One of the many repeated questions for this trip is “why are you here?”–why have you chosen to spend four weeks of your summer in a forgotten country called Swaziland? My short answer is “because God told me too.” Although that is true, there is so much more to it.
It was so clear to me that God wanted me on this trip. I had such peace about the decision I made last September to go on a four week mission trip to Swaziland. We are commanded to love our neighbors and to put them before ourselves. I have been blessed so so much. I have a great family, home, food, an actual shower, education, the list goes on. It is only an obvious choice to me to give to those that are in need. I have been given so much so I am simply just giving back.
At first I responded that the reason I was going on this trip was because God wants me to love those that feel forgotten and unloved. Although that is true, I’m beginning to think that the real reason God wants me on this trip was to work on me and my heart.
He broke me at training camp. All my sin and guilt and shame was brought to the surface. I was reminded of everything I’ve done and the terrible person that I am, but I was also reminded of his unconditional, everlasting, perfect love for me anyway. God taught me what it’s like to have more of him and less of me. To truly accept that love and let it pour into me. He taught me how to allow his love to flow through me in all areas of my life.
I have learned to accept his absolute love and hold on to it because it truly is all that I need.
He then showed me my identity. I am his precious daughter, a princess. I am beautiful in the eyes of my Papa. He actually loves me so much, He thinks I’m to die for! I don’t have to worry about what people think or say about me or if they like me because my Father in heaven loves me. I am a child of God and that’s all that matters!
He is now teaching me to continue the flow of love by pouring it into his beautiful people. It’s not my love that I’m giving, but it’s His perfect love that I’m just delivering. He’s has poured perfect love into me and my cup overflows. Now I am to pour that perfect love into those around me. I’m basically a mailman delivering love from God to all those He puts me in contact with.
The joy in seeing someone receive a gift is fun and exciting, but the joy in seeing someone receive the ultimate gift-God’s love and life, that is indescribable. That is pure, uncontainable and overwhelming Joy.
Just to be able to play a tiny part in God’s huge picture is awesome. He really doesn’t need me. He could totally do this all on his own. But he has chosen me to “help” him with this and it makes me feel important and useful. I am so proud to be my God’s little love mailman.
So at first I learned to allow God’s love. I then learned to love myself as a daughter of God. It was not until I accepted love that I can now begin learning to be the deliverer of His love to those who don’t know what it is.
Now the real question isn’t “why are you here on this mission trip?” No, the real question is “why are you here on this earth?” Really, why are you here? To just live a life getting by and going through the motions or living a life abundantly by accepting the love of Christ, loving your identity in Christ, and sharing the love of Christ to everyone out there? I don’t know about you, but when I die I want to look back and know that I lived life abundantly.
It’s a simple question really, “why are you here?”
“LOVED PEOPLE LOVE PEOPLE”
