Rick in Alaska
Serving others through mission work can be life changing both for those who are served and those who have the honor of serving. This morning our Work and Witness Team (short term missions) to Alaska shared during our morning worship service. It was great to hear from each team member (five adults - my husband, Rick included and two teens) how God worked in their lives during their time in Alaska and to hear that some of them are considering future mission trips.
This morning in Sunday school we discussed the financial aspect of going of Work and Witness trips (mainly airfare). I was pleased to hear that others hearts are burdened to make a difference closer to home also and to use the money that would have been spent for travel expenses to make a difference in the lives of people closer to home. I think both types of trips have value.
This evening during our missions service we were privileged to hear from two of our teens who traveled closer to home for their Work and Witness project. Last year they traveled to Mississippi to help with the hurricane repairs (which are still ongoing). It touches my heart deeply to see young men striving to serve and finding their place in ministry. Pray for Nathan and Timothy that God will continue to work in their lives and lead them to the ministries where HE can use them.
Have any of you taken part in a short term mission project? If so how did it change your life and or world view? If you haven't been on a short-term missions trip would you consider it?
37 comments:
This is Mama and yes I went on a very short mission trip. Several from church in FL went to Miss. to help this past winter. Most of the hurricane destruction was already cleaned up but what impressed me the most was that a few could do so much in a short time when they all worked together. I was assigned to putting down tile which I had never done before. :) We worked in a church to help them get their final inspection to be able to use the church. Also I was impressed at the workings of the church where we all stayed as people came from all over not just our church or FL to work.
The church that fed us and where we slept have been putting people up for this kind of work for 4 1/2 years.
I am thankful that I could do this trip and also very thankful that I didn't go through that storm.
Love, Mama
I think this post by you is great! It's really something to think about. I've been thinking in a deeper level of mission work, whereas before I took it more for granted what others did regarding it. Maybe its because I am getting older, I am seeing things in a new level of life...I'm not sure. I appreciate the sacrifice that others are making to help others and spread the Message of Love in Christ and our Heavenly Father.
Thanks for posting this, Robin! :)
Love, Linda (I am on a different computer so I am not signed in)...
p.s. I am proud of Rick that he went! :) I know it must be a real Blessing for your family, that your husband, and for your children (their Dad), did this in serving Christ. :) Great example! :)
hi robin,
Hi Jel - Did you mean to leave more than Hi Robin or were you just saying hello? Hope this means you are back online.
Papa - my brother went to Mississippi early on in the repair efforts with a Work and Witness Team also.
There is surely much work to do all over our country and our world!
Linda - If you are interested our church is going to be doing a project not too horribly far from where we live in October and if you are interested I'm sure they'd take your help. But there are lots of volunteer opportunities available near here. Hospice, hospitals, homeless shelters, etc.... If you want specific info let me know in person and I will give you names and info.
Thanks for thinking of me, Robin. :)
One of these days I want to take my kids to Soup Kitchen in DC and let us all learn from the experience together. I feel so spoiled and bratty, that I get caught up in petty cares of the world, as compared to what so many are going through, just in survival, each day.
As you say to me, let's pray for each other. :)
Love, Linda oxo
Linda, there are ministries even closer than DC that you and your kids could serve at - you know things so close that it could become a habit.
I remember one time when I was in my early 20's the church I was attending asked for volunteers to help serve meals at a homeless shelter. First of all I was SHOCKED to find that one was so close to us (I know better than to be shocked now) and second of all I was deeply saddened to see young women my age and younger who were homeless with small children. It broke my heart.
I later worked at a non-profit that helped homeless and low-income individuals and families, but my eyes were wide open by then.
Yes, let's pray for each other!
Yes, I'm sure there are lots of them! I know that our local community shelter has done so much to help so many people and I'm sure with that alone, there are many opportunities. I think the reason I always wanted to try helping out with the Soup Kitchen,is because my Grandparents talked about it so much through their church when they were living and still active. It was a big part of their church, serving in that way. Another ministry they did that I always found to be a good one was the Blanket Ministry.
I also thought it would give my kids (and myself) a good dose of what homeless looks like, as much as we are able to see from those few hours anyway, and I feel it would just really open our spoiled eyes as to what "struggle" really is, and what not having food or a home is, compared to running out of their(mine too) favorite cereal, or maybe having to eat what is at home, even if it's not what they (me) want to eat.
Thanks for discussing this with me, Robin, and getting the post going, in bringing this much needed awareness out. (((Hugs!)))
Love, Linda
My dream is to go on a missions trip someday. Hopefully next summer. I've done day things like visit nursing homes, but nothing out of town.
PS Thanks for the sweet comment on my blog about being a mom and letting go.
I have not gone on any short term mission trips, but my husband has been on some work and witness trips in years past. They are life changing. It helps to get a different perspective on the world we life in, and the cultural differences. I'm not speaking from experience, just what what I've heard. Am I willing to go on such a trip? Not something I would choose...I'm too picky about what I eat and where I sleep and the cleanliness around me. But if God calls, I'll follow Him.
That would be the world we "live" in, not "life" in. Man...I need to do previews before I post!
Live in, Life in...same thing ;)
(lol)
If we could have a penny for all the times we didn't preview or copy our replies before sending them "just in case they got lost" (and then they do).....think of the money we would all have! :O
Have a great day! :)
Love, Linda oxo
Oops! I somehow duplicated my post! (that's why it shows deleted)
Robin, I have never gone on a mission trip, but in Bible C. I went with a team to a South L.A. Homeless Mission once a week for a semester. I think I was too young to appreciate the fate of the people there. It's closer to home now that I have kids and a job and bills and the what ifs of life. Many roads to that shelter, and not all are from personal decisions. God's grace has blessed me beyond my own knowing. We have so much to be thankful for.
What is that verse? "To whome much is given much shall be required" ?
Tiffany, I hope you are blessed with the opportunity to serve and love through a mission trip somewhere even with in the states. There are many who need God's love and our service!
Carol,
I've never been on a short-term mission trip either. I'm saddened by my own lack of faith because I had several opportunities and I gave up because of money (well lack of).
I have helped with homeless shelters and done day projects. I hope that one day when my children are older I'm given the opportunity again whether its here or abroad. I too am a picky eater. In one of the missionary books my daughter just read (I read it too) the MKs had to eat crickets... aughhh. God would have to do a serious work in me for that...
I'm so glad my husband had the opportunity to go on a trip. I was so proud of him when he shared on Sunday - he gave God the glory!
Hi Linda :) Hope you are having a great day! Always love seeing your comments here :)
Julie - even if you feel your service didn't impact you a lot back in college at the homeless shelter - its obviously impacted you today!
If you ever get to go on a mission trip or just volunteer weekly, I'm sure people will see Jesus because you were there.
The homeless shelter in our town helps so many. One of the workers was telling me (at the fair) that the average American is two paychecks away from being homeless. All it takes is a major house/car repair or an illness and it could be any of us.
God can work through our obedience. God's proved HIMSELF before and HE will do it again!
Hi Carol! ^__^
Robin, I missed seeing you yesterday at the water park. :(
We didn't go today, did you?
Great discussion here, I feel Blessed reading all the replies of how everyone feels about it. :)
Love, Linda
Robin, I tried going to Linda's blog from yours, and it seems that I must have an invitation to do so. She responded to a comment on made here on your blog, and I was confused...wondering if I had posted to someone else's blog. At any rate, it appears that Linda is a fairly new blogger (54 hits), and I would like to encourage her by visiting her two blogs. Any way I can get there from here? (Hi, Linda!)
Linda - I haven't been to the water park since Saturday - boo hoo... wanted to go every day this week, but something got in the way each time. It was too cold today again... Oh Linda, Carol is trying to get to your blog is there a way she can do that or do you need to be invited.
Let me just tell you that Carol is an incredible Christian lady and you would love her. She has met Jessica - she lives at the camp ground in Michigan where Jessica spent some time a while back. Its so neat to get to know people who know each other. Indian Lake Papa also lives at the campground. Small world!
Carol - you are so sweet to try to contact Linda. Linda is a dear friend I know from the "real" world. She has a tender heart and personality to go with it!
Linda - Carol has several blogs. I think you would really enjoy her Genesis blog - its almost like a Bible study. Carol's main blog is linked on my blog list on this blog. On my quote blog - she is linked with her reading/quote blog. She also has a menu type blog.
Dear Robin & Carol,
Thanks to you both for being so sweet and caring to me! :)
Carol, I had it set to where anyone could read it or comment, but I just changed it to invites only. Anyone on Robin's blog (since I know Robin and love her **smile**) is welcome on my blog! :)
It's: clayjars71.blogspot.com
I've been in online communities since the year 2000, mainly with Msn Communities, and I've seen a lot of crazy things through all that (as it's totally online communication), which kicked in my protective, cautious side when it comes to beiong online. I figured since I have myspace, facebook, msn & yahoo communities, I might as well give blogspot a try too! (LOL)...I must say, I really do enjoy blogspot a lot. :)
I'd love to get to know you better, Carol! :)
Thanks so much for asking about me and giving me your support, that means a lot. :)
Robin, you are precious! :)
I don't think it's going to be hot enough for the water park the rest of this week. :O
Love, Linda oxo
Carol, I just sent you an invite to the email address on your profile. :)
Love, Linda
hello Robin,
hope all is well with ya!
got a new website for ya to check out if ya got the time!
over at my blog!
have a great weekend
blessings
Robin, oh Robin....where are you today??? I miss hearing from you.
Love, Linda
Jel - I will check out the website probably tomorrow. Love your pictures :)
Linda - it's been a busy day. We did school work and then I had to baby sit for a neighbor tonight. I'm hoping to hit the water park tomorrow if its warm enough... I'm sure the crowds have slimmed down by now since the season is just about over - boo hoo...
Hi Robin...I thought I'd cut and paste about a mission trip some friends went on recently. Three were formerly incarcerated, and were living in our transitional housing facility at the time of the trip. Elaine (executive director of Seed Sowers: A Prison Ministry)is writing. Here goes...
Well, last week The Monarch House “Butterflies” (girls living in the Monarch House) joined my husband, JD and I as we went on a mission trip to Guatemala. It was amazing the way God opened up doors so that the “Butterflies” could go. First, there were plane tickets donated which was half the cost of the trip. Then the girls were able to raise the remaining $2,600.00 that was needed! But it does not stop there – one of the ladies is on parole. In just a week and a half she received approval from the Texas parole board to leave the country. If you are not familiar with our parole board let me just tell you – her getting approval to leave the US was nothing other than a “God thing!” It is hard to get permission to leave the state of Texas much less the country!
Our trip could not have been better. Two of the Monarch House girls joined my husband and I with our group and one girl was put in another group. I was really unsure how the church we were paired up with would accept our group because of the ex-offenders. The funny thing is our church was feeling the same way! They said they were unsure how the group they were assigned to would accept them because they were so small. God is always at work. We loved that our church was small. We loved that our church was poor. The most amazing thing was that our church pastor had a passion for helping people with addictions and harsh past like most of our group had. We were a perfect fit for them and they were a perfect fit for us.
The other Monarch House girl was put into a group where she was the only one who had a past with addiction. God was able to use her in a mighty way as she was the only one in the group able to relate to one group of women they ministered too. These ladies were so poor that they (and their children) would go to the city dump every day to scavenge for metals to sell or even food to eat. A lot of these women were supporting addictions. Our Monarch House girl was able to share her testimony and give them hope.
Through our trip many came to know the Lord and our lives will never be the same. We blessed so many and so many blessed us. It was a great experience and we pray that God will use us right here in our home town to win more to Christ.
(Becky's note - the team consisted of 105 folks from TX, FL and 4 Central American countries. Well over 800 decisions were made for Christ in the city wide effort in Guatemala City - Praise the Lord!)
Beck - How incredible! The team was ministering and being ministered to at the same time in a multitude of ways! God really worked everything out!!!
You had a HUGE team too - wow 105 people amazing! Your church sounds like a church Jesus where Jesus would be welcome! If you know what I mean...
Robin, what pool will we meet at during the cooler/cold months? :O
We could meet at the park by the pool and let the kids play until it gets too blustery. Or there is the church playground too. I could go over early on a Wednesday evening and the kids could play? We have options just not water options :)
Can we somehow float around the playground in circles on something while they play in the middle? :D
Hi Robin, Great post! We serve in different ways, World Vision, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, The Bridge (a local soup kitchen), Teen Challenge, Walter Hoving Home are a few things we are involved in or support. There are so many needs, all across the world, including in our own neighborhoods, that's why God calls ALL of us to do our part, so it can all be covered. I pray we are all listening to God's calling for us. Be blessed.
Sounds like a great trip for your husband and the others! :)
My first short-term missions trip was the summer before my senior year in high school. About 20 of us (6 adults, 14 youth) went to inner city Chicago for 8 days to help with day camp and demolishing a house. International Teams did a great job of coordinating the trip and providing really thorough pre-trip training and lots of great experiences when we were there. I learned so much through that trip, especially from getting to know the missionaries and the kids who lived in such a gang-ridden area. It really confirmed my desire to go into missions. (And then I ended up serving as a missionary in Asia for 5 years before returning to the US for seminary/grad school!)
Speaking of which, I forget if I ever answered your question, but the M.A. I just finished was in Counseling, so you and I have a few things in common! :)
Linda - I'm sure we could figure out a creative way to float around the playground :)
Life Adapted - Glad you are back from your vacation and that you had a great time! You are involved in so many wonderful ministries and teaching your kids well! I'm sure they will follow in your footsteps!
Faith - So nice to hear from you. I hope you and the little ones are doing well. How neat that you were a missionary for five years in Asia - where exactly were you? You know one exciting thing about my church being so involved in missions is that every time we have a missions meeting we get a FREE geography lesson too :) Cool that you have a Masters in Counseling too. Are you using it now? I'm just being a mom, but one day I'd like to do some Christian counseling through a ministry or church.
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