It's amazing how no matter how many times you do things, God always has something to teach you. I've been on 7 missions trips now, and God continues to teach and show me incredible things. This is not to say that I've done it all and I know everything there is to know, but rather is a statement of God's incredible goodness.I went to Cambodia May 1 - May 24 with 6 grand girls from IWU and it was an incredible experience. I think you could assume that. God taught me many lessons, and here are a few things that touched my heart:
The first afternoon we went grocery shopping. It was my 1st experience in a foreign food market and it really was a struggle. The conditions were gruesome and I really thought “How am I going to do this as a missionary?” I saw an unbathed vendor
lying on her table, inches away from her meat product, feet dirty and bare, simply resting and waiting for customers. I talked to Tim (missionary host) at lunch and his words seems simple, but it influential. He said something like: “You will be amazed at what God will help you do.” Only THEN I felt comfortable about being a missionary woman in 5 or so years and going to the market. It is not easy, but there is joy in sacrifice. Joy in serving Christ and loving His people.
Our main ministry was at the Wesleyan Bible Institute and also at the various surrounding churches where the WBI grads are now pastors and English teachers. There are only 8 students at the Bible college, and we hung out a lot, taught them a lot of English worship songs and dramas, and played a lot of games. It was a lot of fun forming relationships, with the 5 girls especially. All the students and workers were so kind and loving and it was really hard to leave them. The afternoon before we flew home we were all in a circle and took turns sharing a message, and one of the students, So Phol, shared a really special message and thanked us for allowing God to love her through us. She was so sincere and it was special.
We were there for 3.5 weeks and on each weekend we traveled 3-4hrs to a different province where we stayed a couple days.
The first afternoon we went grocery shopping. It was my 1st experience in a foreign food market and it really was a struggle. The conditions were gruesome and I really thought “How am I going to do this as a missionary?” I saw an unbathed vendor
lying on her table, inches away from her meat product, feet dirty and bare, simply resting and waiting for customers. I talked to Tim (missionary host) at lunch and his words seems simple, but it influential. He said something like: “You will be amazed at what God will help you do.” Only THEN I felt comfortable about being a missionary woman in 5 or so years and going to the market. It is not easy, but there is joy in sacrifice. Joy in serving Christ and loving His people.
Our main ministry was at the Wesleyan Bible Institute and also at the various surrounding churches where the WBI grads are now pastors and English teachers. There are only 8 students at the Bible college, and we hung out a lot, taught them a lot of English worship songs and dramas, and played a lot of games. It was a lot of fun forming relationships, with the 5 girls especially. All the students and workers were so kind and loving and it was really hard to leave them. The afternoon before we flew home we were all in a circle and took turns sharing a message, and one of the students, So Phol, shared a really special message and thanked us for allowing God to love her through us. She was so sincere and it was special.
We were there for 3.5 weeks and on each weekend we traveled 3-4hrs to a different province where we stayed a couple days.
We visited the grad’s churches, sharing, doing children’s programs, and also teaching English on weekdays if classes were offered. One of my favorite things was traveling, and seeing new churches, and meeting the believers. The churches were all distinct, but very similar in the aspect of simplicity. God really reminded me of what church really means. It isn’t a decorative building or a large crowd of people – it’s a gathering of believers whose hearts are focused on Him. I felt His presence in a little shack house church, acapela worship, only 10 in attendance. The other things aren’t bad, but we can’t let them be distractions of what is most important.
The same day, Tim gave a sermon on the Great Commission and talked about baptism like I had never really heard it talked about before, but I realized something even greater. I almost didn’t expect to be challenged or to change, I mean.. the Great Commission?
I was on a missions trip, my heart’s desire is missions, I’m obviously “going and making disciples of every nation,” but I was reminded like never before that this needs to start here, IN MY HOME as Dad isn’t living a righteous life. I was thinking about the testimony that I had prepared to share just after the sermon. I was prepared to talk about how great God is, how he is my strength, joy, and peace, and how amazing He truly is; and I realized... if He is truly this great and I love Him this much, why have I not affected my father’s faith in 19 years of living? For the next thirty minutes, until the conclusion of the sermon when I was called up front, I fervently and passionately prayed for my father like I never had before. It was the first time that I really felt the love that would sacrifice myself for his salvation, a salvation that means he is fully surrendered, and striving to do God's will. It’s easy to say (that I would give up my life that my father would find true life), but was not easy to truly claim.
On the same trip, we rented a 15 passenger van, and with it came a *Buddhist driver. Although he never openly admitted or
asked questions, it was awesome to see him gradually be vulnerable as we prayed over dinner and visited two churches. I believe our purpose in going to Seam Reap may have been meeting Cherat and praying with him, opening the Cambodian-translation Bible for him in one service, and displaying Christ's love.
The same day, Tim gave a sermon on the Great Commission and talked about baptism like I had never really heard it talked about before, but I realized something even greater. I almost didn’t expect to be challenged or to change, I mean.. the Great Commission?
I was on a missions trip, my heart’s desire is missions, I’m obviously “going and making disciples of every nation,” but I was reminded like never before that this needs to start here, IN MY HOME as Dad isn’t living a righteous life. I was thinking about the testimony that I had prepared to share just after the sermon. I was prepared to talk about how great God is, how he is my strength, joy, and peace, and how amazing He truly is; and I realized... if He is truly this great and I love Him this much, why have I not affected my father’s faith in 19 years of living? For the next thirty minutes, until the conclusion of the sermon when I was called up front, I fervently and passionately prayed for my father like I never had before. It was the first time that I really felt the love that would sacrifice myself for his salvation, a salvation that means he is fully surrendered, and striving to do God's will. It’s easy to say (that I would give up my life that my father would find true life), but was not easy to truly claim.On the same trip, we rented a 15 passenger van, and with it came a *Buddhist driver. Although he never openly admitted or
asked questions, it was awesome to see him gradually be vulnerable as we prayed over dinner and visited two churches. I believe our purpose in going to Seam Reap may have been meeting Cherat and praying with him, opening the Cambodian-translation Bible for him in one service, and displaying Christ's love.Lamentations 3:19-24 says: I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." I encourage you to remember where God has brought you and what He has taught you.
More to come...
1 comment:
Jewel!!! I did not know you had a blog - - - and here you already have me linked on yours!!! I had to find you the "sneaky" way by using my site meter to see who'd been visiting my blog.
I'm camping and on a very slow wifi, so I'm gonna book mark your blog and come back to spend more time when I get home to FASTER internet connection.
Post a Comment