Rachel Jones has been in remote villages where an aspirin is a luxury item.
She has seen life in the inner city.
She has walked along the streets of an island resort to spread the seeds of Christianity among people who consider Jesus Christ to be only a prophet.
Jones is only 19, but she has seen more of the world than most people do in a lifetime.
She has accomplished this through involvement in missions projects, the total number of which exceeds the years of her age. The junior chemical-engineering major at the University of Alabama has been on six international missions trips — Guatemala four times, Haiti and the Canary Islands — and eight home missions trips — Wyoming, Texas, Missouri, South Carolina and two each to Florida and Illinois.
“And that’s not counting the local stuff,” Jones said of the missions projects she’s participated in around the Etowah County area. She estimates she has been involved in about 10 local projects.
All of these endeavors have taken place just in 10 or 11 years. She began going on missions trips when she was eight or nine, she said.
Missions involvement is a vein that runs through her family, something evident by the number of trips her siblings have taken. Her 17-year-old sister, Gabrielle, has been involved in as many projects as she has. Fifteen-year-old twins Sarah and Ruth have been on two fewer. And 10-year-old John Mark went on his first trip at four — to Haiti.
“My mom has always enjoyed going on missions trips,” Jones said. “Our church (Twelfth Street Baptist, Gadsden) is very missions-minded. … I just really enjoy going. I enjoy traveling.”
Taking the missions trips, she said, is a way to see the world and to help others at the same time.
So far, Jones has assisted with medical missions, a sports clinic and backyard Bible clubs. “I’ve done painting on our trips,” she said, wondering aloud if such a task might be classified as a “construction” project.
Medicine is her focus and is the direction in which she plans to go after completing her engineering degree. She works as a per diem secretary in the emergency room of Gadsden Regional Medical Center, where her mom, Linda, and dad, Stephen, are emergency room physicians.
Jones said she loves medical missions because of the immediate needs that can be met. Often, she said, the medical team includes an eye specialist.
When the specialist fits a needy person with glasses, suddenly, the individual is able to see clearly perhaps for the first time in years. The joy, Jones recounted, is evident on the person’s face.
The sports clinic also was a favorite experience because she said she was able to give attention to children who hungered for it.
Involvement in missions “really opens your eyes to other cultures,” Jones said. Seeing other cultures and the situations in which people live brings to light in a mighty way just how blessed people are in the United States.
She said missions work also brings about a better understanding of people from other backgrounds.
Blake Mayo, minister to students at Twelfth Street Baptist, mentioned the ease with which Rachel and Gabrielle Jones transition from one culture to another.
More importantly, “I think they see (missions) as a priority, as far as their plans for the summer,” he continued. “They’re just faithful people. It’s part of their life.”
Mike Lopez, director of the student mobilization department of the International Missions Board (IMB), keeps track of endeavors in which students are involved through the IMB.
“We see many students who are involved in multiple missions projects within the span of a few years,” he said.
However, “it is certainly remarkable that Rachel has served so many times on so many different missions projects,” he added. “This is a testimony to her passion to reach a dark world with the light of Jesus Christ. I hope Rachel will continue to serve with us in the coming years.”
Jones’ mother is praying for that to happen.
“I have a very strong passion for missions,” said Linda Jones, who has made a practice of taking her children along with her on projects.
“I’m hoping the passion for missions will transfer through the generations.”
Mayo said it would not surprise him at all if Rachel or Gabrielle Jones go into full-time missions.
For now, Rachel Jones, who is a member of the Christian sorority Alpha Delta Chi at the university, is contemplating her next short-term missions trip. Perhaps it will be to Mexico during spring break with Calvary Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, the church she attends while away at school. Or maybe it will be to Guatemala or Australia with another church.
“I really do enjoy it,” she said.
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