Its that time of year again.... the time of year that gets me more giddy than probably anything else....
Ready for it...
Stop...
its Missions time...
I 'm so excited its not even funny.YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW.
Missions chapel has come and gone along with the leadership interviews. For some reason, I subjected myself to the missions leadership application process. I have been praying for nothing but God's will to be done. If HE wants me to be an ATL (for which I applied for) then that I would get it. If HE doesn't want me to, has something else for me, then that He wouldn't let me get it.
I got it. I went to my CPO and along with several other Missions leaderships hopefuls and opened my letter. I am officially an ATL, who has no idea where he was going, because that's all the letter states. While I watched those who were accepted laugh and talk excitedly I suddenly got quiet.
Once again, I'm wondering what I got myself into.
I knew what I was doing when I applied, and I knew what I was subjugating myself to if I was accepted. But now it was for real. Ok. I can do this.
If anything I got solemn, knowing that as an ATL my job was to serve my TL (who is awesome woman of God by the way) and the team and the contacts. It is a huge responsibility to take a group of your peers halfway around the world. But I'm excited because I know that God will be leading us, not ourselves.
A couple of nights later I learned what trip I was going on and who I was going to be with. I am with the one and only amazing Stephanie, who helped on many a trip. We are going on the Honduras for one month, but it is not the normal mission trip.
ORU Missions is launching a sweet section of missions called ID Trips. International Development. I guess I was chosen for one of these trips since my major is international relations. Team Honduras this year will be Micro-finance, helping businesses during the week and doing ministry on the weekends.
I'm so excited. We not only get to help people with their physical and financial needs, but of course hopefully show them who Jesus is through us. We want to be HIS hands and feet.
Team Honduras is not Team Uganda. God blessed me with my first amazing trip last year, and now its my time to give back. When I first heard Honduras, I was like, "Ok, a very cliche missions spot but awesome nontheless." I thought this because it seems like every church in the world has gone on a mission trip to Honduras. Its like, in the church missions world, Honduras is like the new Mexico. Everyone and their mom has gone. I have the personal desire to go to the places that not many people go to, to help the people that don't normally receive aid.
Then I mentally and spiritually slapped myself. Who was I, in anyway form or fashion, to say where was a good place for people to go or not? God loves the people of Honduras just as much as He loves the people of Australia, just as much as He loves the people of India, Japan, Uganda, Sudan, He loves us all in the same. Who am I to give help anyway? I'm nothing but a broken vessel. No one but someone who is willing to go.
Now that my heart is right (amen I'm human), Honduras is going to be incredible, full of chances to truly help people and show them the love of Christ.
Because I'm a missions/travel nerd, I know already random facts about Honduras. Christopher Columbus discovered Honduras on July 30, 1502. He named it Honduras, which means depths, attributing the name to the unnaturally deep waters right off the shore. Honduras has 4 volcanoes, and frequent mild earthquakes (this trip will force me to face the only thing I'm truly afraid of, and yes, its earthquakes, don't judge me). Honduras also has a pretty bad, if not the worst, organized crime network in Latin America. Oh yes, this place will be an adventure.
I can't wait. If I could, I would pack up my bags and leave tomorrow. But I know right now I'm not ready to go. Not until I got through the Missions Director's favorite word, "Process".
Yes, that little meaningful word, process. I will go through it. My TL will go through it. Our team will go through it. Every mission team leaving through ORU will go through it.
Because ORU does it right. We don't meet as strangers, jumping on a plane. We start the preparing for the trip now, in October. Team bonding, team meetings, prayer times, seeking the Lord, prayer vigils and so many other preparations. We learn about our countries, and most importantly, how to serve.
Because that's really what it is all about. Service. Service to the Lord, and to our fellow human beings.
We will serve,
so others may live.
(yes I cheesily used the missions dept. motto.)
I'm out.
Processing.
Amen.
David
