Expectations Of My Mission Trip

 

The last few weeks have been interesting to say the least.  After being accepted and knowing God has called me to this, I begin to really think of the wonderful family and friends God has provided through community here in my life whether in Lexington, Kentucky, or the U.S.A.  I’m very grateful for everyone one of them and not one person hasn’t impacted my life in some way or other.  If you’re reading this, know that you have touched my life in a serious godly way that it’s hopefully being spilled over to other people I interact with.  My thoughts are that it will be hard to be away for 11 months from these people but God will provide family and community to those I’ll be with.  I don’t think it will be too difficult to be adjust after a short time on the field, but I be in consistent reminder of why I am where I am.    Last minute thoughts are hard because it’s not just yet last minute, I guess I try hope that God will be able to explain a lot of questions that seem to have been left unanswered.

 

I have no worries at all on what this trip will bring, again I know that it’s in His hands.  My only worries is that I will miss any certain opportunities of not sharing the gospel with those I interact and failing to leave a legacy of Christ.  After the recent passing of a really good friend I have again been reminded of what we leave behind.  The grave is humbling, a cemetary is comforting because I’m humbled of what I really am compared to an eternal, Almighty God.  But our lives can shout louder through the year of the people we touch and I don’t want any worry to conquer that.  I have a small fear of flights, especially with recent airplane news stories, but it’s still the safest way to fly.  My worries is of course that finances will not all come in that need to come in, but He shall provide and there have already been some incredible stories of God’s faithfulness through His people.

 

Below are some “expectations” of this trip that I hope God will do, but may He do more than imagined!

1.  Team unity – that those people I’m working with (whatever denomination they are from) will focus on the main essentials of Christianity and will truly everyday pray for and with each other.  We will be servants for each other first of all and nothing less and love each other.  To be patient, loving , and even in difficult times that we will respond, not react.

2.  Those back at home when I’m gone – That their prayers will be sowed in seeds of faith and will penetrate the hearts of the lost people from across the world.  It’s the strongest power and tool we have and I expect God to use these people.  Without them none of this is possible.  That I will stay informed with them and they will check up on me to see how the journey of this is going.

3.  God will truly desire to make this trip one of adventure and stretching.  We all need to be stretched, and with it being easy to get “settled” or “comfortable” in our walk, I ask that He would really stretch me beyond my comforts so I come home changed better for the gospel.  Not “more spiritual” or “more missionary”, but more Christ-like and broken.  I need to be stretched and broken.  I ask during this long term that I will grow so much closer with Him.

4.  That the Lord will answer the some questions for me that I’ve had for a while.  Considerations of career in missions, where, when, how long? Maybe not career, but a coordinator from America.  I ask that he reveals my true hearts desires, but that I also act on those desires in His time and under His mercy.

5.  That I become more aware of the need of the gospel and the needs of the poor where I’ll be.  How blessed and “spoiled” we are in this great country.

6.  That my view of “church” will be changed to a global vision and knowing it’s more than just big buildings, instruments, “excellence” but even Africans under a tree are doing church and true worship.  To see His kingdom being built right before my eyes in such cool ways as He did in China.

7.  That I will be honoring God in EVERYTHING I DO, keeping a positive attitude, not complaining (as Paul says in Philippians) but being thankful just to have breath.  EVERYTHING meaning whatever at the specific moment I’m doing can bring someone closer to God or further. 

8.  That I will be able to get to know my teammates really well, hearing their stories and knowing that this experience is another chapter in all of our lives.  Loving them and helping them as I hope they will for me to also.

9.  Come back at the end wanting to express the miraculous things God did and strengthen/encourage those in America to realized that whether you’re called or not to “go”, you’re still called to missions (financially, going, or SOMETHING!)

10.  God to do what He does.  You can’t pinpoint it, write it down and put it in a box. There’s going to be things He’s going to do that won’t be planned and you’ll have to step back and say “Just do what you want to do and use me how you want me.”  I’ve learned a long time ago that I can figure it out, and that if the Creator is using me for His will then I’m most likely just able to be a willing vessel.  I mean, what can you expect?  It’s still four months away and it’s a long trip with a lot of things.  I’m expecting incredible things, tough times, sad times, joy, Christ filled moments, love, and through it all He will be glorified!

 

I ask that you pray for this team, because it will be tough for a lot of people at times, but through it all rewarding.  I ask that you pray for the lost, the needy, the broken that we will encounter knowing that in return we’ll rediscover that we were “poor in Spirit” and “broken at His feet”.  Pray for the other supporters who join you in supporting this trip, that they will be faithful in prayers and finances.  Pray for me that I will completely just grow closer to God.  I can easliy be sentimental, but I can’t help but think of how blessed life is when we are doing His will.  Pray that everything will go smooth and safe.  Mainly, pray for God’s will just to be done and that Christ will just be more known to those who don’t him.

 

Thanks for your support, your prayer, and your faithfulness as a family member of Jesus Christ. Please be in prayer, you are more than a conqueror already!

 

In His Grace,

John Blair

Acts 20:24