If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions a missions trip has your name on it.
Have you felt God prompting you in the past, or currently, to take part in a mission experience? If 'yes,' why not now?
I have recently concluded work with an international mission's organisation, serving God in this way for almost 6 years. During the ministry I was involved in I lost the tag 'country boy' to adopt a new line, 'international traveller'.
Some of the experiences I have been part of during my travels include:
- Delivering bibles to families who have no other way to buy one, in a restricted part of India.
- Meeting a local man on a train and being given a tour of his city, including a taste of one of the best locally made drinks in the area (this shop was in the maze of Kolkata streets and I would never be able to find it again)
- Walking through flood waters and small beaten tracks to build accommodation for a mission's organisation in the Solomon Islands
- Running children's programs and being able to share the gospel with them in numerous countries
- Meeting a member of the Brunei royal family and being given a tour of the city by her and a nationally famous musician.
I share some of my experiences to boast in God's provision and the incredible opportunities He can open up for all of us when we step out in faith.
Along the journey there have been some challenges and obstacles, but these can prove another testimony of God's faithfulness and a great story to share in the future.
I am not directly on the missions field at present (although living overseas) but am privileged to share my experiences, hoping to challenge and inspire others into a cross cultural and transformational experience that will impact their life and those they connect with.
Why overseas?
1. The World Health Organisation (WHO) claims "Approximately 1.2 billion people in the world live in extreme poverty (less than one dollar per day)." (www.who.int/hdp/poverty/en/) This statistic equates about 1 in 6 people in the world living on this income. How many Australians are forced to survive with these earnings, i.e. on less than $400 a year? The physical need overseas is much greater than in Australia.
2. Spending time in a cross cultural environment is an eye opening and changing experience. We understand God's beauty and creation in a new way when we experience first-hand a different part of nature and form relationships with people from different worldviews, traditions, social structures and physical appearance.
3.We receive a greater understanding of how some people are required to live in order to survive and come face to face with the daily struggles and joys of life in developing (and possibly persecuted) nations. This perspective will show how blessed people in developed countries really are and stop our taking for granted some of the daily necessities we receive as citizens of Australia.
No excuses!
Whatever your experience, age, interests and budget a trip can be planned to cater for you. There are now a lot of organisations who run short term trips or provide long term opportunities, both Christian focused and not. There is no excuse you can't do anything to help!
In the beginning of the modern missions movement missionaries often packed their belongings in a coffin, because they didn't expect to return, and travelled for months by ship to their 'outreach location'.
With the speed and accessibility of travel today this should no longer remain an obstacle. In fact, we can use just a couple of weeks from our holiday time to greatly impact people's lives overseas and discover another part of God's creation and His people.
There are obviously legitimate reasons someone is unable to take part, or perhaps it is a shallow excuse such as a hiding fear, selfishness, pride, financial mismanagement or apathy?
Adventure awaits! Transformation of lives (reaching beyond your expectations) is ahead. Take the step; you won't be doing it alone.
Tim Wilson is married with two children who served with YWAM for five years in Brisbane and now serving in mission in Canada.
Tim Wilson's archive of articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/tim-wilson.html