Mission Trip 2011

For the youth/church Mission Trip we decided to go with World Changers which is a ministry through the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. The mission of World Changers is to engage teens in providing labor to those here in the US - it ranges from home repair, painting, roofing, working in parks, cleaning up cemetaries, etc. Each church group is divided onto crews of with other churches from all over the country and they have a project to complete during the week...

Our church went to Gallup NM which is only about 4 hours away. It was a different experience for all of us and not one we are soon to forget! The picture above is my crew - The Cinderblockheads! Our project was to build a wheel chair ramp for the home owner that had a stroke this past August. We also repaired a roof over their patio.

I must say that this was WAY out of my comfort zone for missions! I not only do not know anything about construction, I don't enjoy it, and would MUCH rather be engaging and interacting with the people. However - this past week God had plans for me!!!

I started the week very frustrated and irritated with the organization and leadership of some of the youth sponsors, I felt very useless, and quite honestly was thinking that I should have stayed home as I had PLENTY to do here in terms of getting to move. Yet - as the week went on God began to show me that HIS agenda wasn't about me ministering to others this time around but simply to sit and be willing to be his servant when and how He willed.

Yesterday, was the real blessing for me! I was able to share basic Bible stories with a young boy at one of the work sites and then I was able to meet others in the neighborhood; I noticed that these opportunities didn't arise until I had an attitude check however and became willing to let GOD determine the purpose, organization, and leadership of the trip! Isn't that the case a lot? We try to do it our way, with our motives and plans and God says "step out of the way so that MY plan can be accomplished!"

I don't regret going and at the same time I don't know that I would go again to a World Changers trip - however I DO know that no matter where God sends me, I hope to step aside and let HIM determine what and how I am to minister!!!

This next week we are headed to youth camp at Hesperus Baptist Camp followed by a weekend trip to Borger Tx as Joel is going in view of a call as Associate Pastor to Children and Families. We are excited about it but also very tired and weary...please pray for sustained energy and strength for all 6 of us as we navigate this BUSY schedule...Love you all!