Mission Trip Reflection

When you're doing the Lord's work, satan will do everything he can to distract and dissuade you. Case in point: June 22-26, seven folks from our church's Young Adult ministry went on an extended weekend mission trip to Tuscaloosa, AL. We helped in a distribution center, worked on a few damaged homes, toured the devastation that was (and is) still incredible- even 2 months after the tornadoes stormed through tossing about cars, store fronts, and entire buildings as though they were weightless, and spent an afternoon handing out food, toys, and drinks to area residents. Seems straight forward enough, right?

EXCEPT

Less than a month before the mission trip, we were told by another organization we had been planning with since the tornadoes hit that there wasn't any work currently available and we'd need to find a different place to serve.

The DAY OF the trip, we found out that the lodging that was set up for us wouldn't work and we no longer had a place to stay that night.

Halfway down, heading South into hotter and hotter weather, the A/C in the 12 passenger van we were riding in completely died; leaving us zooming down the Interstate with only the front two windows completely rolled down for circulating air.

BUT GOD

totally worked it out that within hours we found Project Blessings in Tuscaloosa, AL and they were MORE than happy to have us come down to volunteer.

totally worked it out that within hours we found a free place to stay the first night and MUCH more fitting accommodations for the remainder of our time in AL (minus the ticks, roaches, and snakes).

gave everyone wonderful, positive attitudes, maintained a sense of humor and unity within the group, and kept complaining about the heat to a bare minimum.


In our lives, satan does so much to break us down, turn our focus inward on ourselves, blind us from seeing the Lord's hand and will for us. But God has so much more in store for us if we're able to see from His perspective. We can't often change the circumstances or situations that we're in in our lives, but, with the Lord's help, we can change our perspectives and our responses to them.

Blessings!