Flashback to last Summer when our neighbors, Kris and Paula Richardson, were facing a decision about their oldest child joining a Church ⛪ group to a foreign country. Ashton Richardson was looking to join a team from Christ Chapel in Galax on a journey to Peru 🇵🇪.
That decision was not an easy one, to say the least. Some would call it a True test of Faith for both Mom and Dad in addition to Ashton. This brings us to the very definition of the word Faith.
As you can see, even the dictionary has two examples of Faith – one in relationship to everyday Life and one addressing Religion.
A great deal of prayer 🙏 and soul searching went into that decision last Summer and as we know, Ashton took that trip and came back from Peru with a new look on life.
To correctly tell the story of Ethan’s trek we have to go back to a home Basketball 🏀 game in which Ethan performed the National Anthem. There was no doubt that the events that evening led directly to the level of confidence that allowed a teenager to board an airplane and fly to an unknown location where most people would have trouble locating on an Atlas.
Nathan Jones and Christy Shupe had started a conversation with Ethan about him singing the Anthem and if I remember correctly it was Nathan that offered up $20.00 towards the trip if he was willing to sing.
By the time I entered the Gym I was asked about contributing to the cause. With no hesitation I offered up to double whatever the final amount was. When everything ended Richardson had $1,100.00 towards the trip and even more importantly he had gained confidence in himself.
In the moments leading up to his performance, Richardson was noticeably concerned about the moment. The beauty was being nervous was less about singing in public, it was the importance of the song 🎵. Very much the opposite of someone who chooses to kneel during our Anthem, this was someone who wanted to make sure they did the song as well as it deserved to be performed.
” The biggest question I was asking myself was about whether I was worthy of making the trip,” said Richardson. ” The night in the Gymnasium when I sang the Anthem was the first step in believing I was strong enough.”
The trip was put together by the Christ Chapel of Galax and it included a traveling party of 14. The group departed on July 24th and eventually found their way home after a delay on the return leg of the journey.
” We talked with five different groups in a given day,” added Richardson. ” Two things that stood out to me immediately was how happy they were with how little they had and how many of them had a relationship with Christ.”
At the end of each day the group would gather for what was called Team Debriefing. It was during the first one of these sessions that Richardson found the piece of mind that allowed him to grow into his role.
” That first night one of the other team members was praying about needing to stop over thinking the situation,” noted Richardson. ” That was the final push I needed to feel qualified, if you will, to be there.”
When asked about a moment or two that he will remember from the journey, Richardson told the story of two young boys roughly 10 years old playing Soccer ⚽️ . The slight difference between that moment and one back here in the United States was their ball was actually an orange 🍊 that would later be part of their dinner.
The final question that I had for the younger Richardson was what advice would he offer to another person that was thinking about a possible Mission Trip ?
” I would tell them that they should go for it even if they’re scared about being strong enough,” said Richardson. ” Just pray 🙏 about it and know that the Lord is with you. You will be guided along the way.”
Back home there is a different level of Faith required by the Parents when it involves one of their children.
” As parents, obviously we struggled with both decisions,” said Kris Richardson. ” Then once we were at peace with ourselves we then needed to sell the idea to other family members.”
Now with two children having taken Mission Trips to far away places, its easier to reflect on the process from start to finish.
” We (Paula and I) are unbelievably proud of both Ashton and Ethan,” added Richardson. ” The growth that both have experienced spiritualy from this is obvious to us. Both of them seem to be in a better place.”
The only true snag to the trip took place on the return to the United States. An unscheduled layover in London lasted for nearly 48 hours. Ethan was able to find a bright spot in that once they realized that they were going to be “stuck” in London for a spell.
Free Bonus trip to London actually allowed Richardson an unwinding period if you will.
Now ” our Boy ” is back in our little Hamlet and enjoying his Senior year. Before you know it he will be back in the Swimming Pool, on the Basketball court and then on the Tennis 🎾 courts for Carroll County High School 🏫.
Ethan Richardson is going places in Life, just like his Big Sis and its in part because Mom and Dad let them go in the first place.
A.S.P.N on The Hill 