Testimonials

What Others Are Saying About Destined Traveler Trips . . .

“Thailand was gritty and glorious – deep and heavy and profound and broken and beautiful. It was hot, and rich. The aroma of curry wafted through the streets; the soft chants of Buddhist monks made their way through the air at dusk. It’s difficult to put 3 months of learning and growing and seeking and stretching into one singular statement of experience. Many days consisted of grit: sweaty palms and bugs and physical labor and hard spiritual question and deep spiritual darkness. But on the other hand, many days consisted profound glory: rich culture, accelerated spiritual growth, incredible relationships (Thai and otherwise), once-in-a-lifetime experiences, deep mentorship, and over 50 breathtakingly beautiful, broken, REDEEMED little sisters (the girls at Breanna’s House of Joy). I came face-to-face with my weakness, and experienced the joy of meeting my Savior’s strength. I was uprooted, and grew more than I ever have in a period of 90 days. 

I found the schedule of the trip to be impressively balanced and experience rich: we rode elephants, and built real relationships with little girls; we rode zip-lines through the rain-forest, and took cooking classes. We were mentored, and we were left time to ask our own questions. It turned out to be about 2 months of interning/serving, peppered with week-long outings to different parts of the country. We built incredible relationships and learned what it looked like to love (even when it hurt). We cried and laughed and broke down and rose again. During my time in Thailand, I gained a profound respect for full-time missions, for other world cultures, and the incredible dedication of those actively fighting against the atrocities of human trafficking. I conquered a fear of swimming by snorkeling in the ocean, and gained more than one epic scar (my dad likes to refer to them as “souvenirs”. I fell in love with Thai food, and elephants, and the 50 little Thai girls who stole my heart and changed my heart forever.

I won’t tell you it was the easiest thing I’ve ever done, because it wasn’t. And I won’t tell you that every moment will feel glorious and that you’ll spend the whole trip re-enacting some “Brad Pitt meets ministry” experiences (Haha…Matt, we love you) – there will be moments of rest and moments of reflection. I WILL tell you though, that it’s hard to walk away from a trip like this unmoved. It’s a journey up the “long and narrow” path, but the view from the top is more than worth the climb.”      

- Caitlin, Member of Fall 2010 Young Adult Team

“My time with Destined Traveler made a permanent mark on my heart, my perspective, my understanding of the world, and my walk with the Lord. It provided a three month period of growth, an open atmosphere that welcomed hard questions and an authentic community that introduced me to the true meaning of church. I would recommend this program to anyone seeking truth, reality, and/or opportunity.” 
-Kelli, Member of Fall 2010 Young Adult Team