Friday, May 17, 2013

Missions and Missionaries



 
 
Something that's been weighing heavily on my heart lately is all of the posts floating around the Internet lately slamming missions, missionaries and short term mission trips. There have been blog posts written, books written, as well as articles and editorials. I will admit, some of these writings have had some valid points and some have brought up some areas of concern that I believe are wise to examine. But at the same time I think we have to be very careful to not let a few peoples thoughts or opinions influence us more than the word of God does. 

While I am sure there quite possibly are those out there who go on mission trips for the wrong reason, and while I am sure there could be a few missionaries out there who sit around and do nothing - I am even more sure that the Lord realized we humans wouldn't get it right every time. And yet, He still commanded us to go and make disciples in all nations. And not only does he command us to go-these are among the last recorded words of Jesus.
 
My biggest concern with slamming mission trips and missionaries in general is that many people will read these articles and then simply use it as an excuse to do nothing- which is exactly what Satan wants.
 
We have all heard it before "Don't give money to the homeless guy on the side of the road because he will use it on alcohol. " And you know what- He just might.
 
 But what if, just what if, He really was in need and you turned your back on Jesus in disguise?
 
 And, what if we stand before God one day guilty of clinging to safe and clinging to the almighty dollar-over clinging to the word of God?
 
 Because you see, God doesn't hold YOU accountable for what the homeless guy chooses to do with the help you gave him, just as he doesn't hold YOU accountable for the missionary that doesn't save the world. But, He does hold you accountable for your response to His commands.

Being on the mission field first hand, one thing I can tell you is that I know a lot of missionaries who do work long hours in often times dangerous situations. Missionaries who have hearts of gold and who serve the Lord with everything they have. Missionaries who give and give and give and expect nothing in return.
 
Furthermore, I have served along side many short term mission teams who labor from sun up to sun down. They sacrifice and fund raise to come and serve. They open doors of opportunity and get things done in a weeks time that would have taken a single missionary months to do by themselves. They bring their gifts and talents and use them freely. They choose to come and love on people who can give nothing in return- while investing in the lives of the people in the time they are given. They show them the love of Christ first hand by showing them that someone cares. These teams choose to spent money working to improve someone else's quality of life instead of choosing to spend money on a luxurious vacation. They dig ditches and get dirty. They get blisters, sunburns and backaches and smile all the way through it out of their love for the Lord.
 
I have heard people ask "couldn't the money they spent going been better used by just sending a check instead?" The problem with this is- I think we often miss the point and limit God when we do. God doesn't need our money. God is about relationship and He is about our hearts. My life was changed on a short term mission trip. Maybe the first trip I went on was a little more about me than it should have been... but God knows what we need even before we do. He is so much bigger than we give him credit for. Through that trip if even one person felt the love of God through me and knew that they mattered through a single smile, a pair of shoes or a hug- then it wasn't a waste. My eyes were opened in ways that wouldn't have happened otherwise.  Through that growth, we went on to adopt more children and eventually go onto the field full time.
 
Because of that, today God used us by connecting us with another awesome missionary coupled with the combined efforts of a short term mission team. Through this- a family experienced the love of God when their precious daughter received her new wheelchair. (And what you couldn't know just by looking at this picture is that the guy in the green shirt grew up in an orphanage himself. How cool is our God?)



I wish you could have heard her belly laugh, seen her joy first hand, and experienced JESUS the way we did.



I wish you could have been there to see people from different backgrounds and cultures come together....
because I know without a doubt those little faces watching- saw HIM.



And the mother who has been carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders in trying to care for a daughter with special needs had tears streaming down her face- not only because someone cared about her precious daughter for the first time-but because she realized that HER life was VALUABLE to HIM.



 And when we bowed our heads and praised His work- HE WAS GLORIFIED.
In a small dirty village full of garbage and poverty- Jesus was at work.

Maybe we didn't solve the worlds problems- and maybe we weren't meant to. But we did show one beautiful little girl who has spent her entire life in a tiny tin home with dirt floors and little else that SHE IS WORTH more than she will ever know to the King of Kings.
So much so that He was willing to die-
for her-
 regardless of the imperfect missionary who came to let her know.


And I know if you had seen what I saw today-
if you had been there,
you would understand just why God is all about missions.

Because even if I am only able to bring ONE person to Christ as a missionary, I know, without a doubt, that the Lord was gloried when that one lost sheep was found.



Because the best part is...God can use that one person to influence another and another and another... and the ripple effect continues on...



Missions is the heart of God.

 It is His plan.

And regardless of what opinions man has- regardless of how we mess things up and get it wrong-
 
 He is on His thrown.
 
I don't claim to have all the answers and maybe I am not supposed to. Who would want to serve a God who is only as smart as I am anyway? Maybe God just wants to know if out of our love for Him we are willing-
 
 TO MAKE HIM KNOWN.


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21 comments:

Meredith said...

This was absolutely beautiful, Amy.

Thank you for posting this, for sharing your heart. I needed to read this tonight. There's been a lot of negative talk on adoption lately and so much of what you wrote there applies to how my heart has been feeling.

Thank you, again for sharing and all your hard work in Guatemala.

Unknown said...

Yes you are ridiculously awesome ..this is inspired...

Karin said...

I LOVE this post! I have read the criticisms of short term missions and like you, I realize there is some validity. However, the trip I went on to Honduras resulted in 30 people getting saved and coming to church, being discipled!! So exciting! All through a medical clinic we did in a poor village and those treated decided to come to see what the church was all about after being treated medically.

MamaFoster said...

exactly.

handstrustinhim said...

Amen! THANK YOU for sharing your heart for it is the heart of others like our family! Missions is the heartbeat of God. It is only our responsibity to say YES to Him!
For Saying ‘YES’ to Christ Jesus is the best thing any of us could ever do...each and every day….day in and day out… for the rest of our lives.
It comes in the forms of “Yes, I will go”, “Yes, I will give”, “Yes, I will pray.”
When HE is calling, convicting, whispering, leading....just say "YES."

and it all should be regardless of the actions of others....

-Amanda

Jessi said...

This was exactly what I needed to read today. I have been so disheartened by all the negativity surrounding mission trips lately... and your post hit it right on the head. We should not limit what God can do through anyone who goes just as he commanded. Thank you.

G.M.C. said...

That was beautifully written!

Sarah said...

Thank you for these words! Such truth and encouragement.

Charisa said...

yes yes yes yes. thank you dear sister for sharing your heart. I was wondering what you were thinking.

Charisa said...

yes yes yes. thank you dear sister for sharing. I wondered what you thought. I also posted http://www.forsuchasthese.blogspot.com/2013/05/thoughts-from-heart.html

The Sequin Singer said...

I feel the same way exactly! Especially about the homeless guy on the street and the travelers on the highway. It is never wrong to go where God leads and to help the poor!

Janna said...

Amen!! I absolutely love seeing the pictures!!

Sara said...

Amen.

"He is so much bigger than we give him credit for." Ah, yes!

It's a Wonderful Life said...

I love what you do and what you stand for! Keep pressing on.So many need you, need us all. Satan is succeeding in twisting our hearts against the will of the Lord. Thank you for setting the record straight for those you reach. I know most agree but like you said if you reach even one than you have succeeded.

woosterweester said...

You got it right sister! Thank you for sharing!

valerie in TX said...

Amy, thank you so much for this post. I, too, have been so disheartened by all the negativity being directed toward especially short-term missions. A short-term trip changed my life, too, but I have struggled so much with all of the accusations (not personal, just in general) of people saying short-term missionaries are all doing it wrong - or for the wrong reasons - or doing more harm than good - and we should all just stop because our money would do a lot more good than we are.

"The problem with this is- I think we often miss the point and limit God when we do. God doesn't need our money. God is about relationship and He is about our hearts." Thank you SO much for these words - they have ministered to my heart more than I can say. Such truth! YES! God doesn't need our money - He can and will provide despite us. But WE are His hands and feet - He has no physical body here on earth - no one to GO - except us!

We had an in-country pastor tell our team once, "You could have just sent money, but instead you chose to take the time to COME, to BE the love of Jesus to us. We are so thankful."

Thank you, Amy, for being the love of Jesus day in and day out!

Christine said...

Love this post and I keep coming back just to see the pictures of Yessica's smiling face!!

Judy Deaton said...

Love this so much! I'm going to copy and paste the link on my blog and facebook! People need to read this!
Thank you for all you do, and for being vulnerable enough to tell us about it. May God Bless you richly!

Hakuna Matata said...

Look at how happy she it with that gift and I love it.

Continue doing this and God Bless!

FCF FamilyCare foundation

Laurel said...

So good to re-read this post. Just got back from a short term mission trip to Guadalajara, Mexico and many of these thoughts have been on my mind.

Love you and Miss you! Headed to TX on a Road Trip next month and sad we can't visit your sweet family.

Hugs & Prayers!


Laurel :)

Joyful said...

Such a beautiful post.

Missions is close to my heart. I help out on the mission field in Kenya.

I am especially touched by the challenges of the disabled and have some idea of their suffering in less developed countries. Even the disabled in North America have great challenges and often are overlooked.

I can see the joy on that young girl's face when she got her new wheelchair. What a blessing for her and what a burden off of the mother's shoulders.

May God bless the givers.