by Cammy Brantzeg
I am reading a devotional while I am in South Africa called “God Writes a Better Story” by Bruce Main. My devotion this morning was titled STRETCHING and what a perfect word to describe our mission trip. Below is an excerpt from today's devotion.
Stretch out your hand - Mark 3:5
Jesus calls the man to participate in his own healing. “Stretch out your hand.” He says.
“Stretch out your hand,” says Jesus. He asks for participation, for action. The man does not heal his own hand, but he must take some initiative. He is called to do something.”
One of the things I love best about mission trips are I know the people we bring to South Africa will forever be changed by what they experienced. They took the initiative to do something and God rewards them for their obedience.
Our team has worked on projects at a community center that is used by Mosaic and Ma's for Wellington two nonprofits doing amazing work in South Africa.
Our team is not made up of skilled labor but everyone jumped in and STRETCHED beyond what they were comfortable with to help figure things out.
We renovated a kitchen by replacing the broken tile floor, replacing the warped countertops and building an island with much needed storage.
 |
| New Flooring!! |
 |
| New Countertops!! |
 |
| New Kitchen Island |
Shade for Playground
 |
| Netting to Protect Windows |
The team was STRETCHED as they prepared peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to be served at soup kitchens providing meals for men, women and children. The lines of men, women and especially children that were hungry were not easy to see.
The team was STRETCHED by driving through a township to see where some of the Mosaic and Ma's for Wellington beneficiaries live.
Team members were STRETCHED by going on home visits to pray with people going through very difficult times.
Team members were STRETCHED by serving at Mosaic's afterschool program where the children that attend can speak 2-3 languages, come from a different culture, just finished a day at school in 80-90 degree weather with no air conditioning and may or may not want to interact with foreigners from overseas.
The kids had an opportunity to do Christmas crafts, make bracelets and eat ice cream sundaes that our team provided which provided opportunities for us to interact with them.
Our team also handed out handmade cards by Karen Baker and some of her friends in the US. Personalized messages were written in the cards by co-workers of Lynda Commale and a group of women from St. Daniel's UMC that include Pastor Carrie and Paulette who have both traveled to South Africa on previous mission trips.
The STRETCHING is uncomfortable and can be hard. It is in those moments when we don't think we can do something that we find we actually can which makes us stronger and more brave. It is in those moments where we say "God I don't think I can do this" but we do that we see how faithful God is and that we grow our trust in Him.
I am pretty sure if you ask the mission trip team members from this trip if the STRETCHING and uncomfortable moments were worth it that they would all say Yes.
I am pretty sure they became stronger, more brave and their faith and trust in God grew simply because they were willing to STRECH and that is one of the beautiful outcomes of our mission trips.
“One life on this earth is all that we get, whether it is enough or not enough, and the obvious conclusion would seem to be that at the very least we are fools if we do not live it as fully and bravely and beautifully as we can.” - Frederick Buechner
Comments
Post a Comment