Last week when most teenagers were enjoying their time off from school on Spring Break, Ann Bradley Maloney was miles away working in a village in Guatemala. Ann Bradley is a senior in high school and has spent three out of four of her last Spring Breaks traveling to this tiny little country in Central America sharing the Gospel and working with local missionaries. "When I was in the 9th grade I really wanted to travel to another country and my church had a mission trip opportunity so my parents let me go. I had no idea I would fall in love with the people there and more importantly fall in love with sharing the love of Christ in a foreign country. I started making friends in Guatemala that year and I go every year to see them just like I would any of my friends here. I've made relationships there and I have real friendships," says Ann Bradley. In between being a senior about to graduate from High School, traveling on student trips with First Jackson and following her dad to St. Louis to watch him coach third base for the St. Louis Cardinals, Ann Bradley has found a way to add even another trip in the next few months to go back. "I think what I appreciate the most is how much better I understand the love of Christ after working in that country. We're so materially blessed here, but many times spiritually lost and they have nothing and are so open to hearing the Gospel. They have nothing but hope to rely on and I love talking to them about that. I've grown so much in my faith and I'm so thankful that I've had the opportunity to go." Ann Bradley is an extraordinary person and loves to tell people one thing: "if you ever have a chance to be a part of a mission trip, it will change your life."  

Learn more about First Jackson mission trips.