Until every nation, tribe and tongue hears: Elianna Armstrong
Treasure Hardwick, Staff Writer
Some go to college for the experience. Others go for the potential success. Most go for the degree. However, Elianna Armstrong, junior Spanish major, plans to use her college experience and degree to reach every tribe, nation and tongue.
Since as early as she can remember, Armstrong was compelled by her compassion for people groups in high-poverty areas. Even as a six-year-old, she organized a fund-raising event for a missionary. Her family was always involved in service projects and supporting mission organizations. Their involvement instilled in her a desire to go on a mission trip herself and show the love of Jesus to people.
When she was 10, an opportunity arose for Armstrong to go to Guatemala with her mom. It was on this trip that she fell in love with the country. The joy the people possessed despite their poverty captivated her. She deemed it her second home and dedicated herself to learning everything she could about its culture.
“When I went, I experienced a weird feeling on anti-culture shock. I felt homesick for Guatemala when I got back to the states. I have been eight times since then, and it is one of my favorite places,” she said.
Additionally, these trips compelled Armstrong to learn Spanish. Not only is she pursuing a degree in Spanish at NGU, but she also spent years learning the language on her own.
“When I first was in Guatemala, I was so frustrated by the fact that I couldn’t understand the people that when I got back, I decided to spend the next eight years learning the language. Now I am fluent,” she said.
During her many mission trips, she also developed a heart for women in or vulnerable to the sex-trafficking industry. Her encounters with hurting women who did not know their value compelled her to somehow make a difference.
During her first semester at NGU, Armstrong connected with “Rahab’s Rope,” a non-profit dedicated to helping woman in India who are enslaved to the sex-trafficking industry. The organization loves on women in red-light districts by offering them jobs like making jewelry. The jewelry these women make is sold by Rahab’s Rope, and the money is returned to the women. Rahab’s Rope also offers mission trips for those who have a heart for these people.
After interacting with the non-profit, Armstrong applied for a mission trip with them to Mumbai, India, that would take place in the summer of 2024.
It was on this trip that Armstrong’s heart broke for these women. She explained that their stories revealed the brokenness of the world, and instilled in her an ache that only would be alleviated when God comes back to redeem all that is broken.
She spent her time in India walking along the streets of the red-light districts and building relationships with the women in the sex-trafficking industry. At the end of her trip, she felt a deep connection with a woman who she was able to pray over.
“I think about that woman a lot,” she said. “I pray that she is okay.”
Because Armstrong is currently a student at NGU, she is not able to go on as many trips as she’d like. However, she is taking every opportunity to learn about different cultures. She also is prayerful about where God wants her to go after she graduates.
“To prepare for after graduation, I guess I am just making the most of every opportunity presented to me and going on mission trips with the school. Also, I am just praying that God would show me where He wants me after this,” she said.
