Mission Trips

My Mom and Dad just got back from their 10 day mission trip to Brazil.  They had a great time, and I've enjoyed looking at pictures with them.  They were part of a team that was doing renovations on a church building in Sao Paulo.  While they were down there, I had very little communication with them.  Well, actually I had NO communication with them.  However, one the Brazilians that was working with them had uploaded a few pictures to facebook.  My Mom asked him to add me as a friend so I could see the pictures as well, since I hadn't heard anything at all from them.  He added me, but I had NO IDEA who this person named "Pedro" was, so I proceeded to block him from my profile right away!  I have pretty strict rules about facebook, and adding strangers is not something I do.  About 10 seconds (literally) after I blocked him, he sent me an email explaining why he had sent me a friend request.  Oops... sorry Pedro.  I guess if my Mom told him to add me, it was OK :).  I unblocked him and got to see some pictures while my parents were there. It was nice and hot and sunny, meanwhile we were experiencing temps of -40!  


Mission trips are a lot of fun, but they are also a great blessing and time of spiritual growth.  I've done several short term mission trips myself which you can read about  here.  It's a blessing being able to help missionaries, work, and evangelize.  It's an awesome way to really do something for Christ.  While my parents and the others were in Brazil, four people got saved during the church services!  Praise the Lord! 


Some people like to take vacations.  They go on cruises, go to tropical islands, and take tours.  Now, there's nothing wrong with vacations, and sometimes a rest is greatly needed.  However, vacations are temporal.  They are fun for a moment, but soon the memories fade.  They accomplish very little (if anything) of eternal value. God's Word says we are to lay up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:20).  I wonder how many of us Christians would be willing to sacrifice our vacations for Christ?  For the same amount of money (most likely even less), you could go on a short term mission trip.  That memory may also fade, but the rewards in heaven will never fade away.  The blessing of meeting and fellowshipping with other Christians is something that gives true joy.  Knowing that you are making a difference for Christ by giving your time, money, and work brings a such a sense of fulfillment and JOY!  

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.