YES I AM!!!!!
So like the title suggests, I will be going on my very first mission trip over the summer!! More specifically, I'll be going to East Asia for six weeks with Epic, my campus ministry!
A year ago, I definitely could not have told you that I would be going on this mission trip. This is just one of the many unexpected opportunities that college has gifted me with and I couldn't be more excited!!!
So why did I decide to go??
TBH I didn't even know why at first. All I knew was that I was drawn to this opportunity for some reason. When I first found out about this East Asia mission trip, I felt that I really wanted to go, but asked myself why for the longest time. For me, that was something I needed to figure out before I committed because I wanted to make sure that I was going for the right reasons. Fortunately, God revealed the answer to me in due time.
I came to realize that it was because I unconsciously held a bitterness, maybe even hatred, towards the people of East Asia. In the place where there should've been love, there was nothing but contempt. This bitterness actually took root many years ago after the first trip I took there. Because my dad's job required him to travel to East Asia, I had the opportunity to tag along. I think I felt a culture shock initially. I didn't realize how different our cultures were. From our customs, to the way we communicate, to our mannerisms, to our definitions of etiquette, everything was totally different from what I had experienced growing up in America. Because of this, I interpreted many of my interactions with the people in East Asia as rude encounters. I thought that they were the meanest people to ever exist and came to despise them.
Hearing about this mission trip opportunity convinced me to finally admit to these feelings that I had chosen to ignore. I knew that I wasn't obeying God's command to love everyone, and thus, I wasn't doing my part as a Christian to reflect Christ and the way he loved me. So I decided to go to the people who are hardest for me to love and challenge myself to love them the best way I can, by sharing God's love and His life-changing truth.
How do I know that God is really calling me to go?
I'm not exactly a visions and dreams kinda gal. The way I knew is through feeling at peace. I know everyone says that one of the best ways you know you've made the decision God wants you to make is by feeling at peace with your decision. But I also know that's a very abstract concept and you may be asking, "what does feeling at peace even mean/look like?" So I'm gonna tell you what that looked like for me and maybe, hopefully, you'll be able to recognize it in your own life.
So every summer, my family takes a vacay to Taiwan. And if you know me, you know that's my FAVORITE place to be. This annual trip is something I look forward to for the entire year and if anything got in the way of me going, I would be devastated. Which is why last year, when I was presented with an opportunity to go on a mission trip, I actually rejected it. But this time, I felt ok with not being able to go. It's something I still can't quite explain because going to Taiwan means so much to me. I guess all I can say is this is what it looks like to be at peace with my decision. This is what God's calling looks like. When He calls you to serve Him, it becomes your priority and it becomes the very thing you're excited for. He has the power to fill you with passion and make you hungry to see His will be done.
Already, I am seeing God move and the trip hasn't even begun. The scariest part for me coming into this was support raising. It scared me to think that I had to contact people and ask for funds. And honestly, I debated for a long time whether or not to even try contacting some people that I didn't talk to very much, because I didn't want to make it seem that I was just using our relationship for money. But I was reminded that by support raising, I was in a sense, taking on the role of an ambassador for Christ, giving people opportunities to participate in bringing the lost sheep home and expanding God's kingdom. I was also reminded that God works in surprising ways.
And indeed He does!! It's only been a week since I've started support raising and I have been so encouraged by all the responses I've gotten. I did end up contacting people I haven't talked to in years and not only did they respond, they did so enthusiastically. I've also gotten so many words of encouragement, which just reminds me how blessed I am that God has given me these friendships.
I know this mission trip is not going to be easy. If it were easy, there would be no need to trust in God. But I also know that God provides. Even if I don't think I'm good enough to be an ambassador for Christ, God does and He WILL equip me with the words to say. After all, this trip is not for me. It's not to affirm that I am a good person. Neither is it a chance for me to get rid of my feelings of guilt. This trip is for God, for the purpose of making His name known and for giving others a chance to experience the realest love that comes only from God.
I'm so excited to embark on this journey of trusting God and I can't wait to share with you guys all the ways God moved when I get back!!
~ jo