An Excuse of a Mission Field

     How many times has someone told you, "you are in a mission field, wherever you are."  True.  God puts us in specific places with a purpose in mind, and we don't have to travel to the ends of the Earth to find a mission field.  So... we're missionaries.  Now tell me: why do we not act as such?  On a daily basis, the ones we call missionaries, those who have given up a comfortable home life in the country of their birth, act differently than we do.  They struggle.  They serve.  They share.  They step out of their comfort zones.  Yes, they eat, sleep, and laugh the same as we do, but they have a purpose, an intention of being a missionary.
     When you're not a labeled missionary, different things occupy your life.  You go to school, you work your job, you raise your kids, you socialize with friends.  But all of these are part of the labeled missionary's life, too.  So it's not that we're being missionaries in a part of the world that's closer to home, it's just that we're being in a different part of the world; I think we're missing something.  When was the last time you picked up a stranger who was walking down the road, no matter how little room you had in your car?  When was the last time you intentionally served everyone around you, every day?  When was the last time you... shared your faith, even if through actions more than words?
     We shouldn't use "we're in a mission field" as an excuse to continue with our relatively comfortable, suburban lives.  We should be the missionaries we are called to be.

 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you...you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 

Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8

Mission Trip - Kitima Mulilo, Namibia

     Last weekend, I got the chance to go on a mission trip up to Katima Mulilo, Namibia.  It was a very short trip with 48 hours out of the five days spent driving, but it was amazing.  Our aim was to teach the local churches how to evangelize on the streets.  That wasn't something I had done before either, so it was a learning experience for me as well.

     It wasn't something that could be described by an everyday journal.  That would have captured what we we did, where we went, the funny moments, but it wouldn't have captured the emotions and the way God worked because it was something that grew even when we weren't doing anything.    There were moments I want to remember like the quality of the stars, playing Warlords and Scumbags (a card game) in the 13 passenger van, a couple of the grade 8 boys labeling me as the "Russian Spy", and pushing the bus out of the sand and then noticing the elephant by the side of the road and sprinting to catch up with the bus.                                                                           

     Refreshing.  Invigorating.  Reviving.  Awe-inspiring.  Releasing.  I went because I wanted to know how to share the gospel, but God worked a much deeper change in my life.  Being around people who are passionate and unafraid before God released something in me.  Who you hang out with affects who you are.  

     Sharing your faith with other people makes your spiritual foundation even more solid.  Two of the ladies I shared with were standing outside the hospital, and after they accepted Christ they asked me and my group to come in and pray with a male relative.  Later, we found out that Dr. Pier, of our team, had been refused entrance to the men's ward - God opened that door.  We later talked to a group of ladies and children and we were at first met with a "this is ridiculous" attitude, but then I started speaking and they got very quite and then gave their lives to the Lord,  our translator later told us that they were whispering "how can one so young preach like this?" The oldest girl was also especially affected - there's a demeanor, a way of acting that shows the person is listening and being touched.

     20 seconds of courage.  At first, I was nervous, but I don't have to be.  I might have to summon up the guts for the initial push, but it's not me doing it, it's God.  That night, we held a Crusade and did a drama and worshipped.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.  

     The style of worship at the African churches is amazing.  I don't know what's different, but no one - including me - minded being at church for three hours (we left at that point so we could start heading home, but I don't know how much longer the service extended for).  And the singing!  The whole, albeit small, congregation joined in, harmonizing.  Our team was asked to pray for the sick and whereas I'm normally unsure of what to say, the words just came.  God was speaking through me.

     Something God's placed on my heart this weekend is that He works through imperfection.   Even if I make mistakes in my presentation or something, He uses me. 

     At first, the way the team prayed seemed strange because it seemed like everyone was talking all at the same time and competing to be listened to, but I came to realize that everyone is just praying together and individually with  God.  Sometimes one person leads the prayer and everyone else joins in with 'Amen' and 'Yes, Lord's.  Also, speaking in tongues.  I was skeptical on this point; it sounds like absolute gibberish.  But I asked, and my team members explained it to me.  It's God's language that He gives each of us, and no one but He can understand it; it's different for each person.  Like any gift or talent or language, practicing it makes it easier and more fluent.  It's like praying emotion, especially when you don't have words.  You have to have faith that you're not just making the words up, and that the Holy Spirit is giving them to you, but you have to open your mouth.  

     On the last night, Eden originally approached those of us playing cards with the suggestion that we minister to the other lodgers, but we ended up with one of our own young team members being born again, and my questions about tongues being answered.  We were all sure that God put ministering on Eden's heart, not for the other lodgers, but for us as a group.  

     I continue to be confirmed that God brought me here to South Africa to bring me closer to Him.  Not just because I lacked friends and support, and so I relied on him, but also to open me up to the workings of the Holy Spirit and the depth at which I could KNOW God. 

Mexico Once - My Testimony Afterwards

    A couple of weeks ago, I (Sara) posted asking for prayers for a Mexico mission trip I was going on with my church, Chapel Hill Presbyterian.  I’ve been back for a week now, and so am now doing the follow up post.  
    In September, I learned the cost of the trip for both me and my dad - over 1700 dollars.  By January, we’d raised just over 600.  Not good odds.  I never actually talked to my parents, but I was considering telling them it would be okay if I didn’t go; $1100 was a lot of money that I knew we probably didn’t have.  Then, God totally paid for the whole trip through some unexpected refunds we got.  What a blessing!  God is so good.
    Sunday morning, February 20th came, and I had to be at the airport at 6am.  Everyone met and checked in and got to the gate.  Security, take off, flight, and landing were all very smooth.  Another blessing.  That afternoon, we met with the Penske trucks that were carrying all of our stuff and headed for the border.  Most years, it can take close to a half an hour to be allowed through border crossing, but this year, we got through in under 10 minutes.  We drove to the camp ground through the rutted, muddy roads, and got camp set up.  No one had forgotten a tent or something major like that, and all went smoothly.

The next day, work day one, we headed for our sites.  I was building a double house with my team, Las Guerreros Fieles, the Faithful Warriors, led by Tom Renner, and another team led by Bart.  Wegot our concrete slab down, got to know the family, and framed a good portion of the walls.
Throughout the week, the house came together with good, sound, insulated walls, a water proof roof, and doors and windows.  My favorite project was working on the roof of the house.
    As freshmen on the team, most of my similar-aged classmates had one disadvantage - pranks.  I, unfortunately, had heard some sophomores talking earlier in the year, so I was pre-warned, but I took part in the pranking.  We had my friend Stephanie looking for the left-handed hoe, and a couple other people looking for doorbells (why we would be putting doorbells in, I have no idea).  
    Every day without fail, the vendors would stop by with ponchos, hats, bags, jewelry, and other local Mexican-made goods. Most of the people on the trip, including me and my dad, bought a poncho.
    The most touching part of working was the key ceremony, where we gave the keys to the family.  We stood in a circle around the inside of the house and prayed over the keys, said words of blessing, or spoke encouragement to the family. Then, they were handed to the mom along with a Bible.  On our way out, she was crying and hugged and kissed each one of us.
    During the workday, we didn’t always have a job that needed to be completed, and that was when we played with the neighborhood kids.  There were five or so regular kids that came around.  One little girl, about 8 years of age, was named Josalina.  She had only known us a day and a half, but when she learned that we were leaving for good, not coming back, she was sobbing.  Through her tears, she prayed for us.  That was touching.  

Another thing that struck me was that these kids never complained.  They weren’t extremely well off, not by Mexican standards, no where near American standards, but I didn’t hear any “Quiero...”s (I want...).  These kids had learned what contentedness was, in ways most Americans never touched.

I told you that the theme was Ebenezer:Stone of Remembrance.  One of our assignments over the trip was to find our EBENEZER.  The ebenezer I chose was a scrap block of wood with two pesos (Mexican money, coins) nailed to it.  To me, this represents the fact that God PROVIDES.  Always, what we need - truly need, not just want - He will give it to us.  I am reminded of this in the pesos (God provided money) and in the nails.  I went to the trip 9 times out of 10 missing the actual nail.  I nailed those in smoothly and cleanly, because God gave me the strength and skills to do what was needed, whether it was nail, mix concrete, or saw wood.

All in all the two main things I learned are that GOD PROVIDES and BE CONTENT.  And the trip’s not over yet - as I reflect on what happened, God will reveal more to me, if I listen to Him, just as He will reveal to anyone who will listen and have faith. 

Prayer Request

This Sunday, I (Sara) am leaving at 6am for Tijuana, Mexico, where I will be with my youth group building houses for those in need.  Please pray for the safety of all of us on the trip, the impact that our group will have on those we are building for, and for how God works in our life.  The theme of the trip is EBENEZER, raising our whole selves up to God; the word literally means a Stone of Help.  God is good!