We were asked to write a blog about how we felt before leaving on this mission trip. Here is what I’m expecting…
Expectations of My Mission Trip
With training camp just a day away the reality of the World Race is slapping me in the face… and I’ve never been more excited about getting slapped in the face!
It is hard to know what to expect for training camp. I suppose I expect an experience I’ve never encountered before. There is something about getting away to a foriegn place (at least GA is foriegn to me!) that sometimes frees you to seek God with all your heart mind soul and strength. I think one thing that aids this “freeing process” is simplicity. You get away to a place and your only focus is Christ. You strip away everything that distracts, and find yourself face to face with the Living God. Suddenly that ‘still small voice’ becomes a little more audible. Suddenly thankfulness and joy thrive without hindrance. Suddenly every new day feels just like it should, a new day!
So I expect training camp to do all these things and more!
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)
While the actual race is still a couple months away, my expectations are obviously building.
I Expect:
- to see God move in places and ways I’ve never experienced before
- to gain great self-discipline, and strive towards complete surrender every day
- to be surrounded by amazing people and places
- to serve others, and learn to lay down my life for my friends
- to be a warrior for Christ… a loving warrior 😉
- to have moments of extreme joy, where all I can do is laugh
- to adventure…. a lot….and then some…..word.
- to see people come to salvation, see people healed, delivered, encouraged, strengthened as we truly become the hands and feet of Christ
- to face opposition, and to smile when those times come, because they will further reliance upon Christ, allowing me to experience more of Him and less of me
- to realize just how wide and long and high and deep is the Love of Christ
- to make the most out of every opportunity, letting conversation always be filled with grace
- to stand in amazement, often, of the God who is going to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine!
I hope you have been blessed by reading this, I know I’ve been blessed to write it.
