Growing up I had the opportunity to go on a few short term missions trips with my mother and the youth group. These took me to places such as the Ukraine when I was 11, and New Orleans after hurricane Katrina in high school. During these trips I was able to serve in varying capacities, and I learned much, but the idea of spending more than a week or two in another part of the world was completely foreign to me.
Perhaps the best way that I can explain, is by saying that in my mind there were two types of people. There were those of us, (including me) who supported missionaries financially and with prayer support, and occasionally we would go and help them build something or put on a camp. Then there were "those people" who are full time missionaries; in my mind they were a super special type of people that were set apart from everyone else. The idea of me becoming one of "those people" never even crossed my mind.
Monday, September 21, 2015
Friday, September 18, 2015
From The Beginning
My (Carolyn speaking!) parents and churches were intentional in talking about missionaries all throughout my childhood. We frequently prayed for missionaries together as a family, we read books and stories about them, and we supported them financially. My parents stressed the importance of this work to my sister and I, but it wasn’t until I was a teenager that I understood what a missionary really is.
When I was in middle school and high school, I had opportunities through my church to attend numerous mission trips both locally and abroad. The regions I traveled to included Russia, Kenya, Canada, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh. On these trips, my heart was touched by those who were rejected by society, but found community through the church and the love of Christ Jesus. I learned many things on those short-term mission trips, but the greatest theme that I learned through all of them was the great depth of love the Father has for His precious children. When I was young, I committed to live my life wherever the Lord directed me, serving whomever he would have me serve.
When I was in middle school and high school, I had opportunities through my church to attend numerous mission trips both locally and abroad. The regions I traveled to included Russia, Kenya, Canada, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh. On these trips, my heart was touched by those who were rejected by society, but found community through the church and the love of Christ Jesus. I learned many things on those short-term mission trips, but the greatest theme that I learned through all of them was the great depth of love the Father has for His precious children. When I was young, I committed to live my life wherever the Lord directed me, serving whomever he would have me serve.
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