I titled this post Change is a Comin’ for two reasons.
1) We have had our first route change.
Rather than starting our trip out in Moldova we are going to be instead heading to Bulgaria. Why this has changed I am not sure, but either Adventures in Missions feel we should not be heading to Moldova in September or that we are more needed and called to Bulgaria. For whatever the reason that is the change. Many people have asked how I feel about that and honestly I am happy no matter where I go because I know God has called me on this mission trip and He will be guiding our route.
2) I have been wanting to share with you why I chose this mission trip over so many other trips out there.
I always get the questions like why did you have to pick an 11 month trip? Wouldn’t a 6 month be better? Why not a Canadian based organization? Wouldn’t it be nice to find a cheaper one? All those questions make sense to me why my family and friends would ask them but the fact of the matter is I chose this trip. So let me tell you why.
Mission trips are essentially broken down to two types. Short-term and long-term. Some would argue the only difference between the two is length of time, but upon discussion with friends who have done both long and short term mission trips as well as people who work in the field training and preparing people for ministry I feel there is a difference in purpose. [Please note that what follows is strictly my opinion and you are of course welcome to disagree]
Short term mission. While you do build relationships with the people you are ministering to these relationships are short lived, bound by the duration of your short term mission which is typically a few weeks to a few months. Seldom is this enough time to build the deep and trusting relationship required to take someone on a spiritual journey that can be sustained. As such I see the focus of short term ministry being on discovering yourself and investing in and building your own relationship with God.
Long term mission because of the fact that you spend many months or even years in a place allows you to develop those deep and trusting relationships within the community you are living which assist in the long term faith development of that community. While personal growth is inevitable I feel the focus is more on building up the community you are living in and furthering the work God has already started there. I have also been told by friends who have done long term mission that it is also a time to discern where God is leading your life.
Maybe I’m selfish, but I want to see what God can do with a year of my life, I want to go on an adventure with God, see what He can teach me about myself. To invest in and grow in my relationship with Him. I want my soul to be transformed. All the things I feel a short term mission is for. So then why am I going away for 11 month?!? Simple answer is, I feel called to this mission. But for those who don’t understand it maybe this will make it a little easier. I am stubborn, I don’t like change, I am lazy, and I like being comfortable. All things that I think God is going to want to work on in me. If I were to just do an easy 8 week summer mission trip yes I would learn a lot and have an amazing experience but I am not sure it would stick and have the lasting impact I desire. The World Race, while 11 months, is really like 11 short term missions all stuck together because we are constantly moving from place to place. Hopefully after 11 months some things will stick.
So maybe your wondering what it is I what I am looking for in this experience. Let me tell you…
- To see new and amazing parts of this world
- To be pushed from my comfort zone
- To learn new things about myself
- To experience what trusting and listening to God looks like
- To see how God is working in this world and to share His love with those I meet
- To come home with a new perspective on life and the world
I truly trust that God has an awesome and amazing plan for my life and I feel deep down that this is the next step of this adventure known as my life.
