I spent two months of this summer in South Asia on a mission trip as part of a traveling music and drama team. Our team was made up of 6 girls and 1 boy, luckily he survived the summer! We had 2 leaders, the rest of us were the ones performing. I played the guitar and sang, along with a little dancing and acting! I experienced things and saw things in South Asia that I never thought I would, I also ate and drank many things I think I can do without for the rest of my life!
Since I have been back people have asked me how my trip was, and I have no idea what to say to that because I can not simply wrap up my entire summer in only a few words. I can only answer them that my trip was amazing, God changed my life, and I will never see the world as I did before this summer again. It is amazing how God teaches you and grows you in ways that you never expect.
I took a book with me this summer called The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne (I very highly recommend reading this). I took this book thinking that maybe I would read it a little on the plane rides, but I never expected that God would use the book to speak to me so clearly. So through reading this book, the friends that we made, and the many things my team did this summer, God taught me many things. The one truth that He seemed to teach me over and over was about love, and about loving our neighbor as ourselves. It seems to be such a simple truth that we have learned about since we first began to follow Christ, but it is one that I have recognized we need to have a much deeper understanding of. (God allowed me to come to a deeper understanding of many things during my time in South Asia.)
God calls us to place others around us above ourselves, when we see someone in need we are told to help them in love. I also learned much about the Body of Christ, and what God desires for that to be by reading in Acts. I often read about how Christ Jesus, our Savior, was homeless and did not have many material possessions. I recognized how I so easily fall into the lie that having just that one more materialistic thing will satisfy me. Jesus is the only one who will fully satisfy us! I made many friends, some who are my brothers and sisters in Christ, and some who are not. I met many who our great God had already begun a work in. That’s the thing; God did not allow my team to lead hundreds of people to Christ or to do any great miracles. He simply allowed us to be a part of a great work He had already begun before we arrived, and one that I know He has and will continue each and every day. I honestly can not even explain many things to you about my summer even by writing several pages. Our God is so great, He is above all other Gods, and one day the whole world will recognize Him for who He is. Our God is full of love and forgiveness, and He is so good!
Do you like FREE food? Then the BSM Tailgate Party is the place you want to be.
