Expectations of My Mission Trip

  We were asked to write a blog about how we felt before leaving on this mission trip. Here is what I’m expecting

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” ~Jeremiah 29:13

In January of 2008, if you would have asked me what I would be doing in 6 months, I would have told you I would expect I would be planning a youth mission trip and living my normal life. Where was I at the end of June? Pabeya Guatemala serving a small community by building a new church.

Expectations can greatly limit your perspective on life. To tell you that I do not have expectations for what 2009 holds for me would be a lie, BUT I am trying to get rid of my expectations because I don’t want to voluntarily allow disappointment to enter my life next year.

I only have one thing that I am expecting next year and it is something that I know will not fail to present itself. I expect to find Jesus next year because in Jeremiah 29:13 we are told that when we seek Jesus with all of our hearts we will find Him.

When I leave for the World Race in January 2009 I expect to encounter the living Christ in 11 different countries in 11+ different ways because I will be chasing after Him with my entire heart. Because of this expectation I know I will be wrecked for the poor, homeless, orphaned, and widowed of the world.

I am excited about this. Life is not worth living if you are not sharing the Love of Christ with people.

In January of 2010, if you ask me what I will be doing, I will tell you living for God and loving the world because this is the only thing I can tell you and not get disappointed about.

But alas, we were asked to tell you about how we are feeling about next year so here ya go:

• I am excited about being the hands and feet of Jesus around the World.

• I am excited about growing in my relationship with Christ.

• I am exited to start my relationship with my new brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.

• I am sad to leave my family and friends

• I am nervous about the unknown.

• I am nervous that I will not live in each moment because I like to know “the plan”.

• I am nervous about health during the trip.

• I am nervous about encountering so many different cultures.

• I pray God leads me to discern where He wants me to focus my ministry after The World Race.

Ill leave you with this:

‘Blessed is the man who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed’ was the ninth beatitude.

~ Alexander Pope