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We just dropped off the team to the airport and I’m exhausted and enthused all at the same time! We had many variables and uncertainties at play for this team, and as it should be on a missions trip, we were very dependent on God for a successful week.
This team was a large and dynamic one. We had 3 different churches represented, with a mix of some with families and then a blend of youth with adults. Skill ranges varied tremendously, and to make matters even more interesting we had a whole new group of 26 here at the same time from another church.
With large teams we look for ministry opportunities that maximize involvement. So for this team we looked to host a Vacation Bible School for 6 settlements (something never tried before)! While it required much driving and patience on the team’s part, we pulled it off and had one the best Vacation Bible Schools I’ve ever seen.
We would break out the kids by ages and then run them between stations with their leaders for games, crafts, and lessons. Then on the last day we all met at the ballpark and had a large group bash with face-painting, games with prizes, contests and a large group bible lesson/challenge (Mama, Take Me to Church!).
The rest of the week consisted of hot and muggy construction work. This team conquered the challenge presented to them; to renovate the basketball court and remodel the snack-shop. Amazingly, they achieved both! We praise the Lord, for it is not to us – but to His name be the glory.
Emily and I were blessed to form some new relationships with this team. Not only was it wonderful to work alongside our long-time supporters the Purdys, but I made some new friends from the Texas group, from both inside our home church and from outside.
Mission trips are a wonderful opportunity to see God reveal Himself in your life and through the lives of those you serve. We challenged the team to seek the Lord’s leading during this trip to identify 1 Bahamian student with which they would continue to love and pray for. Then at the end of the week, I was touched to see many of the youth and adults giving their own personal Bibles to those students to cherish and treasure for their new relationship. It is my prayer that these relationships won’t be defined in the flash of 1 week, but rather forged over a lifetime. And its my hope that long term relationships will begin to produce Christlike transformation as we see the potential of international church partnerships.