Most of you know that Johann also made his mission trip to Wyoming in December 2023. That's one of the reasons why this trip is so exciting for me. I have a certain idea of the trip - but who knows that image and reality are often very different?! š
In the first weeks of school we had a course called āMission Trip Visionā. Several teachers introduced us to the vision and heart behind missions trips. In the first lesson, Carrie Pickett shared with us God's words from Jeremiah 1:4-5+7-9. God doesn't waste time and resources. Not even mine. Where He sends me, He prepares encounters, prepares hearts so that the people I will be speaking to are ready to receive His Word.
In the last blog, I wrote that mission is not optional. Jesus calls us to do so in Mt. 28:19-20. It is about the hearts of the people we reach with the message of Him. It's about lives that are radically changed because they experience how much God loves them.
After his missions trip, Johann and I had talked a lot about the mission field in Wyoming and the people there. As a result, I already have an insight into the living conditions of the Native Americans on the reservation where we will be serving. Nevertheless, our missions and activities will be different, particularly because Johann left in December and I will be leaving in April. Before we knew which outreach each student would be going on, the missions coordinator shared with us that she and her team are praying over each student and asking God what the right outreach location is for them. So when we met in our groups for the first time, each of us had the task of sharing our salvation testimony in 4 minutes. And it was just so exciting to hear how every one of those testimonies fit so perfectly into the environment we were going to be in. Native Americans are a very nature-oriented, spiritual people. However, because they have been practically locked up on reservations, have their own legal system and are paid monthly by the state, they also have major problems. Depression, hopelessness, apathy, domestic violence and abuse of women, children and drugs are prevalent. We will spend a lot of time with children and young people, but we will also go to elderly and rehabilitation centers and possibly more. The majority of our group grew up Christian and accepted and strongly experienced Jesus as children. Some have strong stories of how they sought fulfillment in alcohol and drugs until they realized that Jesus is the only answer to the question of purpose in life. Others came into contact with the supernatural world at an early age, sometimes in a negative way, through parents who were searching for truth themselves. All these stories and what God has done with them - how he has transformed our lives - will help us to bring hope where there is hopelessness.
We are preparing together to bring the Light to the people of Wyoming. Jesus. He brings light into the darkness and gives meaning to your life. He did it for me - he will do it for you. This is not about me, it's about Christ in me. It is God's Spirit that brings life, that brings transformation. Through our missions trip, God will be magnified. We can't go in our own strength and God doesn't ask us to. He has equipped us with everything we need. We just need to recognize that and then act on it. Walk boldly and listen to the Spirit within us, according to John 14:26.
Out there is a world that has been robbed, beaten and left half dead. Do we look away, do we change sides of the road? Or do we have compassion, clean and bind up the wounds and bring them to a place where they can heal? (Luke 10:25-37) The Samaritan and the innkeeper worked together to do this. I am convinced that God is also calling us to work together. Your financial contribution for the missions trip to Wyoming is worth as much as going yourself and serving with God's love. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your contribution - no matter how much it is.
Blessed, to be a blessing. š¤
Betty
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