One More Child offers many mission trips throughout the year and takes hundreds of volunteers all over the world to help serve vulnerable children and struggling families. Short-term mission trips are an opportunity to expand your world view, to stretch and grow you in your faith, and in Tonya’s case an opportunity to find her purpose and calling. A recent mission trip to Costa Rica with One More Child showed Tonya how to utilize her story of brokenness to boldly declare God’s grace.
But here is her story in her own words:
“I was sent on this mission trip with no real expectations or hopes. As a mother of two grown children and a survivor of an abusive relationship, I was in a season of searching—trying to find my place in this new chapter of life.
I was born to a teenage mother, I am the oldest and have three sisters, each of us with a different father. My mother did the best she could, but we grew up surrounded by the constant threats of poverty, abuse, and even trafficking. At the age of 5 my mother surrendered us to my grandparents where I underwent years of sexual abuse from my uncle. It was a difficult upbringing—but by God’s grace, I survived. And for the most part, I was living a stable life. Still, something was missing.
This mission trip changed everything. During our time in Costa Rica , I encountered brave immigrant women from Nicaragua, many with children, seeking safety and a better future. Costa Rica has opened its doors to them and is doing what it can with limited resources. Listening to their stories, visiting their homes, seeing the hope in their eyes—it stirred something deep in my spirit.
This trip gave me purpose. It awakened in me a calling to serve women who have walked through brokenness, control, and abuse. I now know that my story—and my mother’s story—can be a testimony of God’s power to heal, redeem, and restore. I want to share this truth: your past does not define your future. Brokenness, abuse, and oppression do not have the final word—Jesus does.
As I reflected on our team’s time of journaling, serving food, playing with children, and celebrating International Women’s Day, I saw God’s hand at work. These short-term missions are not just trips—they are encounters with God’s purpose for our lives.
Scripture reminds us in Isaiah 61:1 (NIV):
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”
Through this trip, I’ve come to believe this calling is not just for others—it’s also for me. I’m ready to spend the rest of my life sharing the hope and strength found in Jesus with women who need to hear, ‘You are not alone. God has a purpose for your pain, and He can make all things new.’”
God is writing stories like these in the hearts of mission trip participants time and again. One More Child is so grateful to those who are willing to share their testimony, so we can bring hope and healing to one more, giving glory to God for what He has done.