July 8, 2008

When I was growing up, from time to time different men would come speak at our church. Men who spoke with funny accents. Men from places like Wiesbaden, West Germany (back when Germany was divided), or Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, or Milwaukee, Wisconsin. These men and others were missionaries that our church supported around the world, and they would come to give a report on their work.

To me, it was exciting to hear about how things were in different parts of the world - the different customs they had, the different difficulties they faced. And it was exciting to think about one day going on some sort of mission trip to some far away location. "Come visit us and help us in our work," they would always say.

In the last several years, different people from our congregation have been going on different mission trips. Some of them go to visit a missionary we support, such as in the South Pacific. Or some have been to the Ukraine. Our youth group has also made a few trips, often times just across the state to help out with Vacation Bible School at a small congregation.

But for the past two years, a group of our teens has been helping out with a group from the East Brainerd church in Chattanooga at a small church in Jamaica. After Laura and I talked about it a bit, we decided to see if we could go along on the next trip. Those in charge said we could, so we were all set.

Then the planning began. The Memphis group would be responsible for painting the church building, along with two nights of VBS for the children there. Once we finished painting, we would join the others in visiting the infirmary, playing soccer with the neighborhood kids, and visiting some of the church members. While we may not be the most outgoing people, we can definitely paint, so that sounded good to us.

We already had our passports, having gotten them last year before we went on a cruise, so that was no problem. Figuring out how to pack as lightly as possible, while still taking plenty of clothes for paiting, for visiting, and for evening church services, was a bit more tricky. But we received tips from several who had been through that before.

But then as the time to leave drew near, I started to have some doubts. Was this really for me? Would I be effective, or just in the way? What exactly was my reason for going? I would imagine those feelings are normal for someone going for the first time.

So the time to leave eventually arrived. But more about that later...

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28:19-20

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