On Mission

Every year the Church I attend sends a group or two or three out on mission. Sometimes it is mostly youth, other times mostly adults, and in most cases a combination of adults and youth.

This summer our Church has a mission team going to Vidor, Texas and one going to Abilene, Texas. Last year it was Crystal Beach, Texas and Watson, Oklahoma. And in years past we have been as far away as Annapolis, Maryland and Rockaway Beach, Oregon.

The point is, some people go, some people stay behind and pray. And, in our case, some people write letters to team members offering encouragement, prayer support, and occasionally a dollar or two so they can buy an ice cream cone. The members of the team I travel with most often get several (two or three to ten) letters (or notes) each day of the trip. Unless one has been on the receiving end of those missives, it is hard to imagine the joy and support they bring. Sometimes those of us “on mission” forget to say thanks. We should not!

I am continually grateful that I have a “letter” from God. When I need it most, after a difficult day, or after a seeming failure to communicate clearly with another, or when homesickness overwhelms me (yeah, I do look forward to Heaven), there is such great encouragement and hope that the Word of God brings to my life.

On mission, our Pastor gets a lot of letters and notes. He sits quietly in a corner reading them – often over and over – and sometimes I see the tears in his eyes. He is just being reminded again and again that he is lloved and missed and prayer is being offered on his behalf.

That is how I feel when I read God’s Word – reminded that I am lloved, and my advocate is petitioning the Father on my behalf. That is, after all, what the mission is all about.