Every time we sing the song “Oceans” by Hillsong United on Sunday mornings it’s like I am transported from our church in the Hills of Bel Air, California to the streets of Ocean View, South Africa. I first heard the song as I stood beside my daughter and our mission trip leader, Debbie Tietsort at the Hillsong Church in Cape Town, South Africa. As we stood together and sang those lyrics “ Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders”, I felt a swell of emotion. Isn’t that what our mission trip had been about after all?

 

God had led my then 15-year-old daughter Grace and me to cross borders, thousands and thousands of miles and through many airports on a journey of a lifetime.  I can’t stop talking about how life changing our mission trip to South Africa was, not just because of how close I felt to God, but how the trip changed my daughter’s life. We literally had to tear her away from Ocean View and push her into the van to pack for home, tears streaming down her face. Her relationships with the kids had grown so strong in the short 2 weeks that she didn’t want to go home! God had worked his way into my daughter’s heart and her soul.

 

When we came home she wanted to change schools to be with her brothers and she wanted to pursue more authentic friendships.  Our relationship completely changed from angry adolescent vs. bossy mom to a beautiful living, growing connection. My Believer’s World Outreach mission trip gave me back my daughter, taught me about appreciation for what God has given to us and showed me how sharing His love with total strangers would transform my soul.    

 

The ending of the “Ocean’s” lyric, “take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior” still resonates with truth for me.

 

If you open your heart to where He leads, you’ll never be sorry.

Sandy Kazarian

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