Before the mission trip…
I had always wanted to go on a mission trip. My sister had gone on one when I was in high school and if I’m being honest I felt a little bit of envy (all be it, it didn’t last long). However, my desire to go was I something couldn’t shake off, but I never felt that release to go.
As I began to get ready to go off to university, I spent time with God seeking His guidance on this new chapter. I prayed for the right friends, I didn’t need a lot… I prayed for one friend. Sought Him for the spiritual environment I was about to enter and how He wanted me carry myself… I felt lead to prepare myself to serve. I had no idea what that would entail, but asked Him to prepare my heart for what was ahead.
Then I arrived and within a few weeks, I had discovered what ‘serve’ looked like. I join the Christian Union and then proceeded, with my one friend, to pray and fast for those we encountered at CU, who lead and our campus too. Every week, almost without fail, be it a prayer walk or in our room, we prayed consistently for that whole year. Alongside this I had become a student ambassador for my university, supporting them on a practical level. I did both of these things for the full 3 years of my study (the frequency changed in my final year, for both).
As the end of my first year approached God presented me with the opptunity to go on my first overseas mission trip. I found myself asking God, why? What has changed Lord? While having this quiet moment with God, my year flashed before me and with it came revelation. Lord this is mission… what I have been doing this year has been missional…
To know Christ, submit to His will, seek His face first, allow Him to shape/mould and grow me in every aspect of life… to fill me up for His glory.
To pray for those around me, my leaders, classmates… pray for the sick, seek His heart for them and not my own selfish desires.
To walk alongside those God has called me to, walking that extra mile, showing them the love of Christ. My Saviour who washed my dirty feet… to shine His light.
Most of this happened without me even realising, but I knew this is God’s heart. To know Christ and make Him known. This is mission and until this moment I don’t think I really understood what it meant to be missional.
I needed that year to teach me truly what it meant to die to self, surrender to God and serve.
And what happened next, well that’s another story…
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“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” - Matthew 6:33 NKJV
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” - James 5:16 NKJV
“And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” - Matthew 5:41 NKJV