| | During the mission in Ghana, West Africa, I sent out 10 e-mails in total about what was going on, what we were doing, how I was feeling, and what I learned and needed prayer for. I do not know really how to properly explain exactly what has happened for me in such a short manner, so I decided that maybe the last e-mail I sent out after finishing the trip might suffice. I do know that God has shown me amazing things and crazy possibilities, and at the end of one challenge, I'm only left with hundreds more. And that I look forward to each one. If you wish to see any of the first 9 e-mails, please do ask and I'll be glad to show you them.
subject: [Going, Going, Ghana!] Ends and Beginnings. (Final update)
date: Sun, Aug 17, 2008 at 2:33 AM
Several months ago, a group of seven men from UCLA began a journey and began fund raising for a summer missions trip.
Seven weeks ago, the same seven persons boarded a plane to Ghana, West Africa.
Three days ago, five people returned and re-entered their lives at home.
The day after, we entered a time of reflection and debriefing.
Tonight,
as I type up my 10th and final update to all of you, I can't help but
feel that the real mission, the real challenges, and the real journey
only begins now.
Something we learned and discussed even before the trip, during our
orientation, was about why God is sending us on this mission in the
first place. We talked about how when we get to Ghana,
we might not necessarily feel that much impactful, we night not see how
much substantial change we might bring to this foreign country. And
sure enough, throughout the trip we struggled with finding purpose and
reasons for why God sent us 8,000 miles away from home. Yeah sure, the
children have 7 new friends, the school has a new gutter, and etc. etc.
But, these reasons seem like things that could have been done locally,
by others, and/or in different contexts (why travel so far to do things
that could be done at home?).
What we learned though at first, and as the mission went along, was
that maybe God is displacing us for reasons beyond our time in Ghana.
Missionaries and travelers alike must acknoledge that maybe we get to
see the other parts of the Body of Christ in order to be able to take
all the lessons and thoughts we garner in a foreign land, and take them
home and let them reshape our lives from then on. Like I said, the
other half of any short-term mission seems to start the moment you step
OFF the plane that brings us home.
On Thursday, the day after we got back to LA, the day we spent in
debriefing and reflection, we retroactively realized several things
about Ghana, about ourselves, and about
what is to be done after-the-fact. To be honest, some of the challenges
and ideas we came up with as a group and challeges and ideas I came up
for myself seem rather daunting and extravagent. But I was blessed with
some knowledge, some wisdom, to be able to at least know or acknoledge
the problems at home. In Ghana and in
debriefing, we learned a lot of lessons, and we Hope that our Love and
our Faith have expanded. But honestly, these lessons almost mean
nothing...
Unless we do something about it.
"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:17).
I've
seen lessons about economies, social justice, poverty, spirituality,
healing, seeking the Kingdom, having faith, loving others, servitude,
community, relationships, reconciliation, unity, gratitude, and more.
But what good is it if I am the same person as I was the months ago
when I began fundraising?
I pray and hope to God that my character and life for now on will
not only take these lessons but apply them in all aspects of my life,
as Jesus should play an active role in all areas of my life.
What
does it mean to freely and wholy serve others? What does it look like
to have the faith to move mountains? What does it mean to fight social
injustice and poverty? What does it look like to Love as He did and
does? How can I submit my will and love to Him who gave me my will and
love in the first place?
"with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26).
I have
plans to lead a new life and act as a change agent for His Kingdom. I
have plans to freely serve and give to others. I have plans to
reconcile things that seem unreconcilable. I have plans to lead the
homeless ministries at UCLA into things never seen before. I have plans
to saturate Los Angeles with Jesus using the model of
poverty-but-with-God that I've seen in Ghana.
I have begun these plans to walk with the Lord. and I pray that you
will consider taking a closer walk with Him too. Walk with me as I
crawl. I've seen and believed, but "blessed are those who have not seen
and yet have believed." (John 20:29).
I pray, Let my life for now on be a living testimony of a living
God that never changes and always serves and always loves and always
seeks justice and always is the only thing we need. Let my actions for
now on be a proclamation of what I've seen and what I've learned this
past summer. Let people see only God when they see me. Let my life be
changed and let my life change others.
One year ago I gave my life to Jesus and to an enternal pursuit.
A few months ago I gave myself to seeking and spreading His Kingdom.
Today I give myself to the beginning of a true journey.
Who knows where God will have me...
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| | Posted 9/1/2008 12:51 AM - 23 Views - 2 eProps - 1 Comment
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p.s. you need to blog more.