Day 3: Projects

With the time change disorientation not fully complete, many students are up by the 6 or 6:30 hour, congregating and setting out with leaders for a morning run, or a hike up the mountain. The absolutely beautiful day and cool temp makes it a joy to run... Im just too tired to do it right now. So as the day begins, some students grab their allotted 1 shower a day while others (including me) hold off until after our projects to get clean, while still other have yet to logically choose when a shower would be most appropriate.

Scott gathers the students for a morning devotion that includes a reading and group discussion. Most of the students weigh in on the issues pertaining to their faith, share their hearts, and spur on more thought amongst themselves. While looking back over our first intercultural experiences in church yesterday, the students reflected on differences, similarities, realization moments, and Holy Spirit guided.

Like every good community, everyone rolls up their sleeves and tends to the local chores of the mission like dishes, sweeping, and cleaning. I'm not sure if it has become a labor of love yet, but maybe in time. (As parents, we can only pray that chores would become a labor of love for our children. Yet by the time they figure that out (definitely in my case), they're probably parents themselves.)

While talking with Pastor Jim Turnbull, we talked about this idea: The mission trip and our leadership is shaping and preparing future missionaries who will do this full time. Some of your children and peers will become missionaries going everywhere and telling everyone the good news of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So when a short term mission feels awkward, is difficult, is frightening as a parent to release your children into, and confusing, we should rest in the fact that God cares about us and provides for us now, in the present, and that this moment is important to the development of his people now... and in the future.

I often look at experiences as being important in the future, like going to school. The end result is what I am constantly striving for. In the same pattern, I look at experiences as being important only in the present, like going paint balling with students for fun and relaxation. Seldom do I look at my experiences as both important now, and important in the future, but it is a practice I should work on. Pray for our students for our "now" moments and God's "future"moments. We covet your prayers.

In Him,
Reed