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A spontaneous decision with just three days' notice led Sawyer Werab to his first international trip—a mission journey to Mexico that would profoundly transform his understanding of faith. Having grown up in church, Sawyer thought he understood Christianity until that moment when everything changed.

Speaking with remarkable candor, Sawyer shares how seeing joy in those who "had nothing" challenged his independent, analytical mindset. The team's practice of constant prayer—"praying when something went right, praying when something went wrong"—revealed a depth of dependence on God he'd never experienced in his comfortable Bernie, Texas lifestyle. "I didn't truly understand deep down how deeply I needed God," he confesses. "I knew all the words to say, I knew all the responses, but until I actually lived a life dependent on God, I didn't understand what I needed to be doing."

Now preparing for engineering studies at Clemson University, Sawyer discusses how his Spanish language skills opened unexpected ministry doors and how pride was checked during his second Mexico trip when stepping aside allowed God to work powerfully through others. His story beautifully illustrates how stepping outside our comfort zones—whether it's the "Bernie bubble," the "Texas bubble," or the "American bubble"—creates space for authentic spiritual growth.

For listeners considering mission work, Sawyer offers this compelling invitation: "If you're looking for a way to meet God in new ways, to truly understand why you believe what you believe, go to Mexico and work for God." The transformation, he explains, comes not primarily through the work itself but through relationships formed and a new understanding of dependence that's difficult to grasp in our self-sufficient American culture.

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