A Tale of Two Houses

It was here that Jordan met Kyler—a 14-year-old boy sitting alone on a bench, waiting for his mom after school. Their conversation started light: soccer, school, video games. But as the topic shifted to faith, Kyler’s confidence shone. “Jesus [is] my Saviour,” he said, explaining that Jesus had died to forgive his sins and give him eternal life.

Jordan listened, encouraged by Kyler’s clarity. But when asked about life after death, Kyler’s tone suddenly changed. “I think if we do enough good things, we go to heaven. But if we don’t, then we go to hell.” The strong, confident foundation beneath his words began to shift. He added, “I have to do more good things than bad things, and maybe Jesus will accept me in Heaven after that.”

What had first sounded like a house built on rock was actually resting on sand—layered with uncertainty, and fear. Jordan offered to share some good news that could bring clarity for the young man. And Kyler leaned in.

From his bag, Jordan pulled out a Chispa (Spark) magazine. Together, they read through the truths inside, numbered one to six, each one grounded in Scripture. Kyler agreed with what he saw. Then came John 3:16: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Kyler read the verse aloud, quietly. When Jordan asked what he thought it meant, the boy admitted, he’d never thought about it that way. They continued reading together through to the final page of the magazine, reading how God loves us, how we’re all sinners, and how He has a plan to rescue us. Jordan explained: “If you did 99% wrong and 1% right, Jesus can still forgive you. And if you did 99% right and 1% wrong, but don’t receive His forgiveness, you remain condemned.”

Kyler stayed quiet, like he was thinking deeply. The pieces were coming together. Right there, next to his new friend, Jordan, Kyler received the invitation to know Jesus in a fuller, truer way—and he said yes. That day, he prayed—not to earn God’s love, but to rest in it. Not to build his own way to heaven, but to stand on the Rock that had already made a home in his life.

Before leaving, Jordan encouraged him to find a church that teaches the true gospel, pointing to the address of a local partner church printed on the back of the Chispa magazine. With that, Kyler took the magazine and wrote his name inside—like marking a truth that now felt like his own.

And then—just one minute later—his mom pulled up beside the park. It felt planned. Like the Architect of grace had drawn the blueprint for that moment long before Jordan ever sat on that bench in Peru.

This is why we go.

Because there are many more just like Kyler—people who seem grounded in faith, in Christ’s teachings, but are quietly standing on sand. They know the name of Jesus, but not the fullness of His free gift. They speak of salvation, but carry the weight of earning it.

GO Trips involve way more than travel. They’re about divine appointments. They’re about conversations like this—talks that shift eternity and moments where someone finally steps fully onto the solid Rock—Jesus.

If you’ve never gone on one of these trips, the invitation is still open. And if you’ve gone before—let’s go together, again. Because there are more Kyler stories waiting to be written.

“When mountains of doubt hem me in on each side, 

And waves of affliction roll in like a tide; 

When vainly I seek some new pathway to try, 

Oh, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.” 

“Lead Me to the Rock”, Erastus Johnson, 1871.