Including, but not limited to Burkina Faso.

Hey friends-

Thanks for joining the journey that we are on to take the gospel to Burkina Faso. Your donations, support, prayers and patience are making it possible for this to happen.

My name is Courtney DeBerry and I am a recent graduate of New York University. I have typed this line hundreds of times in cover letters, informational interview requests and emails. This mission trip is happening at the two year anniversary of my post graduate scramble to find work and housing in New York City. This mission trip is happening and it's a miracle.

I guess it all started on a regular Friday night. After getting lost in Brooklyn after work, I finally caught up with a couple of friends for pizza and art. During this totally normal night, I met Christine Pak- who would soon become a good friend and fellow volunteer at our church. After a few conversations, it became evident that we both loved three things: running, Jesus and travel. What started out as a regularly hang out with friends turned out to be the first of many conversation about taking a life-changing leap of faith to give to people I have never met in a country I've never seen.

The timing was perfect.

So we assembled a team and launched fundraisers. By the time I committed to fundraising, Christine had already bought her ticket and was scheduling trainings and preparations. She had also discovered another teammate who was just as passionate about the mission as we were.

Through group chats and daily devotionals, we grew in sisterhood as we prepared. Sharing excitement about the journey was magnified by our unique perspectives. Soon after, we published a team fundraising page to our closest friends and family. Soon after, we got bad news.

Our new team members would not be joining us at the last minute. The new shocked me as I realized the gravity of living out the words of 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. The three of us discussed the fact that this mission trip was just as much about the country of Burkina Faso as it was about our personal growth. After a few conversations about the best decision for the team, the mission and for our individual selves, we all took time to consider, for the last time, if this decision was the best decision.

My next meeting with Christine Pak, who is the organizer for the New York team, revealed that our third team member was no longer joining us. Only weeks stood between us and our departure. I silently edited the group fundraising page and silently considered the privilege that we have to carry the call of Christ to the nations.

With two team members left to represent New York City, we refocused and regained our momentum. By the end of 7 days, we raised enough money to buy two plane tickets to Burkina Faso and the mission began to come into focus.

The mission is beginning to come into focus. I remember reading a book on missions after a few months of following Jesus. I remember reading the list of reasons why I was not qualified to be do a mission trip. Those memories began to fade as I articulated the words, "I believe I am going to go" again and again.

My daily life of interning, applications and volunteering at church is now punctuated with loving glances at a people I have yet to meet. I dream of the children who have no idea that we are coming to bring the love of Jesus in various forms. My daily life has been made more alive with a mission.

Welcome to the team. Thank you for holding us accountable and taking the images, words and videos that you will see on this blog as evidence of a brighter future.

It is time to feel compassion for our world- including, but not limited to, Burkina Faso. Thank you for supporting us as we live out the words in 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.