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So I just got back from a mission trip to WVA. This was my first one, and I went as a leader for Jhi students. I was one of 3 with 8 students; 6 girls, 2 guys. Haha. It was amazing. Amazing in the sense that no, it wasn't super fun, yes it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life, but I learned so much about myself and who God is. So for those of you who have read my previous entries you will understand what I'm talking about with the whole 'who God is thing'.
I think I should tell you a little bit about the events that took place before I explain what I learned. We stayed at an abandoned school house that was pretty run down. We had this BEAUTIFUL view from the school of the mountains and the city of Welch. In the morning there would be mist on the tops of the mountains and as the sun would rise, so would the mist. The mountains seemed to grow! I've never see anything like it. It's like the sun would rise, but you would see it for another hour! It made it for pretty cool mornings. The first day we got there at 8:30am and left at 3:30pm because we didn't have all the supplies we needed to continue working. We also spent 4 hours that day sitting on their porch. However, the next 3 days sure made up for it. I've never worked that hard in my entire life. The living room was pretty much my project and I had 4 other students working with me. It would be frusterating at times because a lot of the students would take off after "completing their job" and I would be left to pick up the pieces. It was hard to keep them motivated. So to paint the whole living room we had to scrape all the chipping paint, dry wall tape the holes, and then puddy over that. We would let that dry and then the next day prime and paint. It seems so simple, but it was such a long process. I spent most of my time on a ladder-and that in itself is pretty painful. Then when we took about an hour lunch break we would sit and talk with Kevin was an 18 year old going into his Senior year of high school. He and I kind of hit it off so it was really neat getting to know him....especially since the Mission directors told us he was pretty shy. Some days while I was up on the ladder, we would sing some Jesus songs and he would sometimes tell us the ones he's heard from the worship service the Mission people led and then we would sing those. If I wasn't singing, he would ask me why. He even hugged me and the other leader Julie and thanked us for all we'd done. That was the best part.
I learned a lot about perseverence. I always give up when things get too hard. I had in school, and I've even done that in relationships. However, for some reason this time things were different. Everytime I would feel overwhelmed or feel like giving up, I would always think about the story where Peter walks on water.
14:28 And Peter, answering, said to him, Lord, if it is you, give me the order to come to you on the water. 14:29 And he said, Come. And Peter got out of the boat, and walking on the water, went to Jesus. 14:30 But when he saw the wind he was in fear and, starting to go down, he gave a cry, saying, Help, Lord. 14:31 And straight away Jesus put out his hand and took a grip of him, and said to him, O man of little faith, why were you in doubt?
I would remember that when Peter looked at his surroundings, he began to sink, but when he focused on JESUS...everything was fine.......he did the impossible. And that's what gave me hope throughout the week and kept me going. I felt like I was doing the impossible...........for ME. So I tried really hard not to look at the waves.
My patience was also stretched. I mean, I spent sooo much time with these people and with a bunch of strangers. There were so many times when I just needed some time with myself and with God. I feel like my patience/tolerance has grown a lot though. I also feel like God's really become my everything. I was totally out of my comfort zone, but felt totally safe. Had every reason to be exhausted, but was still able to wake up in the morning and work my hardest throughout the day. I wasn't there with anyone I was close with (leaders even) but I grew close to everyone around me and relied on God for love. It taught me what it really meant to SERVE people and to be SELFLESS. Sam (the pastor) pulled one of the students aside and talked to him about serving and he said: "you're here to SERVE not to be SERVED. Sometimes serving's fun, usually it's not." I felt honored. Honored that God would choose me to serve Him in that manner, and to serve those humble people. I did feel served. I have a new sense of purpose now that I've realized that I can do that kinda of labor...physically AND mentally. They even offered me a job for next summer! So who knows..I just may go back to Welch, WVA!
I'm so excited for the new serving opportunities that are arising! I hope that whatever I learned in WVA carries over to my homelife. |
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| July 01, 2007 |
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| Great to hear about what the Lord is doing in your life Jordan! Awesome! |
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| July 02, 2007 |
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| Just got back from a mission trip in Mexico.DId lots of paintiong on ladders&scaffolding 2.It was an amazing learning experience and am still tring to formulate my feelings & all the lessons God taught me. Pray that you hold on to your zeal & your new God given purpose. |
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| July 02, 2007 |
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great job Jordan,
It will indeed be a pleasure to see how God works in your life. He's given you great foundations, and a willingness to lean on Him, that's wprth it;s weight in gold!
Dennis |
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| July 02, 2007 |
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welll hey friends!
thanks for all this encouragement :). racun-i totally understand, i feel like i'm still sifting through everything as well. it's funny because when people ask me how it was i am left speechless. because it wasn't 'fun' like the typical fun, but then again it was. i should probably call it a good learning experience because that's what it was. culturally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. but i dont. i typically just tell them it was good haha.
smiles all around :) |
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| July 03, 2007 |
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| I know exactly what you mean,or people will say I bet you're glad to be home,when in fact I'm not exactly glad to be home.People don't understand,I'm glad to see the people I missed,but it's like I left a huge piece of my heart in Mexico.Can't wait to hear more about your trip as you sort through your experience:) |
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| July 03, 2007 |
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Jordan, I can totally relate! Mission trips are challenging and wonderful, and every one molds us into someone a little different than who we were when we left! |
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| July 11, 2007 |
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Yeah racun, when my feet touched my carpet for the first time after returning from WVA I started crying. Granted, I was a little exhausted so I was definately slightly more emotional, but I just thought about how nice my house was, my life, and how that's not what it was like in WVA. Than I began wondering WHY God chose to bless my pants off in this manner. Why wasn't I in WVA? Ya know. So definately eye opening. I can't wait to hear more about yours!
Kathy, I totally agree with you. I like them (as if I've been on so many) too because I feel like you go into them expecting to be changed. And God totally honors that ya know? |
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