My first mission trip was a time I'll never forget. It was several years after Hurricane Katrina and I couldn't believe how much work was still left to be done and how little my country was doing for their own people. I was heartbroken hearing others criticize people for not staying, still living in an area below sea level, or mad that our country was spending money on the poor. I was heartbroken seeing people who lost everything and had nowhere to go. I also believed long ago that my first mission trip had to be in the USA because I couldn't bring myself to go to another country to help them and share Jesus there if I wasn't willing to do something in my homeland.
Being a part of Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts really made me appreciate the community of God's people. I joined a team made up of folks from California, New York, and Connecticut. I was was the only person from Minnesota and I sounded like it too! We had all sorts of demographics represented on our team as well, from people who were retired after having worked a six-figure income, to two college students, to me--a very broke, college drop-out trying to survive paycheck-to-paycheck. We united over one mission: helping to restore two homes and give the owners and their families hope.
As Hurricane Harvey plowed into the state I now live, it brought back similar feelings of the tornado in Comfrey, MN in March 1998. I was a junior in high school. Their school was the same size as mine. The town was demolished and their school was damaged. When the offer came at school to go help one day, I couldn't think twice--I signed up and went. I was able to volunteer to assist another team there that helped with interior demolishion of flooded places, mostly basements or homes who lost windows and roofs. It turned out I got to scrap carpet and tile glue off the floor of a Lutheran Church basement so that new flooring could be laid and mold wouldn't set in. It was so great to be visited by the pastor and leaders of the church and work with three other people whom I never knew before, all for the same mission. As I see damage from Hurricane Harvey, the streets look just like Comfrey, New Orleans, and Slidell streets did. If the house didn't receive a giant red X, the curb was full of all the contents within waiting to be picked up and tossed away. I saw the pictures and knew I couldn't just sit on the sidelines, I started praying for the opportunity to go and told God, "If there's a chance, let me say YES!"
This week at a young adult service I attend here in Waco, the church that puts it on had information about a service trip that would be going Saturday-Sunday this weekend! I jumped on it that night and received word today that I'm on that team! I'm really excited to be going and serving God on the team! I don't even know if I will know anyone on my teamvwhich is exciting because we are all serving with one goal and united with one mission. God is in the restoration business and as long as I am on His team, I am too!
Please join me in praying for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. Please also pray for those, like me, who are serving and giving up their weekend and days off for something bigger and better than just having a day to lay around watching netflix. God has a plan and purpose for hose of us going and there's no accident in who my teammates will be, or who I will encounter. Please pray for me to have a tender heart for the people God puts in my path and for me to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit! I'm so excited to be a part of restoring Houston, TX!
While Hurricane Irma is on the horizon, please pray for those who have already lost everything as it reaches the USA. Please also pray for Floridians who are now preparing and evacuating. It's a special place in my heart because my niece Holly and her boyfriend Jeff live in northern, inland Florida (not a coastal town). Let's pray for mercy and protection for all those in Florida!
"Go therefore....to ALL nations.... [including your own]....." ~ Jesus [added my own interpretation there!] Matthew 28:16-20
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