Ultralight Testimonials
“Ultra shook me, my worldview, and my relationships. I was introduced to many new things culturally and relationally. Working through conflict and living an intentional life with people who want to see you reach your full potential was an incredible experience. I’m truly grateful to God for the opportunity I got to do Ultra.”
- Sarah Troyer (Team 15)
“I have been so blessed to listen to the stories of many people I met throughout my Ultra term. I listened to the ways they have sacrificed in order to complete the charge Jesus gave us to finish the Great Commission. It prompts me to ask “What am I willing to sacrifice?” Ultra was humbling, stretching, and hard, but rewarding and always worth it.”
- Mikayla Beachy (Team 17)
““Ultra flipped my worldview and my stereotypes of missions. The huge variety of experiences were so rich, vibrant, and freshly inspiring. My view of God, His heart, and His story are now better understood. Also, it’s a surreal moment to realize that you’ve interacted with believers from 5 different countries in one day, or worshipped and shared communion with a church full of believers in Brazil.” ”
On Ultra, I felt I had a place to set aside normal life and really evaluate my life and what I want to do with it. It was a place to be intentional with relationships. I was able to see and experience God’s love. I realized God’s love is not measured by what I can do for him. Rather, I can accept the gift He has offered to me with a grateful heart.
- Karena Lapp (Team 20)
“Ultra for me was wild. Wild like a great forest. The global church, God’s heart for mission, pursuing people, and my role in it all. Ultra was a time of new growth and deepening roots. There were times of darkness and tangled confusion but the path was always there, a clear cut guide through dense jungle to the heart of God. And then there were times of light – streaming glittering light that pushed the darkness away and enveloped everything with beauty and joy. Yes, Ultra for me was wild.”
- Lexi Yoder (Team 14)
“On Ultra, I got to experience so much growth, from doing laundry by hand in the jungle, to speaking in churches to being vulnerable about my feelings to my team. It was all very new and very stretching for me. The experiences I’ve had and the relationships I’ve made will impact the rest of my life.”
- Angelica Byler (Team 19)
“Ultra an experience that changes you for the better, for life! Ultra pushes you to growth in your relationship with God, your relationships with peers, and even your relationship with yourself. You see God in your story, in other people’s stories, and in the Larger Story. If you want to grow but don’t know how to initiate change and growth, I would highly recommend Ultra.”
- Latasha Yoder (Team 19)
I came on Ultra with a lot of unspoken questions, confusion, and brokenness. I came at a time when I didn’t trust God. During my Ultra term, I gradually came to see God as a more personal God. Instead of asking God questions and wanting Him to fix me and my problems, I can bring my questions to Him and allow Him to sit with me in them. God has been good, faithful, patient, and kind in helping me grow. I know God enough to know that He’s safe, and I can trust Him.”
- Julianne Lantz (Team 16)
““During my time on Ultra, my view of missions and the global church expanded and God has become so much more real to me! I learned what it looks like to have deep and meaningful relationships and not settle for average. Most importantly, I’ve grown closer to the Father and seen His heart for the nations.” ”
“I came on Ultra wanting growth, but I didn’t know what it would look like. Growth for me has often been a long, messy process. God showed me my need of growing in His love. In Brazil, we were spending time with a missionary lady who began asking about my life. I didn’t feel like opening up. I was tired, but I knew God was asking me to be vulnerable and allow others to care for me. Later, she returned with a bucket of water and a towel and asked if she could wash our feet. My eyes filled with tears as I realized God was telling me, “See Rachel, this is me loving you.” Sometimes it is as simple as receiving, and choosing to believe. After all, “we love because He first loved us” (John 4:19).
Rachel Lapp (Team 19)
“Before Ultra, I felt like a baby bird learning to fly regarding missions. I wanted to have more experience and knowledge but I was too scared to make the commitment. After I was willing to jump, I realized there was no reason to fear. Ultra gave me experience in so many different areas of the mission field. God grew and stretched me in life-changing ways while teaching me different things about who He is and His heart for all nations.”
- Tilly Fultz (Team 16)
“My Ultra experience has been so beautiful and challenging. It’s helped me be so excited for heaven. To have believers across the world worship God together without language barriers.”
- Heidi Martin (Team 18)
Ultra was a life changing experience. I learned a lot about being intentional in relationships. It means calling your teammates higher, while also receiving constructive criticism in areas they notice you can grow. Ultra will push you out of your comfort zone and it will not all be easy, but I promise you that every moment is worth it. If you want to expand your view on culture, live in a close community, and draw closer to God, Ultra is for you.
- Danielle Wideman (Team 20)
“Ultra grew me and pushed me to do hard things, but I wouldn’t trade those experiences for the life I had before. Being in relationship with my Father far outweighs any struggle or refinement it took to get there. Ultra gave me the tools to go deeper and the Father met me there in the deep.”
- Jalisa Yoder (Team 16)
What Parents Are Saying….
“Ultra brings out the best in the girls, and gives opportunities for them to work through the worst as well. I believe at least some of the impact of the experiences she encountered will have lifelong positive effects in her life. Awareness, compassion, and dependency on God are things that she learned or that were greatly expanded on her trip.””
“Trekking across borders, countries, and cultures brought a greater awareness of God’s care and deep love for the many people our daughter met. Ultra gave her a broader worldview but also deeply impacted her own personal journey with God, which keeps on impacting her world no matter where her journey takes her. Working as a team was also a valuable experience for her. They all came with different perspectives, views, and giftings; and walked away changed in the art of relationships.”
“The experiences that our daughter had on Ultra could not be replaced or duplicated. God has/had plans for her personally and we are very blessed how she responded and how they have impacted her and will remain with her for life.”
“I’m very grateful for the time that [my daughter] spent on Ultra; it’s really impacted her life tremendously. Her experiences on Ultra opened her eyes to seeing the Father at work in people in every day life. I especially noticed that she learned to love and care for people where they were at, and to listen well. She found a lot of healing for the heart wounds she carried.”