Yet another weekend has come and gone and was a wonderful blessing! I truly love my weekends, enjoying the break from school, and time spent relaxing and enjoying my freedom…it makes me anxious for summer, but since that’s a few months away I better stay on track…
This weekend we went to Lancaster, as I had family coming in from out of town and we had a conference to attend Saturday. Our weekend emphasized missions, which is always a challenging to me.
My cousin Rob, his wife Heather, and their 4 precious children, including a set of twins, are travelling around the country gathering support for their launching off to Mozambique, Africa, at the end of the year, Lord willing, through WorldVenture. PA is the last stop on their trip and it was so refreshing to spend just a short amount of time talking with them and learning of their plans. The Lord called them to missions a few years ago, while my cousin was pastoring a church and attended a missions trip to Honduras. Missions was always a passion of Heather’s heart after attending a trip to Thailand in college.
Friday evening after supper, and after the kids were set up with a movie, my family sat down with Rob and Heather as they shared their story of what God had done in their lives to bring them into missions, what Mozambique, Africa, was like, and what their specific ministry plans their included. Wow, what an eye-opening evening. Mozambique is the 3rd poorest country in the world. I can’t imagine that kind of poverty. They have pastors there who can’t read. AIDS orphanages are overflowing and overcrowded with thousands and thousands of babies and the ones there are fortunate to even be in the orphanage and not completely abandoned. Most people live in cardboard houses. They are highly superstitious and have no concept of Biblical morals. Rob plans to be involved in leadership development and discipleship, training them to know and live the Word of God. Heather plans to mentor and training women, teach children, and volunteer in an AIDS orphanage.
I am blown away that they are leaving their beautiful home in Colorado and going to such a different culture with 4 young kids, all for the glory of God- to make disciples and to change lives. My cousin said on his trip to Honduras he remembers sitting in the airplane, leaving the country, seeing rows and rows of cardboard boxes, and saying, “I want to die doing this.” I was challenged to do more for God where He has me for this time in my life. Also, challenged to give more to missions and pray more faithfully for missionaries.
Saturday Calvary Church in Lancaster had it’s annual Vision Conference. I attended the 3 main sessions and was touched by some stories the speaker shared. As this is getting long, I’ll share those at a later time! Again, we were challenged that whether we go or stay, as Christians we are called to be involved in missions. We all have a role to play, and our responsibility is to be open to God’s calling in our lives and willing to go wherever He may send us.
Tonight ODSM has our Summer Missions meeting and I am excited for the opportunities the Lord has given us this summer. Short-term missions trips are always stretching, and a time of personal growth for me, and a highlight of my summer.
