Walking through a refugee camp. Stepping through a pile of trash next to impoverished children looking for food. Riding through a polluted town in a tuk-tuk and waving at the broken, lost people you pass by. Holding hands with children who have seen more brokenness in their short lives than you ever will, or building a church in a third-world country with giant hunks of sun-baked mud. What else do you think of when you hear the word “missions”? While embarking on a mission trip overseas, God allows you to take the adventure of a lifetime to reach the unreached. He gives you the courage and strength and skills only He can provide to equip you with the tools you need to bring the light of the Gospel to those who thirst. Despite missions being focused on sharing the Gospel with others, your walk with Him also becomes stronger. The joys and difficulties missions brings strengthens your relationship with your Saviour, and draw you closer to Him as you learn to cling to Him through this life. 1. MISSIONS ALLOWS US TO USE OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTSGod has given each and every one of us spiritual gifts so that we would magnify Him. On the mission field, and even in your everyday life, you have a special opportunity to bring Him glory. God has purposefully and thoughtfully created you with these gifts to be used in a time like this - in missions, and wherever He leads you. 2. MISSIONS ALLOWS US TO GROW CLOSER TO GOD Missions, like every other part of life, doesn’t come without trials. No doubt about it. It’s the reality of our broken, sinful, messy world. But despite the peril of a whirlwind that threatens to swallow you up, God is always there. It’s in hurricanes that we trust in the Creator of the atmosphere. In the sorrow we hold onto the One who will wipe away every tear. In the conflict we have hope in He who will set all things right. But it’s also in the joy that we rejoice in the One who put beauty in these ashes. When difficulty whirls in, we have more trust in our God. We come to lean on Him, not our desires, what we think is best, what we want in life. We stop thinking about what we think is the best happy ending, but instead have faith in Him, because He has the ultimate plan for our lives. 3. MISSIONS ALLOWS US TO GAIN A HEART FOR THE NATIONS Global missions is the hope that we might touch every nation of the world, every unreached person with the life-changing, hope-giving, joy-filling message of the Gospel. We marvel at the wondrous world God created and grieve the brokenness that covers it, but we hope for spiritual multiplication to take place across the nations. Because of how Jesus changes every aspect of our lives and shatters the darkness into a brilliant multitude of colours, we hope to take it to the ends of the Earth, rejoicing. Today, let’s gain a heart for the world. Let’s let hope split the sky as we reach the ends of the Earth with the glorious message of the Gospel. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. The metro train came to an abrupt halt. I stepped outside into the bright sunlight of the charming European city I would be visiting for the next week. Bikes hastily darted along the cobblestone streets, and the chill of the winter air caught my breath. The buzz of the city shook me awake. I had finally arrived in Denmark. Traveling on a mission trip was never my idea. But I am grateful that God graciously put my imperfect, human self into his Amazing Plan. His Plan for this faith-searching city. His Plan for the World. The experience of merely traveling abroad creates plenty to learn and experience already. But I learnt so much more than adjusting to a new country, and I am still learning. Here are five (out of the many) things I learned from my mission trip to Denmark. 1. I BECAME PART OF A SPECIAL FAMILYI was blessed with an special group of individuals to embark on my adventure with. Their merry laughter overflowed by heart with joy. Their warm smiles contrasted so strongly with the darkness of the winter air. My trip would have been nothing without them. 2. THERE'S MORE THAN JUST ME IN THIS WORLDDoing journalism along the picturesque streets of Copenhagen, lined with quaint coffee shops and colourful buildings I was given a small window into people’s lives. Everyone on this earth has their own fears, dreams, delights, prides, hopes and sorrows. It’s not simply about MY struggles or MY doubts or MY desires or MY accomplishments. I have to let go of thinking just about myself and realize that i’m not the only person on this earth, whom everyone has to support, encourage and compliment. There’s more than just me in this world. 3. WHAT THE WORLD SAYS BRING JOY ARE NO MATCH FOR THE JOY CHRIST BRINGSDuring my time in Denmark, I learned quickly that the thought that Denmark is the happiest country on earth is an over-statement. These people have all the world says will make you happy, but they’re still searching. This is true to our First World society on the other side of the Atlantic as well. We binge shop for things we don’t really need and waste our time fixated on earthly pleasures. The truth is that we can’t experience true joy-filled living without Christ. The things the world says will make you happy, such as the latest, overpriced clothing, or the best, newest phone on give the smallest fraction of happiness compared to the immeasurable joy Christ gives. 4. USE THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS CHRIST HAS GIVEN YOU FOR HIS GLORYThis message was truly the main object of the trip, as well as doing mission work. We were able to exercise our God-given gifts through producing media in the categories of journalism, photography and videography. Hearing the click of the camera and the pattering of feet to the next photo shoot was music to my ears. We were able to use the spiritual gifts God had given us for his ultimate glory. 5. OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE FANTASTIC POSSIBILITIESEver since I made the decision to go to Denmark, I strive to let go of my fears and cling to God, in the good days, and the bad days, because no matter how far I drift, he never lets go of my hand.
I need to open my heart to the fantastic plan He has for my life. To let the Holy Spirit guide me through my doubts, my mess-ups, because He knows my future, the plan for my life, after all, He created it. He is with you and for You, forever and always. |
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MEET HANNAHWelcome to this wee corner of the internet! I'm Hannah; snail mail aficionado, paper enthusiast and child of God. Join me on this adventure! ARCHIVES
April 2018
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