on a mission for missions...

I'll just start off by saying that I'm super excited about this post.  This is off the list of "awesome" topics I was forming in my head but had not found time to write about, till now.  This topic, this specific one, has been the highlight of my week so far and after a stressful Business Law class tonight, all I wanted to do was blog...about the highlight of my week, and nothing else.  What is the topic?  MISSIONS.

I don't know when it happened but somewhere along my faith journey, God lit a flame in me for international missions.  The idea of traveling to a foreign country, learning a new language (well maybe just a few new words), meeting new people, telling them about how Jesus has changed my life, experiencing God doin' His Holy thang, feeling like I make a difference...all that just winds me up inside and before you know it, I'm on an airplane on my next trip!

I've gone on 2 international trips so far, and I have a feeling (hopefully) the 3rd one is around the corner.  We'll get to that in just a minute!

I'm right-brained, meaning my creative, artistic side is dominant over the left-brained, analytical, structured side - so I believe pictures say a thousand words, a million times better than what I could actually write!  So, please allow me to share with you some of my most favorite memories from my past 2 trips.

Location: Barycz, Poland

Group: Crestwood Baptist Church

Date: 7.11.04

My first international mission trip was to a small town in Poland called "Barycz."  I think Barycz must be Polish for "cutest, quaintest, little town with the best Polish ice cream," because that's what it was!  I actually don't even know what Barycz means, but I know that it was amazing...life-changing.

Our group went and served at an orphanage in Barycz, teaching the kids vacation Bible school, English as a second language, crafts, you name it - we were on it!  The kids were a wide range of  ages, from 4 years old to 18 years old.  They were precious.  I wanted to steal several of them and smuggle them back with me, but apparently that's against the law!

This first picture of a girl named "Kasia."  Isn't she beautiful?  She and her 18-year old brother were at the orphanage during their summer vacation.  I'm not exactly sure what happened to their parents, but I think it was somewhat of a tragic story, so I tried to stay away from it as much as possible, and just have fun with them.  Kasia stuck with me pretty quickly (someone help her!) but by day 3 or 4, she was my shadow!  It was very ironic because she didn't speak English, and I didn't speak Polish, so we really didn't communicate all that much.  Just pointed and signed, but having her be my shadow was so comfortable, not awkward at all.

This darling little thing still writes to me occasionally (we've gone from snail mail to e-mails now!) after all these years.  She is hopping around from school to school (not sure why) and goes back to the Barycz camp every summer.  In every e-mail, she diligently asks me if I'm coming back.  My heart breaks each time.  

This is a picture of some of the team members from our group.  The guy at the top is "Mateoush" pronounced "mat-tay-ooosh" was one of our translators and his sister (I can't remember her name for the life of me!) is in the front row on the right (next to Jillian).  They were hilarious.  Mateoush was a walking comedian and his sister was the sweetest little thing with the best sense of humor!  We were so blessed to have them lead our group in Barycz.  

My most favorite memory about this trip is that I met one of my near and dear friends, Jillian!  Talk about a Divine appointment for a friendship.  This is one, if I've ever seen it!  I can't talk enough about God's timing, His perfect plan, and His faithfulness in how he orchestrated all of this.  I somehow got recruited on this trip through one of my friends at a campus ministry I was involved in at UK.  Jillian randomly got connected with this trip through someone in CO (right, Jillian?) who connected her with the campus ministry, and all of a sudden we were both going to Poland!  Needless to say, our friendship didn't end when we left Poland.  She and I became roommates, sisters in Christ, and I even had the honor of being a bridesmaid in her wedding a couple of years ago.  Oh, and did I mention she met her husband through me?  Ok, I can't take ALL the credit, but you bet I'm taking some of it!  Till this day, she is one of my closest friends.  She was also an inaugural member of my VIP blog fan base.  J - thanks for being a loyal friend!  You are special. :)

Location: Nairobi, Kenya - Africa

Group: Southeast Christian Church - High School Ministry

Date: 7.14.09

Africa.   I. Love. Africa.  I wish I could go back tomorrow.  This trip was a little different.  I got the opportunity to play a "leader" role this time for 16 high school students.  Myself and 3 other adults accompanied some teenagers to one of the most impoverished continents in the world.  And boy, what we saw, turned our worlds upside down.

I'll focus on just a couple of things here.  I could honestly talk your ear off about Africa (so if you're interested, let me know and I'll give you a call).   

One of the cool parts about this trip was we got to leave our camp site and go into the villages to visit families.  This was the first one we visited.  I was speechless.  See the little hut with the disheveled roof?  Yes, that's what this entire Kenyan family lives in.  The little boy has diabetes but there is no money to buy him insulin, so he has no medication, and his stomach is starting to swell.  The mom has a job, carrying water to and from a well (all day long, in the heat and humidity) but doesn't make enough for a stable, secure home for her family.

One thing I remember (and was fascinated with) from all the home visits was how serious each family was about prayer.  They would ask our group to pray for them, for Kenya as a country, and for Africa as a whole, several times throughout our conversation.  I sensed a deep, I mean DEEP, dependency on prayer.  I've never seen anything like it.  You knew that when they asked you to "not forget" about them and to "keep praying" for them, they were serious.  It humbled me because for the simple fact that I take prayer for granted WAY too much.  They use prayer as a crutch to depend on God, I find myself often using it as an accessory that can be tapped into on short notice.  When did my thinking get so twisted?  Personally, I think it's the distraction this culture creates.  See, in Kenya, they have very,  very little, and make-do with what little they have, and depend on God for all the rest.  In our Western culture, we stinkin' have so much STUFF that why would we ever choose to depend on God for anything?  We're distracted.  I digressed a little, sorry.  But this really was a HUGE lesson for me!

Next, this is a picture of me and my friend, Susan.  She was one of the other leaders on this trip.  What a special friend.  I learned a lot from her.  To me, what stood out, was her calm-spirited nature and knowledge of God's word.  We had the most extraordinary discussions on life, love, family, teenagers (!), experiences, the African people, Jesus.  I learned so much from her and would love, love, love, to accompany her on another trip!

Quick story (I know this is getting long, sorry - feel free to skip!): Our group had to split up one night, and go stay in different people's homes for a true, "cultural" experience.  And of course, by the end of the week, it felt like Susan and I were joint at the hip!  Well, the next morning, our "host" took us to--what seemed to be--a Pentecostal church for Sunday worship.  Let me tell you, Kenyans KNOW how to dance, sing....worship carefree!  The funny part was, the Pastor asked me and Susan to come up in front of the "congregation" and sing a worship song!  Just the two of us...in front of everyone.  GASP!  Ok, (1) I don't sing and (2) I don't sing out loud in public.  We both froze for a second because (a) how do you say "no thanks" to a Pastor and (b) we were wondering why every worship song magically disappeared from our memory!  We finally came up with one (I can't remember the name of it now, my brain is fried!), but it was no where NEAR how entertaining the Africans were.  But we made it through!  I will never forget that.  

Poland and Kenya - both life-changing in completely different ways.  I wouldn't trade either experience for anything.  And both left me hanging, thirsty, and hungry for more.

Ok, so 3rd opportunity.  Since last spring, I've had an idea...a desire...an inkling...to go to CAMBODIA on international missions.  The "BAHT" documentary sparked this.  The timing hasn't right for me to go just yet and my Divine Timekeeper keeps saying "wait."  All of a sudden just this past week, I am sensing the "Cambodia flood gates" are opening with a variety of opportunities for me to participate in mission work over there!  God is so faithful.  More details to come, but I am feeling REALLY good about this one.  Ultimately, things will work out according to His plan, but boy am tickled with the way I see things unfolding.  

Missions.  I am fascinated by it and humbled to even have the opportunity to be a small part of His kingdom agenda.