What does it take to do such a thing? A four month trip to Africa. To be honest I was not prepared for what I would find here. I was not prepared to see things for what they really are.
Now you may be asking what does that mean? Before I came to Africa I had an image in my head of what the world looked like… from the comfort of my own home. I had been flipped over before, when I went to Marine Corps boot camp, but never turned inside out. I have been witness now to the fact that influences of the flesh and satan look the same everywhere, and missions doesn't specifically mean to go over seas. As I feel a lot of us (including me!) in America view as missions.
As silly as it sounds I had this picture in my head that the influences were different in different places in the world. I thought that real pain and suffering was limited to those who are in extreme poverty. Even though I had acknowledged that there is pain in America, I denied it's severity. So like I said, turned inside out, what I had been thinking has finally been brought to the surface, and not just about that one thing. It may seem as though the people in our neighborhoods are all good and dandy, because they have a place to stay, or they have food all the time but God's Word says that all of creation groans under the weight of this current suffering (Romans 8:20-23).
This picture of creation suffering is so powerful when you experience alcoholism just as it looks in the US, right here in Africa. When you see the same homelessness, when you see struggle that you thought only happened in the states, some 8,000 miles away. We may have many more comforts in the US, but all that makes it too easy to hide the thirst that is withering people away right before our eyes. People are still desperate for Jesus in our comfortable country. The poverty here in Africa can bring about a suffering that seems immeasurable, while the wealth of those who have all they could ask for drives them to lonliness and emptiness.
I realized very quickly the role God has called us to our own backyards. While God calls people all over the world so that everywhere is covered, He also calls His people to step out in faith and walk to the house right next to them. He calls us to pray for the alcoholic down the street, instead of hoping the person doesn't show up so we don't have to deal with them. He calls us to love those who are in "lowly" positions here on earth (Romans 12:16).
Am I saying don't go over seas? Not in the least bit. My point is to address those who feel useless, like God isn't using them. To those who feel that everyone you know is going over seas on a "real mission trip." Let me tell you right now if you have a calling to go out of America, do it, don't hesitate, you will not regret it. But if you are feeling that you are not called to leave the states, never fear! God is still calling you to be a missionary, start now, there are so many things happening behind the scenes just in your town alone.
One thing I often forget is the Jesus, our God and Savior is working… a block away.
You will be challenged and pushed, but Jesus will bring forth a love you could never imagine.
I pray that your eyes, ears and heart are opened to the light and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that unbelief is snuffed out. Don't be afraid to step out just because it's people you know! Jesus is working as close to your home as He is far. God bless you all!
