What do you take home with you from a mission trip? Well, there's alot of things.
First of all, there is the overwhelming sense of how blessed we are to live in the US. We have much to be thankful for. I trust each of our team members will look at their life and stewardship of their possessions in a new way. Some might be called into a ministry life devoted to mission work. But hopefully all of us will be supporters of the Lord's work around the world in a significant way.
Second, we are challenged to look at our mission here at home. Many of our students realized that when they stood up and sang worship songs in the park that they could just as easily do that at home - in a mall, or park or other public place. They are thinking about how they can impact their own culture.
Third, we were all touched by the testimony of Luis - how he came to be a Christian, how he chose to serve in this ministry and how he now leads his family in their personal devotional life and service to the Lord. This might have been a message just for me showing me that my priorities have slipped in that area. Again, seeing how Christians live in another part of our world causes us to re-examine ourselves.
Many other things could be said about the impact of this trip. There was overwhelming sadness to hold an orphan child sleeping in your arms knowing that they don't get held enough, even though they thankfully have enough to eat. The children in the village showed us how happy they are with very little and we realize that all our American stuff leaves us less happy than them at times.
The teenagers at the youth rally showed us how dedicated they are in their faith. The sacrifices made by US missionaries over the years that produce much fruit for God challenged us to think about what we are called to do in the future.
First of all, there is the overwhelming sense of how blessed we are to live in the US. We have much to be thankful for. I trust each of our team members will look at their life and stewardship of their possessions in a new way. Some might be called into a ministry life devoted to mission work. But hopefully all of us will be supporters of the Lord's work around the world in a significant way.
Second, we are challenged to look at our mission here at home. Many of our students realized that when they stood up and sang worship songs in the park that they could just as easily do that at home - in a mall, or park or other public place. They are thinking about how they can impact their own culture.
Third, we were all touched by the testimony of Luis - how he came to be a Christian, how he chose to serve in this ministry and how he now leads his family in their personal devotional life and service to the Lord. This might have been a message just for me showing me that my priorities have slipped in that area. Again, seeing how Christians live in another part of our world causes us to re-examine ourselves.
Many other things could be said about the impact of this trip. There was overwhelming sadness to hold an orphan child sleeping in your arms knowing that they don't get held enough, even though they thankfully have enough to eat. The children in the village showed us how happy they are with very little and we realize that all our American stuff leaves us less happy than them at times.
The teenagers at the youth rally showed us how dedicated they are in their faith. The sacrifices made by US missionaries over the years that produce much fruit for God challenged us to think about what we are called to do in the future.Here is the photo link again in case you missed it.
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