First days on mission trips are always unpredictable especially when team members are arriving at all different times from all over. Typically I find myself explaining that the next day will be better or I am still trying to figure out group dynamics and unity.
The good news I bring though is that mission trip has been an exception to every assumption I had coming into the week. The team of students I have is truly top notch. I have never taken a team somewhere where I have total confidence and trust in each and everyone of them. Ironically they are all relatively young. The group bonding has been just as amazing. In all honesty I may feel the most “left out” just by “missing” out on the 16 hour car ride. Its all good though, and a total answer to prayer.
Today has also been a sweet day for all of us. We have already seen God do some things in ways we didn’t expect. Even last night a girl was visiting one of our students and brought her mom whom she later shared Christ with after they were done hanging out as the mom was heavily impacted by the community of CCFers. My plane flights were top notch as Nathan and I had a great two hour flight with a soldier who was retuning from serving in Afghanistan. He definitely was not a Christian, it was so sweet to thank him, listen to his wild stories and encourage him with the hope that only comes from Christ. Needless to say the soldier wants to spend some time with us this week bowling and eating popcorn (especially impressive since he will only be stateside for 14 days). This afternoon really opened my eyes to see how even in the United States cultures are so diverse and different in reaching out to and connecting with. Simply shopping at a local grocery store blew my mind to see how truly different it was. A simple reminder that no church is the same only the story of freedom in Christ is the same. This living organism the church looks different even from state to state but it is only the working of the Holy Spirit that can cross all racial, cultural and state lines.
To wrap things up tonight the church opens it’s doors up to any body who wants to use their indoor gym. This was a beautiful picture of the church actually being the church and opening its doors to simple share with the community what God has blessed them with. It was humbling to sit and never get picked as eighth grade to college age males put on a hoops clinic. I was intimidated and challenged to say the least. Along the way God was also doing a work on my judgmental heart and me. It seems so simple and obvious but tonight I was reminded of the obvious that I am no different from any other person. I am the same human that sins and needs a savior. I have no VIP status in heaven. My only hope is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Stay tuned….
Prayer: Simply pray that we would seek to see god, and seek to show God to whoever we encounter
