It’s no secret that my life doesn’t look anything like it did at home before I left. We’re told who we’re going to live with every month, what we’re going to be doing, and even given tools for communicating and problem solving within our teams. Not to mention, we’re on the other side of the world right now. Not at all like home…
This month is an exception to a lot of that. My team prayed about and chose a city in Cambodia and then we mobilized. We booked a bus, we found a hostel, and now we’re finding things to do in Phnom Penh. We have no designated team leader, no treasurer, no contacts, no living in our usual bubble. We’ve met some interesting characters at the hostel, some cute kids in the park and one very sweet lady who sells noodles on the street every night.
Two and a half months is still a long time, but I can see the end of the Race moving toward me quickly. That combined with the stripping away of so much of the structure I’ve become accustomed to over the last 8 months has me thinking realistically about what my life will look like when this is over.
I’ve picked up habits, good habits, I’ve been pushed out of my comfort zone on more than one occasion and I’m sure I’ve experienced some personal growth, but I don’t yet know what it’ll look like when new me hits old home.
The other day, while I was sitting much closer than I usually do to a really funny guy smoking a joint and drinking a beer at noon, I started thinking about what it looks like to resist putting God on a shelf when it seems convenient. It’s not been easy for me to admit to my faith or convictions with people who don’t believe in the same God I do, especially before the Race.
I’m also very sensitive to hypocrisy.
I’ve been burned in the past by people who called themselves Christians and I don’t ever want anyone to leave an interaction with me with a bad taste in their mouth for the Lord because I know what that feels like. So I often just keep my mouth shut and avoid the topic. Joint guy probably doesn’t want to hear about it so why bother?
Hard to pretend you’re not a Christian when you’re supposed to be a missionary.
What I’m trying to get at here is that I’ve had a look into the future and not only is it possible for me to maintain my nonjudgmental and loving stance toward others and also be honest about my faith, but it’s what Christians are called to do. I did talk to that guy. I told him a little bit about where I come from and learned a little about him and I just generally had a lot of fun (and Pat, if you’re reading this, it’s not the same here since you left!).
Luke 6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. “
Matthew 22:37 “And He [Jesus] said to him, “’ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
1 John 4:8 “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
So here we are.
Will I ever go on another trip like this? Who knows… What I do know is that my life is its own long term mission trip of sorts. If you’re still with me, hang in there. What I mean is that my life is different because of my faith so why would I not want people to find the same hope I have through Christ? At the very least I have a responsibility to remain honest about God’s role in my life.
Until next time.
