9/21/17
Typically for ministry, team Further goes to a care-point and we play with kids, feed them a meal, and maybe teach a lesson to the primary school kids when they get out of school. Today was Shea’s 19th birthday, and we were unsure of our transportation to ministry. After getting a later start than usual, we found a driver who took us to the site. Upon arrival we discovered the gate was locked and they were out of food, so there was no point in going back for the keys. We returned to our team house and re-evaluated our plan. Our squad leader, Jace, suggested we go to the safari lodge, Nisela, for lunch and wifi. How could we pass that up?
We grabbed our laptops and phones and walked to the bus stop for the 15 minute ride. Although I did not see any animals at the safari lodge, I did see a giraffe on the way there. The safari lodge was all I had dreamed it would be. The menu at the restaurant included milkshakes, brownies, ice cream, and lattes, all the things you need to make a special birthday. We ordered pizza, chicken, fries, and dessert of course. In between our courses we attempted to access wifi, but we did not have much success. I was able to make a couple choppy calls to my family, enough to satisfy me until we get to South Africa.
Eating American food and using our phones while our squad-mates were at their ministry sites having PB&J brought up the topic of treating yourself, and if it’s ok while on the field. Although we are on a mission trip, we are still living life. Leaving American soil did not cause me to pause my life and become someone else. I am still Audrey Baughn, who loves Jack Johnson, and wears Birkenstocks everyday. Some days I feel like a missionary, but I don’t want to feel like that all the time. I want to feel like myself, because living missionally is not something we do overseas, it is a way of life for every Christ follower.
I don’t want to be labeled as missionary doing “mission work”, because if you are a Christian you are a missionary. What even is “mission work”? Following Jesus means showing his love to everyone you meet, and that is mission work. Today, being around so many South African and European tourists, I knew my ankle length skirt and dirty Chacos told them I was not here to tour and take pictures. As Christians, we stand out. We have the light of Christ in us, and whether we are in America wearing skinny jeans, or in Africa covering up our shoulders, people can tell that we are different. When we wake up, we have to wake up with the confidence to live out the Great Commission no matter where we are, Chacos or not.
To God be the glory forever.
