“I have plans for you." ~ God
Randall woke abruptly, as if
sleeping had become a dangerous thing.
He was so ready for this mission work!
From his very first mission trip 20 years earlier, it had
always been Randall’s goal to be the hardest working, most productive, most
skilled member of any mission team. Now
in his mid-60’s, he still sought the hottest, most demanding jobs.
This trip had taken him to Cusco, Peru. Over a million people lived in the
surrounding area - only 4% were Christians. Poverty was rampant among the Quechua Indians,
a largely unreached group scattered throughout the Andes. Randall and his team would be constructing a
small church.
Randall had that tingly feeling today; the buzz of the new,
the thrill of the unknown, the call for new answers that pushed his limits. At an elevation of over 11,000 feet, Cusco
presented just the challenge. At these
elevations, the air’s thinner; each breath contains less oxygen. He’d have to breathe faster and pump blood
more rapidly in order to take in the same amount of oxygen.
His roommate Geoffrey had had a rough night, complaining of dizziness,
nausea, and insomnia. His
uncharacteristic loss of appetite at breakfast set off more than a few
alarms. A quick trip to the ER confirmed
high altitude sickness. Geoffrey would
need to remain hospitalized for several days until his oxygen levels stabilized
and he could move to a lower altitude.
Someone would need to stay with Geoffrey at the
hospital. Randall became that someone.
While the others marched off to their mission, Randall had
plenty of down-time for reflection and prayer.
He’d never been on a mission trip without lifting a hammer, pick ax or
paint brush.
He remembered the words offered by his Pastor before they
left: “Serve as Christ served. Be humble
and accept your role. Your ability,
skills and training are less important on the mission field than your willingness
to avail yourself to God’s will.”
Randall smiled. “The
joy of serving others glorifies God,” he understood. When we give of ourselves, we show the
passion, mercy and love of Christ. God
had used him for a completely different purpose – and he felt blessed to have
answered His call.
If we're honest with ourselves, sometimes we have ulterior
motives for going on a mission trip. We want to travel. We want to be a hero. We want to look like a better Christian at
home. Or, more positively: we want to
learn about other cultures or something about ourselves. We’re complicated creatures with complex
motives.
Regardless of your reasons for signing up for a mission trip,
its essential to prepare your heart for the trip and open yourself to what God
may have planned for you through the experience.
Loving God, let me not doubt the things that You
can do in me and through me. Let me
simply be a vessel that You fill with Your Holy Spirit so that I can pour into
every person I meet and give all glory to You.
Amen
