Gaining Confidence to Answer God’s Call

It didn’t take long for LaPrea Anthony to learn that flexibility is often an essential trait for missionaries to have.

Anthony spent one month serving with Lirio de Los Valles, a K-12 Christian school in Leon, Nicaragua. Although she thought she was going to be a teacher’s aid, she regularly found herself in front of a classroom full of students while the regular teacher stepped out.

“At first I was kind of intimidated, but I quickly grew to love teaching in the classroom,” says Anthony.

Anthony first traveled to Nicaragua along with other members of her youth group at Calvin CRC in Muskegon, Mich. “I loved meeting the people there and admired the humility of each person that I met. Going on that trip made me realize that I wanted to return.”

A few years later, LaPrea’s path back to Nicaragua became more clear as she was introduced to Momentum, a ministry of Christian Reformed World Missions that involves intentional discipleship, local service, and a month-long missions experience in a place of her choice.

“It’s been fun to see LaPrea ask about finding new ways to get involved in church since she first started coming in middle school,” said Brian Kingshott, youth group leader at Calvin CRC and CRWM’s youth engagement specialist.

“She’s been helping out with youth group and when she found out about Momentum she was immediately on board.”

For her local service projects, Anthony took part in serving meals at a nursing home and shelter for the homeless, and working at a food pantry. Much of what she learned there helped her get a better idea of what she wanted to do for her month-long international service.

Ultimately, Anthony chose to return to Nicaragua, where she was connected with CRWM's partners at the Nehemiah Center and primarily served at Lirlo de Los Valles while also getting a better feel for Nicaraguan culture by living with a host family.

“It was definitely tough living with a family that spoke a language different than my own,” Anthony said, “but I loved the experience of getting a glimpse into family life in Nicaragua.”

Kingshott believes these experiences of unexpectedly teaching in classrooms and living full-time with a host family ultimately stretched Anthony for future service, whether it be through teaching at a school, youth ministry, or somewhere else.

“LaPrea is thinking about youth ministry and teaching, but there is some fear there in her career decision,” said Kingshott.

 “I hope that through the confidence that she’s gained from her experience in Nicaragua she can trust that God is leading in her life and she can have the confidence to answer His call.”