Q&A Blog
Q. What is the biggest irrevocable change you’ve witnessed God accomplish in your heart over this journey?
A. God has radically changed my heart when it comes to my family, both extended and close. It’s truly something that should never be taken for granted and cherished. It took taking me out of the picture of being with them to learn this but my appreciation grew in ways that it never could have had I not had this opportunity. I see God’s call to love my family and those closest to me in life loud and clear in ways that I never did before. Firstly, because he simply asks me to. But then secondly, because they deserve it. I’m thankful for each and every single individual in my family more than words could describe. I truly believe that God’s been able to give me his heart for them and for that I’m thankful.
Q. Where is the most memorable place you have visited? Or the memory that sticks out the most?
A. The most memorable place that I visited was the country Thailand. Although Colombia was my favorite country that I experienced and did ministry in, I have the most memories in Thailand. In Thailand, my team celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s all in just this country. One memory, or picture, I can’t get out of my mind is celebrating New Year’s with some of our Thai friends that we made on the roof of a building as we lit lanterns into the sky and watched fireworks go off all across the city.
Q. How has this trip changed your view on the world / your life?
A. I think that this trip has helped to expand my view on the world mature me a lot as I’ve been away. I’ve been able to experience new cultures and new lifestyles and for that I’m very thankful. The biggest thing that I come back to my home in the States with is gratitude. Our nation is highly advanced and efficient in many different ways and I can never take that for granted. From the little things like reliable faucets with clean water, a comfy bed, a good educational system, and an almost guaranteed opportunity to make something out of my life. I’m coming home to more blessings than my hands can hold, and because of that I’m coming home with loads of thankfulness.
Q. What have you learned?
A. This is a most loaded question! But I think what I learned most on this trip was about the mission field and what God’s purpose for mission work is. I was able to learn what it looks like to live as a missionary in whatever mission field God’s placed me in, that being the other side of the world or the United States. It’s up to him when it comes to where he wants me, and so I choose to love, to serve, and to share of who he is wherever that may be. This is one of the things I learned that I definitely hold close to my heart and I’m glad to share it!
Q. How did you communicate with the different languages?
A. In South America, one of my teammates, Chris, speaks fluent Spanish and so he was able to serve as a translator for our team. Some of the friends we made here did speak English though, as well as our ministry hosts. In Asia, most of the friends we made spoke English and when we would do outreaches, teach English, or communicate with Thai people, we would do so with a translator.
Q. You wrote about Edward in one of your blogs. Is there someone else who captured your heart?
A. Edward was one of two guys in Colombia that I grew a lot in relationship with. Another one of those guys was Jose. Me and Jose got to know each other a lot. We would have bible studies, play music together, and he would tell me (through google translate) about how much he liked school as he would showcase all of his textbooks to me.
Q. How did you see God working through you?
A. Ha. This a good question and I laugh because I immediately know how to answer this through a comical story. I saw God working through me a lot in Albania by giving me strength and patience to do kids’ ministry when I was running on empty. I couldn’t get the kids to listen and they seemed to want to play with everything and do everything that they weren’t supposed to and so God helped me respond in love instead of anger and it was clearly an answered prayer. This was an overall them of God working through me in the race as I saw Him give me the strength to do the things I couldn’t do on my own.
Q. While visiting many countries with behaviors and customs, how did you and your team maintain your Christian faith each day?
A. Our team encountered many different cultural practices and behaviors such as Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, among other pantheistic religions. Being surrounded by these other customs, our team sought to keep in mind whom we serve, the Creator of the universe, and then to go on to share about this God who sent his Son to die for them. The verse comes to mind that we also sought to walk out being to abide in Jesus and in His Words and to remain in Him in the face of opposition. And that’s just what we did!
Q. As you and your team lived and worked together were you able to realize and utilize your Spiritual Gifts?
A. Having spent so much time living in such a close-knit community, our team was able to recognized giftings in each other and share what we saw as we challenged each other at times. I think of one clear example that comes to mind, that being one of my teammate’s gifts was to serve. Coming right out of Ephesians, she took this exhortation and ran with it the whole race as she served and not just in the spotlight but behind the scenes in ways that easily go unnoticed. It was natural to her and who she is and to see her grow in this was extremely encouraging and cool to watch. Similar to this was the experience of the rest of our team!
Q. God calls us to Real and Sincere Love that goes beyond pretense and politeness. What opportunities were given to you and your team to express Sincere Love?
A. The real and sincere love that goes beyond pretense and politeness takes a heart that truly is willing to truly love and most importantly in a self-less way. To be patient, to be kind, to value others above self. This is a real challenge but one that can be cultivated through a willing heart and boldness. I think of one time our team was able to express this kind of compassionate love in Thailand when we were serving with an orphanage. We saw these children and our hearts began to hurt and we loved them and just wanted them to know that they are loved, by us but most importantly by our Heavenly Father.
Q. What is the highlight of the mission trip?
A. I think the highlight of the mission trip would have to be the opportunities I had to shadow an orthopedic surgeon in Ecuador and assist in a couple medical clinics with a doctor and dentist in villages in Cambodia. I have an aspiration to do orthopedic surgery and hopefully at some point use it missionally related. So, I cherish both of these experiences and will never forget them.
Q. What goes through your mind when it comes to leaving?
A. One thing I learned when it comes to leaving relationships you’ve made is that it never gets easier. At the beginning of the trip, the goodbyes were hard and my first thought was that as the trip would go on I would learn how to say goodbyes in a way that wasn’t hard and I can officially say I never reached that point. Although the goodbyes are hard, I’ve learned that as you say goodbye to some things and people, you’re welcoming in a new season. So that’s served to comfort and encourage me when it comes to coming home or when it had to do with going to my next ministry.
Thank you for your many questions and I hope these answers & questions help to shed light on this experience! Also, one more final word. I am officially settled into home with school going well, reconnected with family, among other things and so with that being said, I’d love to get together sometime and share about this opportunity in person over a meal or coffee or even over the phone if you’d be interested! My contact information is below. Thanks so much for reading! God bless you!
Brenton Bicknell
256-653-9498
