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November 2001
Dear Partners in Mission,
When I wonder if and how God uses the mission experiences offered
by Presbyterian Border Ministry to change lives, I pick up one
of the recently completed interviews and find the answer.
"Before (the mission trip) I was and still am, working
in the corporate world," writes Jill Hodges, a member at
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. "Kind
of leading a fast professional life style, going out with friends,
spending freely, not tithing at all. I went knowing that something
needed to change and I was open to anything. I went actually because
I was doing some business in Mexico and I was trying to learn
Spanish, so it was a selfish reason.
"It turned out to be sort of a slap in the face. It was
like: look at all the things you have and you’re not happy?
And you think all these things are gonna make you happy? And these
people have so much joy in their hearts you can just see it on
their faces, and they don’t have a whole lot. And that’s
what I came back with. I wanted what they have and I knew I couldn’t
get that through the things I do, the things I buy, or the vacations
I take. It’s got to be something internal, between God and
me.
"I truly became a Christian. I had never really been too
involved in the church before. I went on a second trip and realized
they needed volunteer help. I asked if there were opportunities,
and what came up was a short term opportunity at Amistad. It was
amazing how it all fell into place, totally from God.
"My husband and I are now looking at opportunities for
longer term mission work. I think God is calling us, it’s
just finding out where God wants us. These experiences help people
determine what they are really meant to do. I think we’ll
end up doing missions in some aspect, even if it’s continuing
through our church to lead mission trips. And I’m kind of
hoping that it’s something more."
Jill provided me with the above insight into how God used her
brief mission experience to challenge old values and call her
to new life in Christ. Jill first visited Amistad in the spring
of 1998. Four years later, Jill and Chad have completed an application
for mission service and are well into the process of discerning
God’s claim on their lives.
I hope soon to be able to share with you an in-depth look at
the ways in which mission team experiences change lives. I have
interviewed approximately 50 people who participated in a mission
team more than four years ago and who have been identified as
individuals for whom the trip was life changing. My assumption
is that if God speaks to a Presbyterian, in four years, if not
sooner, they should begin to manifest the stirrings of a response.
Am I expecting too much of God’s frozen chosen? I’d
love to hear your thoughts…
Thanks for your constant and faithful financial support. Have
a blessed Thanksgiving!
Grace and Peace,
Jerry
The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 248
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