This one was posted on FB and I admit I handled it wrong. But here is where I stand. It has been on my heart for sometime now to go on a missions trip. There are always mission trips on the church website and in the e-newsletter and none of them have felt like the right one. They've gone to New Orleans for the last few years over spring break. They do global ones and they do ones in our own neighborhood. The need is so great everywhere. When I saw this trip in December on the e-newsletter, I knew it was the one for me. Why? I'm still asking God. Michael asked why not one closer? I have no idea. We do stuff locally with and without the church. There are so many groups that need people to step up and make a difference. To do what they can to help those who need help - all over the world. But for me, I have confidence in my heart that this one is meant for me. I know that my hearts' door swung wide open on this one as soon as I heard about it. I have faith that it is going to be a life changing experience for me and I doubt that this will be my last mission trip.
What do you need to do?
1) Application with 3 references.
2) Passport
3) Fundraising
4) Shots
How long will you be gone?
We fly out on Sept 14th and will be back on Sept 24th. I believe that it is a day and 1/2 each way to travel.
What exactly will you be doing?
This is what I know from my first meeting. I will be assisting the medical staff with whatever needs to be done. They will be giving medical and dental physicals to up to 2000 kids while we are there. I might be doing crowd control (keeping everyone moving), doing personal care classes with the kids, or even assisting in the pharmacy.
On non-clinic days we will be doing things around the school as needed - painting, cleaning - whatever needs to be done.
I am stepping up to the plate to help as needed. I should have my information in a week or so when I get my information packet - so I'll fill you in as I find out!
What are you looking forward to the most?
1) Being used to help make a difference - even if it is a little one.
2) Stepping out of my comfort zone and rising to the call.
3) Working with a group of people who have a heart after God's.
4) The experience of lifetime.
What are you LEAST looking forward to?
1) The shots. =) Not that you've noticed, right?
2) I know the plane flights will be a challenge due to my RLS.
3) I love to help and fix things. I'm afraid of getting emotionally attached to the kids and not being able to help or fix things for them.
4) Stepping out of my comfort zone and not being able to rise to the calling.
5) Not being able to accurately describe my experience
Do you really think you are going to make a difference in a place like that?
I'd like to share a story with you that is a very important part of where I work:
The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…”
I made a difference for that one.”
Can I come with you? =)
SURE! I think it would be an AMAZING experience to share this with someone! If you are interested let me know! We can share the experience together...shots and all!!!
I know I'll have more information when I get my information packet - send me your questions and I'll answer them as I can!
To close this post, I'd like to share what someone expressed to me in not so many (nice) words. They asked why I was blogging and FBing about it as a Christian when clearly the bible says opposite. The bible says in Matthew 6:
Matthew 6
Giving to the Needy
1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
I THINK they were trying to ask if I was doing this with the right heart. I took it differently and was really hurt by it. I cried, and prayed to God and asked Him to search my heart. To confirm that this mission trip was about His will and not about me.
So why did I blog about it? Well, there is a simple answer. I blogged about this and I shared with family and friends because I'm so excited I could pee my pants! I'm sharing my excitement, nervousness, thoughts and concerns on this blog as a journal. As a record for me.
Let's face it, I have ONE faithful reader (Hi Margie!) who has read my blog from the beginning. Who reads between the lines of my blog and can feel my heart and knows what is going on even when I don't. Who checks up on me when I'm not posting and who is honest with me. Someone who is my encourager, my uplifter and my angel. So to think I am posting to "shout like the hypocrites" did in the streets (and that was literally what they did) by blogging about my trip hurt my heart. I spent a whole night on a blog response but then I did the right thing and slept on it...and prayed about it. And then I slept on it for another two weeks. Then I realized that with the few people that check my blog (Hi few peeps!) I really feel in my heart that I am not being a hypocrite like what is mentioned in Matthew. And besides, this isn't something I can do alone. I need the prayers, support and help from those around me.
Something that happens as a Christian is that I get judged in everything I do. It's both a good thing and a bad thing. Sometimes I feel like I am damed if I do and damed if I don't. I mean, I'm all for accountability. It is what keeps us on the right path. But there are those that just judge for judgement sake. I am still growing as a Christian - and I'll stumble as I grow.
If I ever do something as a Christian that you want to talk about - let's talk.
So why did I post this now?
Typically if one person it thinking it, so are others. I decided to close my post with this so that if there are others questioning my motives behind my trip, hopefully they will see the difference. And again, if there are questions, you'd talk to me direct and not behind my back.
But to be brutally honest, this blog is about me - my life. I enjoy sharing things of my life - and I've always been heartfelt and honest. I've admitted my failures and my weaknesses - my hopes, dreams and my heartache - my laughter and my hobbies - regardless of who is reading. I use the blog as a journal and I wish I had started it sooner! So many things I wish I'd remembered over the years.
So please feel free to join me as I blog about my life's journey and as I blog about my mission trip.
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