From Loss to Life Through Student Missions

Jesse Leavelle had experienced so much loss.

As a sophomore in high school his best friend ended his life. Due to COVID-19, he lost the end of his senior year and graduation and was unable to attend the college of his choice in person. He had a difficult breakup with his girlfriend, and after finding his way to La Sierra University in California, United States, he ended up with three more losses of close friends, including his roommate. He wanted to feel better and was smoking to cope with his feelings.

After attending a Loma Linda University depression and anxiety treatment program and getting sober, a trusted mentor encouraged him to serve as a student missionary. “I won’t be doing it for the kids; I’d be doing it for me,” Jesse said. His mentor assured him that this might be enough.

A year later, after serving as a missionary in Guam, teaching physical education to grades pre-K through 10, Jesse says he has found healing, friends, a dog, and growth in his relationship with God. “I’ve known God, but I’ve never walked with God,” he says. As he worked with the kids and started praying more, he found his relationship with God deepening. Jesse has found a new way of living, taking life with God instead of worrying and micromanaging. He also found meaningful friendships and direction for the next steps forward for his career path and educational journey.

The decision to be a missionary ended up being a good thing for the kids, too. “I was able to share my testimony at the school with the kids,” Jesse says. “While they didn’t go through all the same things, some kids were struggling with loss and depression. It got real and I had some amazing connections with them.”

It is clear that Jesse has loved taking time to be a student missionary. He says he brought his love of hockey with him, teaching the kids to play in the gym and handing out a few jerseys to the students who seemed most eager to learn. While the days were long and tough, Jesse has no regrets. Through this experience he has a testimony about God’s guidance in his life, as he feels he might not have remained clean and sober if he had not chosen to go. Jesse is convinced that God knew what He was doing and where He was leading him. Since he chose to answer the call and follow in faith, Jesse reaped the rewards God had in store for him.

Does God have a blessing for you — one that you will not access if you do not answer His call on your life? If you are thinking about becoming a missionary, Jesse says, “Pray about it, one hundred percent, but at the same time, do it. It will be the hardest and the best experience. So much growth will come out of it. The connection and community you will have will stay with you for a long time. To be able to show these kids who God is, is so special. Even though I was never the ideal missionary and have my imperfections, my relationship with God was still strong and I’ve been able to share God and His righteousness by faith.”

After Jesse wrapped up the school year, he was able to take a few quick trips to Japan and then Australia on his way home. He saw the world, met people, shared the gospel, and continued drawing nearer to God while becoming the healthy son of God he has desired to be. May you also be someone who answers the call and discovers what God has in store for you.

The original version of this story was posted on Mid-America Union Conference Outlook.