The World Race is not a vacation.
People often think a mission trip is just a vacation that someone else pays for.
At first glance mission trips and vacations do look pretty similar. They both involve taking time off from school or work, traveling to a new place, and taking lots of pictures.
However, if you’re really going on a mission trip, there will always be one huge difference. The difference is your purpose.
The purpose of a vacation is to maximize your own personal enjoyment, relaxation, and pleasure. It’s a trip that’s all about you. It’s self-centered.
On the other hand, the purpose of a mission trip is to maximize the name of Jesus by serving others. It’s a trip that’s all about others. It’s selfless.
Can a mission trip turn into a vacation? Yes, if you’re not being intentional.
What are your motives and reasons for going? To snap some cool pictures, find a boyfriend or girlfriend or travel to an exotic place? If that is your motive I would think twice about applying for the World Race right now.
Since we’re all naturally self-centered, we need to be intentional about having selfless motives. It’s not bad or wrong to take pictures, have fun with your teammates, or enjoy traveling. However, you don’t want one of those to be your primary motivations during your trip. Motives turn into actions. So, if taking pictures is your primary motive, it’ll be your primary action all throughout your mission trip.
On the other hand, if you’re intentional about having motives like serving others, or sharing God’s love with children, then these will be the motives that turn into actions on your mission trip.
I do post pictures of the adventures I have experienced because this is a once in a lifetime experience for me. I know it may seem like all I am doing is going to the beach, laying in a hotel, and having fun but that is only what you see from what I post. Social media can portray this glamourous trip because of what I am posting. I can choose what to post and what not to post. So if I only post pictures of the beach and adventure days I know you just assume that’s all I am doing. However my squad has been doing some pretty amazing things. We have gone to hospitals to pray over the patients. We enter into homes and listen to the locals tell us their stories and share Jesus with them. We pray for them and love on them. We do children’s programs at the local community center. We have gone to the nursing homes to feed them and spend time with them. I can’t always take pictures of what I am doing because the majority of the time it just isn’t appropriate. When appropriate, I will post pictures from ministry so you can get a glimpse of what it looks like.
The race isn’t something that’s comfortable all the time. This month I don’t have the comforts of air conditioning, hot water, and wifi. Yes it’s uncomfortable but that’s when Jesus can come in and be my comforter. He can fulfill all my needs. I have learned this month I have relied on those things so much. When things are hard I run to my phone and not Jesus. He is stripping away the things I have relied on to bring me comfort.
What are some things that you run to instead of the comfort of Jesus? Comment below if you want!
Quick little update on fundraising! I need to raise $4,618 until I am FULLY FUNDED!!!! So broken down that would be 46 people donating $100 each to make me fully funded! How awesome is that?! Please pray about what you can contribute to my trip. Thank you for your support this far. I seriously wouldn’t be here without your help and prayers. As always keep me in your prayers! To donate click here:lindseybrown.theworldrace.org
xoxo,
Lindsey
