Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I pray that each of you are taking some time to reflect on the spiritual significance of your experience with the mission work we accomplished this past week. Remember, I gave you an assignment on the first night of our devotion time together. I asked you to be aware of the ways you were assured of God’s near presence in our midst. Well, I’m asking you to do that same thing in the next few days as you reflect on your personal experiences during the mission trip. Think about all the times and ways God made God’s presence known to you in very intimate, even life-changing, ways.
I also want to remind each of you that, while our mission work in Nicaragua has come to a successful conclusion, there’s still one very important part of the mission left for you to do. You must tell your story! It’s not enough that you experienced God’s near presence in mission, you need to share the Good News message of your experience with others whom God brings into your life and who need to hear precisely what you have to share. Never underestimate the power of the Spirit’s work through you and in the hearts and lives of persons whom you talk to about your mission experience. In many ways, each of you have gained an authentic mountain-top experience and are now called by God, as you return to the mission fields in the valleys of everyday life, to tell your story. Remember also, that only you can tell your own personal story and the story you share, no matter how seemingly insignificant or unimportant, is worth telling. I am certain that there’s at least one person you’ll come in contact with who needs to hear what you have to share.
In case you need inspiration to help you realize how you personally experienced the nearness of God during our mission trip. Here are just some of the ways I experienced God’s presence:
1. In the beauty of nature as I was zip-lining above the vast canopy of trees and bushes on our fun day.
2. In the awesomeness of God’s handiwork as I climbed the big hill behind the orphanage and took in the vast scenery at the top.
3. In the faces of the orphans that never failed to offer a smile, a hug or a laugh in spite of their difficult circumstances.
4. In the interactions with the volunteers, helpers, and translators as they humbly and sacrificially provided for all our needs.
5. In the embrace and the tears of joy a grateful woman offered for having her extensive leg wounds cleaned and bandaged.
6. In the loving act of providing a lunch for an elderly woman who hadn’t had anything to eat.
7. In the desire for team members to go out of their way (literally) to care for and transport a mentally ill young woman to the hospital.
8. In the ways team members refused to let significant obstacles, such as frustrating complications by the Ministry of Health and an orphanage van that refused to start, to keep them from fulfilling the mission work.
9. In the times of heart-warming fellowship, containing both spontaneous bouts of laughter and sudden tears of joy, shared with one another.
10. In the simple and profound act of rearranging the words of the Lord’s Prayer into a prayer that literally touched our hearts.
These are just some of the ways I felt God’s near presence in our midst this past week. How about you? I encourage you to spend some time reflecting on the ways you experienced God’s presence and then tell your story! I thank all of you, particularly the ever-patient and ever-loving pharmacy crew, for allowing me to participate in another wonderful mission trip with you. These mission trips mean a lot to me and I am humbled and grateful to be a part of God’s kingdom work with each one of you in this way.
Agape!
Paul
