I shall be veering from my regular format for the next few weeks.

 

Why?

 

I said YES to a short-term mission trip!  Saturday the 12th I leave for Guatemala.  I will be traveling with another nurse, a dentist, a doctor, and a pastor.  Both this week and next my blog will address 6 ways that mission trips are supposed to change lives.  (gulp)  Okay – I went into this thing with eyes wide open and with no expectations.  But I really think it’s gonna surprise me.  I am writing next week’s blogs THIS week and will have to show Ted how to post these for you to read while I’m gone.  And then, I plan to go over these 6 reasons again when I return – to see how things changed for me.

According to Seth Barnes*, the third thing that short-term missions teach us is how to minister.

What?

I am not trained to be a minister – to be a pastor!  I better let somebody else do this mission stuff!

But in all reality …

All followers of Christ can and should minister to the needs of others – we don’t have to BE a minister in the formal sense!  When Jesus talks about “loving one another” I think he is talking about us taking ACTION.  To say “I love you” means little if it is not demonstrated.  And loving means listening to the hurts and needs of others.  Seth Barnes says that most Americans know precious little about how to listen to the heart of a hurting person – AND – how to pray for them.

<gulp>

I guess I will be getting some experience now in listening and ministering – and praying.  But .. but .. but God, these people in Guatemala don’t even speak English!  It will all have to be done through an interpreter!

And that is where I know I am lacking – TRUST!  I shall simply trust God to give me ears to hear, a heart to care, and know that He will be the ultimate interpreter to give me the right words to say.  To minister.

Just Laurel

James 1:19  Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

*Posted in Short-term Missions by Seth Barnes on 10/19/2010