Impact

When going on mission trips, there is always an expectation of change. Change in the place you are visiting. Changing the people you meet. And, being changed yourself. You want to leave an impact and be impacted. (And we usually like to be able to take a picture of it to show off to friends at home.) We usually go with the idea of how much we are going to do for others but don't take into account how much will be done for us. How much going will change our own perspectives, outlooks, and relationships. It usually happens that almost everything you can say that you gave was also given back to you. Love, care, relationships, friendships, encouragement, and humility are just few.

When we returned, I was asked if I thought we really made an impact for Jesus with the kids we met and who came to our VBS. Honestly, at first I had to answer that I'm not really sure that we did. I thought that was going to be the place where we made the biggest difference. But God surprised me. It wasn't the VBS or even the medical clinic. It wasn't in something I could easily explain or take a picture of. It was with His people. It was the encouragement that we were able to give to the people working with these children and in the community. It was apparent that the kids didn't need our 1 hour VBS lesson and skit to know about God's love. They see it EVERY DAY in the sunday school teachers, social workers, and program directors. Just by being a part of the projects, even if they aren't sponsored, they are cared for and loved in ways that will ultimately change the course of their lives.

As a teacher, I know how hard and draining kids can be and especially those kids that are so needy. To think that every single one of these kids is in that situation where basic care and love are not a given is staggering. When I wrote this post in April, I was thinking about one student in my class. But if I was seeing 240 kids in that situation?? Visiting homes that leaked, listening to stomachs growl, watching bruises come and go, and seeing sad eyes watching you is what they are serving every day. There is only so much they can do. The money only goes so far and time is always running out. I can't imagine how hard and draining it must be. But, they have servant's hearts. Big ones. They teach the children that God loves them and takes care of them, and the kids know it's true because they are experiencing it. Through sponsors across the world and the people who are His hands and feet in the country, God's love is being felt. We didn't need to be there for God to do that or make His impact there. He's already doing it His way with His people in a much bigger way than we could have ever imagined.

So what about our team? What did God have planned for us there? What was the impact He wanted us to make because we know His plan is always better than ours? Well, we know how it feels to always be the ones giving. To be the one that is always giving of oneself, and not getting anything in return. The constant pull to help every child but not know what else you can do. I think it's one of the hardest things God calls His people to do. Lots of people do it but I have never seen it in such a sacrificial way as I did with the people who worked at the projects. There are 4 adults for 240 kids. I would argue that kids are the hardest because they can't help themselves. They are at the mercy of others who may or may not be caring for them as a parent should. They don't have a way out and we are only limited humans. Only God can rescue everyone. And, He also rescues us. It was in that place that we were to make an impact.

We were there to give that love back to them. So, we gave them a break. We allowed them to rest. We showed them that they weren't forgotten. We showed them that someone is noticing and and that someone cares. We gave them tools to continue their work and hopefully make it a little easier. We left them toys to brighten their days. We prayed with them. We prayed for them. We acknowledged their sacrifice, humility, service, dedication, and hard work. We praised their efforts and will continue to share that with the people at home. Hopefully, we showed God's love to them in the same way that they are doing with the children. It might have only been a few days in each place but God can make it be enough. He can use that week to sustain them for a year or two or three. So that, His children keep feeling His love through His people-the ones who can be there every day.

So you see we did make an impact for Jesus on this trip. It just wasn't in the way I expected. And, it wasn't in a way we could see or take a picture of to bring home and show you. Sure we played with kids, told a bible story, and gave them lots of kisses but that wasn't where the change will be noticed. The change is what happens after we let. We will keep happening for years after we are gone. It was in us being there and loving people we hadn't even met. It was in showing God's love to others so that they could keep giving His love to so many more. It was witnessing, showing, and experiencing the love that keeps on giving in a way that only God's love can do.