Colombia

You may or may not know that I’m going to Colombia (the South America one) in a couple weeks.  I’m not writing this because I have to give reasons why I’m going or to convince everyone that I’m a good Christian.  I guess I’m sharing because the Lord has been teaching this white American mid-20’s girl about foreign missions, a little something that has never happened before recently.  So let’s chat.

There was a time in my life when I let certain articles that I would read or certain people’s opinions make me believe that short-term missions weren't effective.  When I hear that, I just assume I’m out of luck because up until this point in my life, God hasn't called me to go overseas for a long period of time.  If you set aside the fact that God loves PEOPLE, little week-long trips such as this one don’t matter much. The typical short term trip to another country goes like this: a group of really rich Americans (because we are) head over to an underprivileged country, play with some kids we will never see again, those kids love us, we maybe fix a house or build a new one, we observe how dirty and poor everything is, and we return home to be changed for a couple months.  Sometimes we even get rid of some of our junk because we feel “too American” and rich and now it’s time to go live in the ghetto because Jesus has changed our standards on how we should appreciate our “stuff.”  These are the short term effects of a short term mission trip.

But that’s when we set aside the fact that Jesus loves PEOPLE.  This includes a white American mid-20’s girl and a Colombian child who don’t speak the same language.  Our skin is different, our culture is different, our standard of living is different, but we are loved the same.  I have an obligation to speak and show the Gospel.  To the nations that I get a really sweet opportunity to visit, and to my neighbors on Myrtle Drive in Rock Hill.  Sure we’ll fix up a yard or paint a house while we’re there.  We’ll play soccer with some kids. We’ll come back loving hot showers and looking at our lives as though we've been blessed with more than we could ever ask for, because that’s true.  But that’s not why I've been called to a mission trip overseas.  Jesus has been changing my heart little by little for foreign missions in a way that I've never looked at over the past year or so.  He wants me to care about the nations because He does.  He cares more about the souls of the few Colombians we’ll meet WAY more than we ever will and He wants the 6 of us to go.  He wants us believers to say yes to the nations from our couch in America by giving or praying, and if we get called to GO, then even more yes.  I’m going to Colombia because if I say I love Jesus then I have to love my neighbor, and I don’t get to choose who that is.  Those who are fortunate enough to give their life to serve overseas for several years are awesome, but they aren't the only ones who are called to love other countries.  I've been given this 8 day opportunity, so I’m taking it.  Not for a pat on the back, not for an extra batch of rewards in heaven, and nothing good that may come of it will be to our credit. I don't want God to change the way I view my stuff.  I want him to constantly be changing the way I view other people because they have souls, they're loved just as much as I am, and they're far away without the Gospel.

Also, the temperature will be in the 90's the whole week, so, that's reason enough to go. See yall in a week.