Table Of Contents:
The big question I often get from newbies who have decided to join a mission trip is a variation of the following – what’s going to happen there? Or… what can I expect there??
I asked that sort of question in the past as well, and so I understand the newbies’ anxiety. However, um… answering it is another thing, because there’s no right answer.
What can I expect there? Um… well, you can expect blessings from God, definitely. What sort of blessings?? Um… I don’t know. It’s up to God. But what’s going to happen there? Um… I don’t know. If it happens, it happens. What exactly are we going to do? Um… I don’t know, we just go with the flow. What?? Isn’t there a fixed itinerary, like what we’ll do on Day One, Day Two, etc…
Oh yes, of course there is an itinerary, but God has it. He alone has planned it for us and He knows exactly what’s in it. We just go, and seek His will, and let Him lead us along the way.
distributing sweets at the children's home in Preynob Cambodia
So many people, me included, would feel most comfortable knowing the exact itinerary, and to stick to it, but it hardly ever worked out that way. Some folk, instead of accepting this, get upset, and say we’re ‘disorganized’, and so they pull out, but oh no, God is a God of order, surely He isn’t pleased with disorganization.
The best advice I can give to new mission trippers nowadays to prepare for a trip is this – get your attitude right before you even get on the plane! Be prepared to go there to be a blessing, in any situation you find yourself in. You will meet lots of people – be friendly. You may not speak the language – a smile or a warm touch speaks a thousand words.
You may not understand a word during the worship service – don’t fall asleep in your seat! You may find the food served not to your personal liking – accept it anyway, give thanks and dispose of it quietly into your handbag when no one’s looking. The toilet may make you utter words you thought you never use – improvise as best as possible if you have to use it, or just walk away. And if you’re hot and tired and half-dead after a whole day – don’t lose your smile or your sense of humour!
The mission trip only lasts a few days, and you will soon be on the plane, back to your air-conditioning and your lovely home, your disinfected toilets and soft bed. Ask God to make you a blessing when you visit that foreign location, set your heart to do so and He will enable you. The returns from Him will be far beyond what you will ever expect!
PS. in case you’re wondering, yes, I did dispose food into my handbag. I don’t mean rice or noodles or those sort of food, I mean things like cake (or kueh) which I can wrap up in tissue paper and hide discreetly.
I remember the first time I saw the little purple flowers on the mountains in Tibet. They were soooo simply beautiful. And I thought, what a pity that no one but me may ever see these. And then I thought, maybe God makes beautiful things, not to make us happy, but for His own pleasure and because He just enjoys making and having beautiful creations.
This was about 4… Read More....
Dear Family and Friends,
As always, time goes by so quick. The spring semester flew by and now I am in the process of moving to a new city. After the whirlwind of activities over the last few months, I finally have a few minutes to catch my breath before summer camp starts so I thought I’d take a moment to update you on how He is working… Read More....
School has begun! I started teaching on Monday of this week. I am teaching in the English department of my school and am very excited to be working with my students. I have loved all my students from year one to now but because these kids are English majors their English is a little better so we can discuss more in-depth topics and get to know each other a little… Read More....
Latest Comments