I greet you all my brothers and sisters from both America and Africa. I give praise to my Father for the safety He provided the team during this trip. This trip for me, has allowed new friendships to develop, it has revealed the awesome creative hand of or Lord, (which can be witnessed in the attached photos) and, most importantly, it has confirmed in my own heart that Jesus is still the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and even more so, my Lord and Savior.
I for one being very skeptical as to my roll on this mission, have come away changed, with a renewed purpose and with a new song in my heart. Though I continually questioned my intentions as to why I was involved, I tried hard to have no preconceived ideas, no expectations, and at the same time I tied to keep my motives clear. (Although I wasn't sure what they were.) Though my first response when asked to consider being part of the team was, "my heart was not into missions" I tried to have an open mind. I was told (COME) and God will change my heart when I get there.
I went, I saw and I experienced what everyone else did, yet I had no idea what to expect before hand, no idea what was in store, and therefore, I neglected to prepare myself properly. My heart, my soul and my mind was left open and vulnerable. We were repeatedly told as a team to bathe ourselves in prayer and stay in the Word. Being my first and only mission trip, I somehow failed to realize the importance of this monumental task. My deepest regret and my biggest disappointment was that I somehow let the others down. I disappointed my team, my family and most of all, the very one I was there to serve, Jesus. Looking back, there were many missed opportunities that God placed before me. A door was opened,! A door that God may have prepared months in advance, and I, on several occasions, neglected to walk through it. There was one specific occasion, though unexpected and somewhat feeling put on the spot, I was given the opportunity to introduce my family and profess my faith, and I said nothing. I gave the name of my wife and daughter and then sat down. Even the Pastor/interpreter looked at me in question and said, "is that all, you have nothing more to say??" Afterward I felt like Peter saying, "I don't know the man". And how ironic that every morning as the sun came up, I was reminded of this incident when the rooster sounded the morning alarm. Jesus said, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, to him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
Mat 10:32
On several occasions I have asked myself, "was I there to minister to others, or to be ministered to?" In so many different ways, God spoke to me, even through the ones I respect the most. Being told several times by a fellow team mate that I was lacking in faith, and that I worry too much, I have since ask God to make me a stronger Christian, and to boldly seize any and all opportunities to profess the name of Jesus without reservation.
Again, being my first mission trip, you have a unique chance to be with and witness people (the people you see every Sunday), on a more up close and personal level. There were times I'm sure when we all were on edge and short tempered. And just as I showed some sides of my personality that I'm sure some questioned, I hope I have left parts of me with those we visited that will be remembered as loving, caring, and that which may reflect the heart of Jesus himself. I am convinced I will be stronger in my faith and in my walk because of this trip.
I know that if I ever have the opportunity to experience this type of thing again, or if one reading this note can take one thing away from my experience, it would be this; Never underestimate the power of prayer. Get involved. DO NOT GO Unprepared or un-prayed. Take time to make time, know what's happening, know what the goal is, and pray without ceasing that you attain what you set out to do! (if you sit on the sidelines and just go with the flow, you will feel out of touch, and unused) Make every effort to be in tune to the opportunities God may put before you. Do not (like me) let God and others down by not being filled and completely in tune to what the Spirit may be telling you. Do not be the second string quarterback and wait for someone to call your name. They should be calling your name to ask what the next play is. You will never get a second chance to make a first impression.
On to the awesome and creative hand of Jesus: These pictures makes me wonder what Noah must have thought when he gathered each specie together. Each one in its own splendor, there is some type of reverence that overtakes you when you see these animals for the first time in their own habitat. God is so good!!
Blessings!
jon
Thanks be to Jesus for the opportunity to witness His creation first hand and to experience it along side such a loving people and a beautiful country. More to follow on the true "mission of the mission". Our accomplishments at the orphanage, and our efforts to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!
These are just some of what we saw in the few hours we were there.
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