Preparing for the Journey...Godby Jim Vaughn
"We began our journey and traveled the route west as the settlers had in earlier times..."
And yet that still small voice used the words of a nineteenth century hymn to speak to me saying, “Trust me, try me, prove me, saith the Lord of hosts, and see if a blessing, unmeasured blessing, I will not pour out on thee.” So when the appeal for a mission team to do “light construction” in Honduras was made, I started giving it prayerful consideration. Ultimately, I made my trip deposit all the while thinking this may not happen. As the time neared for airline reservations and payment of the full amount, I could see several unsettling events arising. The mission team was alternately growing and shrinking, the construction leader was blocked from leading by intervening events, and the real nature of the mission task was uncertain.
But in spite of these uncertainties, I found my heart growing stronger that this was a step on my spiritual journey that God wanted me to take. And besides, I told myself, I know how to swing a hammer—however inaccurately, but more importantly, John and Mary Kay Neidhamer would be our in-country hosts! “Trust me, try me, prove me, saith the Lord of Hosts…” The refrain was continuous in my head.
Six of us committed to serve in this small Central American country where “unmeasured blessings” were poured out! Our primary mission task at the Villa Gracia Retreat Center involved lots of painting, demolition of aging structures, and replacing a 8’ x 80’ ceiling under the watchful eye of our Honduran host, Christian. During breaks from our construction, we played soccer with the Bible study kids, who claimed Kansas as one of their own.
But the real mission task was meeting and loving on the dear souls of Honduras—God bless them! We met street kids who had been rescued from the streets of Tegucigalpa and sheltered by the Christian workers in the safe haven at the Manuelito Project. We served snacks, washed dishes, and joined in Bible study with the children of the neighborhood of Berea Church. We visited the working farm school, Escula El Sembrador, which combines a 2,400 acre working farm with a school that has given over 5000 students an opportunity to better themselves both educationally and spiritually since its beginning in 1954. This particular school also includes a Bible Institute that is a major source of pastoral training for Honduras.
We met and affirmed resident missionary couples who told us of their work and their privilege of raising their own funds to support their missionary vocations. We met business people, teachers, and farmers who shared about the “business of missions” and how they ran a retreat center and a large farm in order to support students and pastors in their education. Imagine my own surprise at getting an opportunity to teach project management and marketing methods to two groups who were trying to enhance their revenues to provide more children’s education and Kingdom growth. Do you hear “a blessing, unmeasured blessing . . . ?”
I confess that I found one of my “sweet spots” in my life’s journey in Honduras. I saw God in so many places there. From the spiritual growth we experienced as a missions team, to the joy of telling a little brown eyed, olive skinned boy named David Alejandro that Jesus loves him, to the satisfaction of sharing the principles of strategic planning applied to the business of missions, I was so blessed! “Trust me, try me, prove me, saith the Lord of hosts, and see if a blessing, unmeasured blessing, I will not pour out on thee.”
I offer this advice: slow down your hectic pace and listen. Do you hear the small, quiet voice? Do you feel the tug to reach out, to share, to underwrite, and to invest in Kingdom growth? Whether we are in the environs of Destin, in this great country, or outside its borders, we are challenged. The story of God’s redemptive purpose for all peoples flows throughout the entire Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s heart is the same. God’s salvation was and is for all people. Just as He promised Abraham that all peoples on earth will be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3). Revelation 7:9 confirms this when it says, “Every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne.” Jesus gives the Church the goal, “…And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations…” Matthew 24:14. We are His Church. We are so blessed. Let’s resolve to “Trust me, try me, prove me, saith the Lord of hosts, and see if a blessing, unmeasured blessing, I will not pour out on thee.” Discover your inner missionary!
—Virgil Smith
We began our journey and traveled the route west as the settlers had in earlier times
Not knowing what the end would hold
We followed the trails as the sun set in the west in search of God's calling
We found our destination met Pastor Guillermo in his church of Fallon
We prayed and received our instructions
The children and their families arrived and began their time of learning and sharing the Word of God
Their lives will reflect the early teachings as they grow and prepare for their journey
The Village Team reflected their calling
Our Mission completed, our journey continues!
I’ve learned from the trips I’ve taken that the only thing you can expect is to be blessed and to be a blessing. We did not know exactly what we would be doing, but knew that whatever we accomplished would be for God’s glory and not our own.
John and Mary Kay Neidhamer were tremendous hosts and the Honduran people were friendly and welcoming. Although our job seemed small, replacing a termite infested ceiling on a dormitory porch, our greater task was in building relationships with the people, missionaries, and with each other. We were struck by the contrast of the beauty and serenity of the mountains with the intense poverty of the general population. We also noted the contrast between the run-down shacks that served as homes for the poor to the homes of the middle class that were like forts (or prisons) all enclosed with high walls and metal gates all topped with razor wire and embedded with shards of glass, nails, and other sharp objects. We realized that they all needed the Savior and that as we served them, we were serving Christ. As we feed them, we were feeding Christ.
As we received a blessing from going, we pray that they received a blessing also.
-Joe Smith
Recently I was led to go to Spain with three others, all Village members/family, to hand out free gifts to European people heading to Morocco. Nervousness does not begin to share the feelings I had about this trip. Since becoming a Christian and attending Baptist churches, surprisingly enough, I had never been a part of an evangelistic team to share the gospel. I have had the privilege of sharing Jesus with many people, but it was in a much quieter and controlled atmosphere; my control, my comfort zone. This however was not the case in Spain. Not only was I completely out of my comfort zone, but the majority of the people we encountered were of the Muslim religion and did not speak English. Though there were some preconceived ideas of how we might be received, I remembered what a friend had told me about the nature of the Muslim people they encountered after 9/11, how wonderful and sweet and concerned and sorrowful they were for what had taken place; so I thought, "No problem, who wouldn't want a free gift?" And these were nice gifts, too! These packages consisted of many items such as a VCD and VHS Tape of the "JESUS" film, the New Testament, a book on the "Carpenter", cassettes, and other booklets about the Christian faith. I should also mention that these packages were in four different languages in order to reach as many as possible for the Kingdom of God. It amazed me how many would turn this gift away. Yeah, they did not want it. I found I had to daily walk in prayer that God would give me the power and strength through His Holy Spirit to do what He has called me to do. Rejection is never easy and always takes so much out of you. It can zap your strength especially if you walk in your own. As we went through the week, there were many things that God revealed to me. One was the fact that we were giving a "FREE" gift. We were not there to convince anyone; we were to just give a gift to those who would receive it. Is that not like the gift from God, the gift of Salvation is a "FREE" gift from God to those who will receive it. Yet so many rejected us as they do the Father. On an up note…Many also received the packages with smiles on their faces especially when they found out it was in their native language.
One encounter I would like to share was with a gentleman and his daughter. The man was, what I came to understand, a fundamentalist. This is one who is deeply rooted in the Muslim religion. A religious man they would say. We, one of the missionary students whom I was privileged to work along side and myself, engaged in conversation with this man. He was kind but very firm in his belief of Mohammed. He spoke somewhat broken English; however, his daughter of 8 years of age spoke English and understood it well. As we shared about Jesus he became more vocal that only those who believe in Mohammed would go to Paradise and those who do not believe will go to hell. We shared that he had some of the facts correct but he was misinformed about a crucial fact and that it is only through Jesus Christ that any of us can get to heaven. Those who do not believe and know our Savior will truly spend eternity in hell apart from God. We could see that there was no turning this man from what the enemy has deceived him of. My heart became very heavy and I was doing all I could to hold back the tears. As my partner continued to talk with this man, I was given a vision. The vision was of flames of fire, bright orange and red, all up and down the right side of this man. When I questioned the Lord as to what I was seeing, He told me of this man's destiny, but also shared with me that our message was not for this man but for his daughter who was standing on the left side of her father listening to every word we were saying. As I looked at the daughter, there was an angelic smile on her face and I can still remember the beautiful sky blue garments she had on. She did look like an angel. The Lord told me the message was for her. My heart ached at the deceit that has been indwelt in the lives of these beautiful people, but at the same time, I rejoiced that this child could hear the truth and that as we walked away and prayed for her, we knew that God would continue to water the seeds that were planted. We remembered in Isaiah 55 that "His Word does not return empty." As I continued through the week, I prayed for God's compassion and love for His creation to burn within me. He is ever faithful! Throughout the week, as I requested that prayer from Him, He would remind me in special ways how to love them. One such way was a memory of a special and dear man He introduced my husband and me to when we started Sunday school at Village. He reminded me of this man's love for Jesus. It was so pure and real that it could not be missed. He was contagious. That is what I wanted, to be contagious for Jesus. It became easier every day to share Jesus' love. It was such a blessing to be a part of this mission for Christ. I hope and pray that this desire to be contagious for Jesus will never be lost. And I pray that all the gifts that went out into many hands will increase to spread the love of God and what Jesus did for each of us. And as His Word, His love is spread many will receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
-Tami Medler
Mission In a Mission In a Mission:
None Impossible With God
One of the most delightful parts of participating in any mission trip is watching God move on so many different levels, and our trip to the largest city in sparsely populated Montana was no exception. The mixture of Destin adults and the youth of this neighborhood in Billings, Montana, was a combination only God could have turned into such a wonderful uplift for all of our spirits.
The primary mission for our 14-member team was throwing a huge, three day block party on their small church campus complete with jumpy-castles, balloon animals, ministry from the Word, basketballs, ring toss, bean bag toss, musical concerts, face painting, personal testimonies, snow cones, cotton candy, popcorn, hotdog suppers and lots of prizes. As we worked to prepare and set up this bash, we got to know more about the talents and personalities of our group. Some of us learned how to turn balloons into dogs and swords and parrots while others were learning how huge pieces of plywood can turn into a circle of fun and games. However, the real delight was building relationships with brothers and sisters.
A second mission was carried out as we interacted with the people in their community. We began by spreading out and talking to the people, leaving invitations for the party and praying for the people in the homes as we passed. These invitations, as well as our colorful games and jamming music brought streams of people through the gates where they had the chance to have fun and listen as we witnessed about what Jesus meant to us and what He could mean to them. What a magnificent blessing was in store for us as we had the chance to meet such sweet souls as Nicole, John, Lucinda, Tony and so many more.
There was a third spectacular one-day mission where eight people from our team spent 20 hours witnessing some of God’s creative abilities in Yellowstone National Park from the windows of a seven passenger van. Close quarters provide an excellent opportunity to meld individuals into a family as we uncovered secrets of things like who could “speak whale” and who could tell the tiny spots on the hillside were really large herds of buffalo.
And yet another mission for this Montana fellowship was done through sweat, elbow grease and the financial blessing the Village members had provided. Old paneling came down and new paneling went up, old carpet was ripped up and new carpet put down, floors were scrubbed, ovens were scoured, shelves were organized, ceilings were painted, walls were mudded, window air conditioners were installed, white boards were put up, copiers were purchased and dorm rooms were painted. Twenty-eight hands can accomplish a great deal in one day when everyone is working together.
If the bonding between all these precious people could have been visible as threads we would have seen a solid, beautiful fabric. For this one week, our team of willing-to-go Christians came in as varied and vibrant bold cords onto which the colorful, sometimes delicate but always special strands of the people from Montana were woven.
Don’t let the opportunity for God to use you on His missions pass you by. He makes it possible.
-Leah Goolsby