Global Trips Changed My Life
By Shannon Teague
In 2016, I walked into Eastside carrying the invisible weight of PTSD from my service in the Marine Corps. Eight years and seven global compassion trips later, I’m not just a different person – I’m a healed one.
As a single mother of two boys, I was deep in therapy when I first boarded a plane to Nairobi in 2017. I thought I was going to change others, but Africa’s humble people ended up changing me. During a break from home visits, a conversation with a local teacher transformed my perspective on trauma and healing. His words, guided by God’s timing, broke through years of fear and struggle. When I returned home, my PTSD no longer controlled my life.
That first trip ignited a passion for global service that has taken me across continents. In Africa’s heart – Nairobi and Turkana – I’ve conducted home visits, equipped schools, delivered bedding, and introduced solar energy solutions. I’ve built homes, led Vacation Bible Schools, and spoken at women’s conferences. One of my proudest moments was baptizing our hotel manager, a testament to how these missions touch lives unexpectedly.
In Thailand’s villages of Kae Noi and Pai, I’ve planted mango trees, tiled school floors, and worked in orphanages. Each project, whether bringing clean water to a village or sharing Christianity with eager listeners, has deepened my connection to God’s work.
Over the years, I've sponsored eight children and an infant, intervening in critical moments to save one from malaria, another from starvation, and a third from a forced marriage. These children have become extensions of my own family, reminding me that God's love knows no borders.
My own children have witnessed their mother’s transformation from a struggling veteran to a purpose-driven servant of God. They’ve seen firsthand how serving others can heal our own wounds. The friends I’ve made and the lives we’ve touched across the globe have enriched my life beyond measure.
To those who doubt their ability to embark on such a journey, remember: I was once where you are. If a global missions trip is part of God’s plan for your story, He will provide the way. The same God who led me to Eastside, healed my PTSD, and opened doors to serve internationally, is calling others to step out in faith.
As I prepare for my seventh trip, I’m grateful for how far I’ve come from that first uncertain journey to Nairobi. These missions haven’t just changed my life – they’ve shown me why God placed me at Eastside and gave my pain a purpose. I can’t wait to see which of you might join me on the next adventure God has planned.