S̄wạs̄dī (Sa-wa-dee means hello in Thai), my name is Sam Mechler. I’m eighteen years old and I recently arrived at CMTS Ministries to participate in a gap year program, Equip. I pray that with a smidget of thoughts typed upon this computer you’ll get to know me a wee bit better and where I came from.
I was born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and I grew up in an orphanage for the first four years of my life. Then I was brought into a loving God fearing Christian family. I have been a part of the Mechler gang for over fifteen years. My parents were missionaries in Mongolia for another four years after adopting me. I have three sisters and one brother. Two of my sisters are older than me, and one is younger along with my brother. Due to a certain medical situation we had to leave for Thailand, the land of smiles. We lived in Thailand and worked with a ministry that specialized in fitting disabled people with wheelchairs, for eight years. I was born and raised in Asia and have never been to America except to become a citizen. Even though I grew up in a Christian home I never really pursued God or wanted anything to do with Him, that is till I came to America three years ago.
At a church three years ago I was invited to go to a weekend retreat with some friends and there I felt as if God was trying to get ahold of me. The weekend came and went and I didn’t think much about it. I did try to read my Bible more but eventually I just stopped because it became a burden to take time out of my day to read and I was engulfed in life’s many distractions. Towards the end of my first year in America I was given a choice to either go to a public school or to a Christian school. This would have been my first time going to a real brick and mortar school for I have been homeschooled up till now. As I began to think about it I felt as if the Lord was leading me to go to Salem Christian School. For the first time since the weekend retreat I felt the hand of God on my life. I decided to join Salem and it was the best decision I could have made. I started going to Salem Bible Church and the youth group. When I began at Salem life got hard. My dad decided to divorce my mom and my life fell to pieces. I began to believe that I caused my parents to separate because I felt like it was God trying to get me to follow Him and this was the way to get me to. I fell into depression thinking if I had only become a Christian sooner then my parents would still be together. I struggled with being torn in two, I wanted to be a part of my mom’s life but also my dad’s. One Sunday at church I finally gave my heart completely to Christ and was baptized a few months later. To this day I thank the Lord for the hand of guidance He had for me as I went through school.
As I entered my senior year most of my friends knew what they wanted to do but I felt lost and had no clue what I wanted to do. I knew that I wanted a gap year before starting college or pursuing the workforce. As the school year ended I was told by a friend of Equip and of CMTS Ministries. I prayed and looked into it and all the arrows were a green light. The biggest deal breaker was when an anonymous donor gave more than half of the tuition for the program, (a special shout out and many thanks to this person(s)). I hope foremost to grow in my relationship with Jesus and make Him the center of my life. And secondly to build character and the heart of serving.
My many hobbies are fixing things and working with my hands. I like archery and sometimes fishing (if the fish decide to bite), I also like to read and play soccer and volleyball.
Thanks to my family and friends that supported my decisions and for the CMTS staff for the sacrifices they make and for the love of God and His goodness towards me. Matthew 28:20 “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
In this together,
