Praise from the Mission Field

Our mission trip was such a blessing from God! I wish I could tell you everything that happened during the week, but, alas, I would be here a very long time doing that. So, I guess I'll just hit the hightlights.

Highlight #1: It rained almost all week. Very wet. Very muddy. We had never had to deal with rain during our camp week before and I guess God just threw that in to kick it up a notch. I think we rose to the occassion though. Nobody really complained about it. The youth did a great job being flexible with the schedule and doing extra cabin time when we were forced to go to bed early because of thunderstorms and tornado warnings. All in all the rain was a blessing because it kept it from being so hot.

Highlight #2: I didn't really get to work with the kids very much because my focus was the mom's retreat. That didn't start until Thursday, so I had two days to just help out where I could. I helped with crafts, which is always fun. I helped the children carry their food trays during meal time and I acted as waitress to get drinks and napkins and second helpings. Little Joseph was such a sweetie. He stole my heart last year when he was in my group. One night I was helping him carry his food and I spilled a little of his lemonade into his ketchup. I offered to go get him more ketchup but he wouldn't let me. "No, it won't change the way it tastes," he kept insisting. So sweet and never a complainer. Mr. Charlie, (one of the men form my church who came to help in the kitchen) noticed how Joseph was limping around one day and asked why. Joseph said his feet hurt so Mr. Charlie took off his shoes and quickly realized his shoes were way too small for his feet. So Mr. Charlie traced Joseph's feet and promptly went to town to buy him some new shoes. They were fast friends after that and Joseph could often be found by Mr. Charlie's side. Mr. Charlie cried about that little boy. How often do you see that?

Highlight #3: I did get asked to do a Bible study with the teenage group. One night after worship and the message, I stopped by the Purple Team to see how they were doing. I answered a few questions and offered a few verses and sent the youth leaders in the right direction. Later, some of the youth leaders from that group came to me and said they had noticed that many members of their group had no respect for their bodies. They wanted to do a Bible lesson that would show their group members how God viewed them and why it was important to respect God by respecting themselves. This was really a touchy subject for them and I'm guessing the leaders felt uncomfortable with the subject. So, I talked with Michael, one of the youth ministers there with us and we came up with a good road map through the Bible on the subject. He talked with the boys and I talked with the girls. What a thrill! I had the best time talking to those young girls. And, oh, I know they listened. God's word was very well received by each of them. Later that week, one of those girls made a profession of faith and was baptized in the lake. I knew she would. I could see it in her eyes and I could hear it in her questions. And as for the others, seeds were planted and I feel sure that some day they will grow. Praise the LORD!

Highlight #4: I got to work with the moms! We had a blast! The fellowship was good - 6 moms from last year's retreat came back. The food was good - chocolate fountain was a hit! The Word was just what they needed. Our theme was "Facing Our Giants" and we had made a giant Goliath out of foam board as a display. We had a great time writing our personal giants on little notecards, tacking them all over Goliath and then finding Bible verses that defeated our giants and tacking those over the the giants we had posted. Very cool and we all walked away with sharpened swords to wield in the face of our personal giants. The moms were a hoot and we are already looking forward to next year.

Highlight #5: Kimberley! She was a mom that came last year. She didn't want to be there - only came because she thought she had to since her daughter was at our camp. She was very bitter and she captured my heart immediately last year. She won a study Bible as a door prize last year. "Go figure," she said. "Who can I give it to?" But before she left she asked each of us - me, Wanda and Katrina - to write our favorite verses in the front. We did and the good news is she didn't give that Bible away. She read our verses and she wanted to read more and more and before long she wasn't the Kimbereley we knew anymore. She was a new creation. The old had gone and the new had come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 - which was our theme verse last year.) We prayed for her all year. When I saw her this year, I knew! She had Jesus written all over her face and her words were warm and sweet. She hugged us tight! She waited for our retreat to make a public profession of faith, but really, she already had Jesus in her heart. She was baptized in the lake on Saturday morning. Praise the LORD!

God's word is powerful! He promises us that His word will never come back to Him empty and that it will always accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it. (Isaiah 55:11) That is big! All we have to do is plant the seeds and water them. God will make them grow. (1 Corinthians 3:6)

I am so blessed to be able to serve my LORD and Savior. I am so blessed to not only be a part of the planting but also that He allowed me to be a part of the harvest. What a thrill! Thank you LORD, for the opportunities you have given me to serve You. Thank you LORD, for leading me to this place where I can see Your beautiful work being accomplished. I sing praises to You, LORD! Thank you!