’m sure we each have our own crazy story about how God has shaped us and called us to this trip. See you all in a few short months!

God Bless,

Alan