I recently went on a mission trip with Next Step Ministries in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was a week-long trip, and it went a little something like this:

• Thirty-something adults and teens packed into fifteen-passenger vans.
• 11-ish hours in said vans, with non-stop road trip music.
• 10 very loud and energetic 20-somethings leading us in worship, service to others, and everything in between
• All of us sleeping like sardines on inflatable mattresses
• Lighting candles and crying because we all loved each other

So now that you have some sort of picture, I’m gonna list the things I learned.

• Even introverts need a little social interaction
• Language barriers — although complicated — are easily overcome with proper training
• Everyone has something, so check on your friends
• YOU DON’T NEED TECHNOLOGY 24/7
• Music is my main ingredient for life
• You’re not always gonna agree with everybody, but you can find something to love about everybody
• 1 hour spent in silence with 1 person can teach you more about them than 1,000 hours spent in constant noise and motion
• Emotions don’t show up for me easily, and that’s something I need to dissect
• Confidence comes from within NO MATTER WHAT

So that’s it, just a short list for y’all today. Next week, expect something about going back to high school . . . for the last time!