The past week I was in Mexico on a mission trip with Global Expeditions. I did this trip last year and thought I knew what I was getting into, but of course God had to keep it fresh and make it a completely different trip. This trip was only a week, but it was so intense. My life was so drastically changed during this week; it’s hard to even believe. And since I have come home, the changes have only kept coming.
Will it ever stop?? I hope not!!
My team was called Fieles Cinco which in English means the Faithful Five. There were like 30 of us, but we were team number five and had the theme of faith while there. Our team was based off of the verse 1 Corinthians 4:2 which says, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” Jesus has given us the trust, now it is up to us to be faithful. During this week, my team for sure lived up to this verse. There were a number of people on the trip, that I didn’t get to know too well (I wish I would have) but while there with them, I could see God’s love coming through them to the children of Mexico. Each of them has their own past and their own future, but God brought us together during this week to learn from and to help one another grow. I am so blessed to have been on this team with all of them.
And though our team was absolutely amazing, the Lord did so much work in my life this week. Before this trip, I had vowed to myself, that I was going to push myself, in leadership, in my spiritual, mental and physical capacity. And man, did that happen. It was after our third day of ministry during debrief when all of a sudden everything changed. I suddenly felt really negative, discouraged and exhausted beyond belief. I was grumpy, rude and just wanted to be alone. I was like, “WOAH! What’s going on? This isn’t me!” I had so many negative thoughts going through my mind, telling me that I had done enough on this trip and to not to worry about ministry anymore. And the biggest downer thought was “Jamie you are this tired after barely a week of ministry and your next mission trip is 11 months. You aren’t going to be able to do it.”
After this, I had enough. I knew it was the enemy fighting against the World Race. I went to my leader and told her everything. I confessed to her and we prayed together and immediately I felt a renewed peace and energy and all negative thoughts were gone. My leader told me that when we are so strong in the Lord, that is when the enemy strikes because he knows we have something good and are only growing stronger which will make it harder for him to win. At this point I realized how strong the spiritual battle is. The stronger we grow in God, the harder the enemy tries to attack. But we have to place on the armor of God to be ready for any attack! I wasn’t ready for an attack before, but I am now!
I am so ready for the World Race. There is battle out there. Around the world and God has called me. He has called me!! And I am so excited for this opportunity to serve God around the world and to help show everyone that God has already won!
(My team from Baja. They have impacted my life so much and made this trip memorable)
