The Heart of Missions

Good morning, everyone! I hope you're having a beautiful day. It's chilly and cloudy today, with wind, as usual. Surprisingly, I've actually gotten used to the wind by now. However, the High Plains natives have assured me that we haven't experienced "actual" wind yet. Oh, well.

 

I'm leaving tomorrow for my first "real" mission trip. Three years ago, my dad and I took a five-day trip to Ecuador (you can read about it HERE, HERE and HERE ). We (pastors and their children) went with Compassion International and Stadia (church planting) for what was essentially a demonstration to explain why our churches should support their organizations. They're wonderful companies, by the way, and I would encourage you to look them up. However, the experience was not exactly what I would define as an actual mission trip. We slept in 5-star hotels. I don't think that counts.

 

Now the organization I really want to highlight is S.O.S. Ministries. My dad took my sister Marley on one of their Latin America mission trips two years ago. I have never seen her so impacted by anything in my life. It took her a day or two to be ready to talk about it. God revealed His heart to her that week and every month, she commemorates the day they returned home by sleeping on the floor.

 

By the time we get to our second week in Honduras, there's going to be about 40 people on the trip! We get to bring Christmas to the families in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. I can't wait to see the faces of the children receiving coloring books, candy, soccer balls and toothpaste! I feel overwhelmed that God has given me the opportunity to minister to His people. And the opportunity can be yours too. I encourage you to look around and see the ways God can use you to bless your community. I see Him working in countless ways. You can do something as simple as making your brother's bed, or as thought-out as organizing a food drive. Look at your gifts and talents; you've been given them for a reason (and if you don't believe me, watch Veggie Tales' "Lord of the Beans")

 

Sorry I don't really have any pictures for this post. But, I promise I will cover several posts with pictures and stories from our trip! See you in two weeks!