Before leaving on the race I had no idea how controversial short term mission work was. And in all honesty, before being a short term missionary for 7 months in 7 different locations I probably wouldn’t have understood why. I have an entirely different perspective now, and to get there I had to learn the hard way a time or two. I’ve learned an important lesson: sometimes helping hurts (read the book
).
People go on short term mission trips for all sorts of reasons. Some want to visit a new exotic place. Some go for a great profile picture of themselves with that dirty barefooted boy. Others go to say they did their part in serving the needy. Some go for the adventure. And some really do go to serve and to bring God’s Kingdom here on Earth. Even those with pure intentions though may do more damage than good. Too often we go with donations and handouts. But we all know no amount of financial or material resources could be given to “fix” poverty or whatever the problem is. It’s great to go build a house, but it’s even better to go empower the locals to build it. It’s great to put on a week of children’s programs, but it’s better to empower and support the local church to do it themselves. Sustainable change comes when change is taking place from the inside out, not the outside in.
Let me introduce you to one of our new friends who knows what it means to empower! Meet Pastor Tom.
As he shared his testimony with us I quickly realized I was looking at miracle. He was the first born male in a Buddhist home. As the first born son it was his responsibility to serve as a monk to earn merit for his family. He was never able to fulfill this duty. As a young boy Pastor Tom had Leukemia. Not only was he unable to serve as a monk to bring honor to his family, he was also a heavy financial burden. As he watched his friends play sports and serve as monks he was wheel chair bond with cancer. Long story made short, one day as he wheeled by a church he found his hope in Jesus Christ! Not long later he was miraculously healed from Leukemia! God is still in the business of miracles my friends!
His powerful testimony is only the beginning of what God is doing in him and through him. Pastor Tom has got it figured out. He is driven not only to empower the locals but to empower the local youth. He recognizes the power behind these small capable minds. He sees children as strong, mighty, and precious, just as they are seen in the eyes of the Lord. He works for a non-profit named thinkSMALL where he trains the youth to be difference makers!
I think a lot about what my life will look like after the race. Where will God call us? Will we return and reset our roots in Wyoming or will God send us to set roots elsewhere? Will I continue teaching? Will we start a family? I don’t know what our future looks like, and it’s not all that important right now. What I do know is I’m going to start thinking SMALL, just like Pastor Tom. Whether I’m a school teacher, a mom, an aunt, or some combination of the three I can serve our up and coming generation well by thinking SMALL and preparing our capable, determined, and skilled young people not just for their future, but for right now. I can serve them well by letting them fail so they will know success, by letting them fall so they will know how to get up, by letting them wrestle so will know rest, by letting them hurt so they will know love, and by empowering them to not only be the leaders of the future generation but the leaders of their current generation.
