Sarah Lamb's Mission Perspective

Going on missions trips has been very humbling and life-changing for me. It has opened my eyes to the needs of those around the world. I’ve been privileged to meet brothers and sisters in Christ from numerous different countries. I’ve been amazed by their testimonies, shared in their suffering and joy, prayed with and learned so much from them. Being completely out of my “comfort zone” has also made me more dependent on Jesus. I have clung to His Word like never before. It’s hard to explain how real and vital His words become, how precious His presence is…having peace in knowing that no matter where I am, He is with me…what a staggering reality.  

I remember the first time I went to Mexico, we visited/went to minister to people who lived, literally on the edge of a trash dump. To this day, it is vivid in my mind...people in their "homes" beside heaps of garbage. The reality of poverty struck, and has stayed with me since then. It's hard to fully describe how that changed my perspective. There are such intense needs in this world, and Jesus calls us to help. Sometimes the needs aren't always physical, but people with needs are all around us. Jesus sees each of those needs and cares deeply about them. I want to care deeply too. I want to be moved with compassion like He is. This was one of the times in my life that I gained a greater desire and urgency to give to the poor and to help those in need. That my life wouldn’t be about my own will and selfish desires, but about doing His will and spreading His Kingdom.  

I also remember noticing how joyful the people in Mexico were during the church services/meetings I was a part of with them. Even the blazing heat didn’t stop them from passionately praising! It was such an authentic lesson: worshipping God isn’t about our comfort. There are people all across the world who come together to worship Him without shelter, or even at the risk of their lives.

As far as my time in Italy, one day I’ll always remember is the day of our children’s Christmas program. Because of the snow here in Padova, a number of our children and their families weren't able to make it to church Sunday morning, which meant less voices to sing and one main speaking part missing. We were sad that some of our kids who had been practicing with us weren't able to perform with us. In addition to that, Sunday was the first day we actually went through the program in the "sanctuary" so there were details that we didn't have completely worked out. Needless to say, numerous things didn’t go “according to plan.” But as the Lord always works so wonderfully, the day turned out to be a beautiful reminder of what is truly important. Not speaking lines or song words being completely memorized…not every detail of the program you practiced week after week being carried out perfectly…those don’t faintly compare to the glory of one who was lost being found. A beautiful Filipino girl who had participated in our program asked Jesus to be her Lord & Savior after Pastor Steve's sermon. During part of his teaching, he talked about gifts...that the best gift that has ever been given or that can ever be received is the gift of salvation. The Father gave His only Son so that we might be saved. The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. How glorious for her to accept His gift. What better way to celebrate CHRISTmas? After all, it's all about Him.  

Sarah Lamb

Cheri Bunch's Mission Perspective

Cheri Bunch has had the opportunity to travel on several missions trips and she graciously agreed to be interviewed for today's radio show. These are highlights from the interview.
Cheri spoke about mission trips being a time that people are taken far outside their own comfort zones. She shared that one Bible verse in particular was encouraging to her when she was traveling in countries where personal safety was an issue.
Habakkuk 3:19 (Amplified version)
The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk (not stand still in terror, but to walk and make spiritual) progress upon my high places (of trouble, suffering, or responsibility)!

I can definitely see myself taking comfort in the thought of God himself being so protective! Cheri spoke of the discomfort of knowing the government was in a state of unrest, in the country she traveled; she spoke of physical discomfort of illness from exposure to foreign germs. She also shared about the joy of seeing Christ change lives in dramatic ways.
One person Cheri met in particular who made a big impact on her was Valle. Valle's story begins in a slum- dirty and hopeless. Women from a church decided to go to the slum and share Christ with the people there even though they would be going into a dangerous area. Because of those women's obedience Valle's life was changed.
The ripple effect was something Cheri got to see firsthand. Cheri's eyes light up as she speaks into the radio microphone to tell of her first encounter with this vibrant believer, "she came to me and said, 'You know Jesus!?' with the biggest smile. I'll never forget that." Valle began sharing Christ with those around her in the slum. Because of her faith and the incredible difference Jesus made in her life, many came to accept Christ as their personal savior. The change was not just internal, not just spiritual. Many of those who surrendered to Christ have had opportunity to move out of the slum and work to have a better life now because of the faith of a few women who were not afraid to share Christ.
Cheri was adamant about expressing a key thought, as important as the things are that we can take to the mission field to share with those less fortunate, "the best thing to take is the Gospel. That will be lasting!"

Chari Kauffman's Mission Perspective

Our mission trip changed everything for me. My eyes were opened to our "prosperous" American mentality. It made me realize that the poor are filled with joy, yet we American's, who are wealthy beyond their imaginations (even when we don't think we are) are poor because we have no joy. They rely totally and completely in God, and we struggle with not relying at all on God....trying to do everything ourselves. 

When I got back from Kenya, I started reading everything I could get my hands on regarding what the Bible says about caring for the poor. I would recommend several great books for those who would like to explore this a little deeper: 

A Hole in the Gospel - by Richard Stearns, 

Radical - by David Platt, 

Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger - by Ronald Sider, 

Make Poverty Personal - by Ash Barker, 

There's Always Enough - by Heidi Baker, 

Compelled by Love - by Heidi Baker, 

The Poor Will be Glad - Peter Greer, 

It's Not OK with Me - Janine Maxwell. 

Several things stand out from the mission trip. Matthew 25: 31-46 really came alive. Water is not readily available. They have no running waters in their homes, at the school, etc. They have to carry purchased water that is very heavy long distances just to have water to bathe in, flush a toilet (if they have one), cook with, etc. I personally drink a lot of water every day, so this especially stood out for me. We would take small bottles of water and give them to the teachers or the school kids, and inevitably in your mind you would hear, "....I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink." Also, something very similar, there were a group of kids outside of the school gate looking in on the Wazungos (white people). I shared a bag of potato chips and a bottle of water with these 5 - 6 children. They were so hungry....it broke my heart. I wept later (not in front of the children....they don't know anything else) and felt deeply touched that God would give me the opportunity to share such a special moment with these slum kids. One of these little girls I would have taken home with me in a minute. 

The thing that I contemplate most is how to impress on my children to go against the grain of our American Materialistic Society. We're thinking of taking them back with us to Kenya this summer. I want them to see that when they look at our pantry that is stocked with food and they say "there's nothing to eat" how blessed they are. That when they have more than one change of clothes that they are blessed. That if they eat every day that they are blessed. That when they are sick and we can take them to the doctor that they are blessed. 

I saw this great quote from Mother Theresa the other day....

Hungry for love, He looks at you, 

Thirsty for kindness, He begs from you, 

Naked for loyalty, He hopes in you.

Sick and imprisoned for friendship, He wants from you. 

Homeless for shelter in your heart, He asks of you., 

Will you be that one to him?

--Mother Theresa

Shared by Chari Kauffman

Houston, Texas

Kandace Rather's Mission Perspective

Not all missions experiences are overseas. Kandace shares how she is a part of something more local.

She writes, "Are you familiar with Treasure Hunts? It's something we have been doing here in Joplin for over one year now. It's seeing your own community as your mission field...going out, finding the "treasure" that God sends you out to find. Before we go, we pray and ask the Lord to give us clues for our treasure map....when we go out, there is hardly ever a time that we are not amazed the preciseness of what He has shown us. One in particular is a young woman who felt like the Lord showed her a yellow submarine. Later that night, her team starts ministering to a lady at Walgreens and come to find out this lady has a yellow submarine tattooed on her arm. There are so many stories like this. We also have healing teams who are going out and seeing people healed instantly and more important, getting saved. Most of the teams are young adults....it's glorious!" 

I love hearing about the exciting things that happen when we trust God. I also love Kandace's perspective on reaching out right where she is, right now. We can be God's hands and feet. We can do God's work right in our own hometowns