Why a mission trip? Why go from "A to Z" (Atlanta to Zimbabwe)?
Atlanta is home. I am happy and safe here. I would be much more comfortable NOT asking friends and family for support money. I have a husband, a two year old, a busy part-time job, obligations, laundry, meals to cook, baths to give and errands to run. My to-do list is perpetually full. I am very comfortable with my family, my friends, my home, my food, and my daily busyness.
Zimbabwe I don’t know the language in Zimbabwe. I don’t know where I’ll sleep. I don’t know any of my teammates. I will have to raise $2,600, and I hate asking for money. The flight will be 20+ hours. The culture will be completely new and different. I am not sure if I’ll like the food. Will I get sick? There is a big list of painful sounding shots I’ll need. Malaria pills? What will I do there? How can I help? I don’t really have any special skill to offer. Who will I talk to? This will be emotional, hard and will likely challenge me to the core.
So, why go?
God’s answer:
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
My answer:
Why not? There are orphans who need love, and I have some to give.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8
As a family, we feel a burning passion for serving, praying for, loving on, and giving to the orphans and the poor of the world. I can certainly serve from home though. There are people all around us that need love. I can volunteer and send money to local and international organizations. I have a long list of reasons why I should stay in Atlanta, and a longer list of reasons that I should NOT go to Zimbabwe.
The thing is… God is calling me to go. He has given me a burning desire to serve the “least of these”. Serving is in my heart. I long to be the hands of feet of Christ to those in extreme poverty. I long to have to trust God 100%. I need to be changed. I am too comfortable. I need for my heart to be broken by what breaks the heart of God. My faith has grown strong, but I need to take a deeper step into what God is doing.
I have fears and doubts, but I also have faith, trust, excitement and anticipation for what God is going to do in me and through me. So, bring it on, God. I’m in.
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40
Atlanta is home. I am happy and safe here. I would be much more comfortable NOT asking friends and family for support money. I have a husband, a two year old, a busy part-time job, obligations, laundry, meals to cook, baths to give and errands to run. My to-do list is perpetually full. I am very comfortable with my family, my friends, my home, my food, and my daily busyness.
Zimbabwe I don’t know the language in Zimbabwe. I don’t know where I’ll sleep. I don’t know any of my teammates. I will have to raise $2,600, and I hate asking for money. The flight will be 20+ hours. The culture will be completely new and different. I am not sure if I’ll like the food. Will I get sick? There is a big list of painful sounding shots I’ll need. Malaria pills? What will I do there? How can I help? I don’t really have any special skill to offer. Who will I talk to? This will be emotional, hard and will likely challenge me to the core.
So, why go?
God’s answer:
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
My answer:
Why not? There are orphans who need love, and I have some to give.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8
As a family, we feel a burning passion for serving, praying for, loving on, and giving to the orphans and the poor of the world. I can certainly serve from home though. There are people all around us that need love. I can volunteer and send money to local and international organizations. I have a long list of reasons why I should stay in Atlanta, and a longer list of reasons that I should NOT go to Zimbabwe.
The thing is… God is calling me to go. He has given me a burning desire to serve the “least of these”. Serving is in my heart. I long to be the hands of feet of Christ to those in extreme poverty. I long to have to trust God 100%. I need to be changed. I am too comfortable. I need for my heart to be broken by what breaks the heart of God. My faith has grown strong, but I need to take a deeper step into what God is doing.
I have fears and doubts, but I also have faith, trust, excitement and anticipation for what God is going to do in me and through me. So, bring it on, God. I’m in.
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40
5 comments:
You definitely have love, kindness and generosity to offer! You will literally be a godsend to those sweet babies and little ones.
You have certainly spoken my very heart!! I am going on the ET/Uganda trip with Kari and Ashlie and feel just the same way as you do going to Z!!!
I also adopted a little girl last June from China and we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her so much!!!
I am sure you will be such a blessing to the orphans there and I imagine they will bless you too!! I cannot wait to see what God has for both of us!!
Naomi
www.lydiahope.blogspot.com
This is a beautiful post and you made me both proud and humbled. I wish you nothing but the best on your trip, and may you grow and learn in ways which today you can't imagine. You remind me that my little problems are little compared to those in the world around me. I love you!
This is Laura's Mom. Please
send me the information. I want to
help you "go into all the world".
My prayers continue for you, Mark
and your little princess.
NC Granny
Those beautiful children are so bleesed to have you share your love with them. You and Mark are such an example of God's work. You always inspire me. I will be sending you a check this week.
God Bless.
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