When I was in High School, I took my first mission trip to Pascagula, Mississippi. A small town East of New Orleans that got hit by Hurricane Katrina. It wasn’t a foreign trip outside the country, but it was just as important. I remember as a15 year old being so excited that I was getting a chance to leave the state of Missouri.
I didn’t really understand the concept of missions at that point in my life or the importance, but I knew I was leaving. As a young youth, I was pretty immature, hyper, and way too active, thinking of girls and trying to grab the most attention. Once I got there, I actually had to have a sit down with my youth pastor and be told to calm down.
The next morning the Youth Group and I went to work in town for the first time. We went to a house that had unimaginable water damage and the disaster put me in aww. The man who lived there told a story of how scary the storm was and how water from the Ocean had came onto shore and into his living room. The house was a complete loss. He had pictures of memories destroyed and and stories of friends who passed away. I rember being so sad for him. We ended up spending the week scrapping what we could from the man’s old house and building him a new one. He was thankful for what we did and expressed it by giving each of us hugs and shaking hands.
I think that was the time I understood the importance of missions. The showing of what Jesus looks like. God moved in me for the better that day and showed me how much I really need to care for others outside my comfort zone and outside my town.
I think David Platte was 100% on when he wrote his book radical and said, “If you spend 2% of your year outside of your comfort area, it will offect the way you minister the 98% inside your town. That mission trip in Mississippi opened my eyes to the importance of missions. Short term mission trips help others, but they mostly help yourself. You come to learn about yourself, and what you need to change. You grow expanentually closer to Christ and become a much better person. I am thankful for that trip because it truly opened my eyes as an immature young man, to a young man with a better understanding of the kingdom. You should take short term mission trip soon. You don’t know how much it will change you.
I appreciate all who have given towards my trip. You have been a blessing. I am at $6,000 which puts me $1,500 to my launch goal of $7,500. I have to have the $7,500 by June 28th. If you have given thank you, if you can give, please do. Whether that be a one time gift or a monthly gift. Any thing helps. Bless all of you.
