Maddie Schumacher

Hi, I am Maddie. I just graduated from the 7th grade at Edgewood Campus School and I am turning 12 at the end of July. I have two little brothers and a little sister. My mom is going on this trip, too as a leader.

I am super excited about the trip. There are a couple of reasons why.

Reason #1: My little sister was adopted from China. When my parents, my grandmother, and I went to China to get her there was a lot of poverty. Poverty unlike the poverty in Madison or even in the United States in general. Now, I was only seven years old, but the homelessness and need in China affected me enough that I felt God was calling me to go to Honduras and spread his word. And I know I'm not gonna be able to make every Honduran I meet Christian, but I feel God is using me to reach others.

Reason #2: I want to meet new friends. Honduran and American. At our first meeting as a team I did not know the names of more than 75% of the group. Now I know every person's name and I am very excited to adventure with them in the deeps of Honduras. I'd also like to meet a few Honduran friends so that I can learn about their culture. It seems cool how they live so differently than we, Americans, do.

Reason #3: I am very worried about the boundaries I put in front of myself usually and my usual comfort zone. I am a pretty picky eater, and I am usually not up to try things. But a few days ago my family and I went to a Vietnamese restaurant and I couragously tried an egg roll. I felt good about myself that day even though I know that the "green eggs and ham" that Honduras will serve me will be a lot more unusual than egg rolls. Also, in China I saw needy people on the side of the road who were begging for money and they made me have this feeling inside. I thought they were dirty, unclean, and particularly ugly people. And I didn't want to look at them. And that is totally wrong. I want to experience new things, meet new people, and change my view of people from "that" to something new that is caring, hospitable, and welcoming instead of the icky thoughts I thought when I was seven.

I am unsure, though pretty ready for the challenges Honduras and, more importantly, God present before me. I want to grow in God through this trip and I hope I experience more outside my comfort zone rather than within it. My greatest hope is that I grow in my relationship with God along with my relationships with friends and that my family doesn't miss me too much!

The End.

-Maddie S.