Missions Trip.
A missions trip means many things and is done for many reasons, but it is a response and desire to go and see. Something happens when you see for yourself - the postcard never quite captures the beauty, the feeling, and the ability to make a difference. Things happen when you are outside of your comfort zone, and outside of our culture. A missions trip is always a step of away from your comfort zone.
The trip we arrange into Indonesia is a very accessible missions trip. What that means is that if you have never been before, and have reservations about going, this trip is a great first step. Indonesia is a sort of trip you might consider inviting your grandchild or child. From personal experience, we have taken each of our children on a trip before they were 12yo, and it was a special experience for them, our relationship, and our shared understanding of how we can show love and kindness like Jesus into the world.
Indonesia offers something for everyone including the opportunity to not even fly out to Indonesia but support through prayer and giving to allow others to go. And for the team that does fly out to Indonesia, there is practical help to give, encouragement and love to give, and ministry to give. There are some photos below that shows the focus of the trip being Bukit Karmel which is an Indonesian Government approved institution and not for profit activity.
Perhaps the most important thing to do is to seek the Lord to press upon your heart the compassion and desire to go and see. In the process of going and seeing and giving, you fall in love with other peoples, your world becomes bigger, and your heart becomes full as your own world grows bigger than you could have thought.
We hope you are interested, and here is where you can learn more:
Missions Trip ‘Expression of Interest’ Form
Why go on a missions trip? (see below)
Why go on a missions trip?
A missions trip has a lasting impact by helping us be more awareness of mission work, and assisting and encouraging local mission works. A missions trip provides exposure to followers of Jesus in a different culture, and yet we love and serve the same Lord. Missions remains a practiced and distinctive attribute of expression for followers of Jesus. We are called to be a people who go into all the world.
One of the goals of a missions trip is to share the gospel and help others share the gospel. When we say share, we include speaking, serving, showing and being. Essential for our lifestyle, and for mission is prayer and a willingness to serve and give. Whether you have fish, or bread, or both, whatever skills or gifts you think you have, or don’t have, the Lord uses what we bring to Him to accomplish His will.
The Lord can do more with your willingness than your ability. What the Lord can accomplish with you is more than you can ever do on your own. While some people are called to be full time missionaries, we believe that if it is in your power to do so, then go and see what the Lord is doing in another place, and be a blessing. But like Abraham, we need to go by faith and that includes giving and prayer.
Giving - Giving up your time and comfort and resources. Giving your hands and voice and presence. Giving your love and encouragement.
Prayer - prayer and intercession for the mission you are about to do is essential. Going on mission means you are knowingly choosing to engage in spiritual warfare. Prayer prepares you for that. Prayer and prayer partners are an intentional decision to wear the armour of the Lord.
There are so many reasons why a Missions Trip is highly valuable:
Much of what we do often connected to ourselves. A missions trip however is different. It is using your holiday time, your rest time and your resources to go and give beyond yourself. A missions trip reminds us that we are here to serve and that the world does not revolve around us. And a missions trip gives us a taste of what it is like for a missionary who gives their life to go.
When you go on mission, your focus is predominately on others. You go to serve others but in serving others, it is amazing how much you grow. Being placed in a different community, you get to grow in your own confidence and knowledge as you share about the Lord. When we share about the Lord, we also grow in the Lord, and that opportunity is incredibly important.
Being with others means you get to see how much we have, and how little others have. A missions trip creates a moment to re-evaluate your needs and reconsider what you do with your resources. And being on mission helps us to be grateful for whatever we have, whether it be little or a lot.
When you are on mission, you have the opportunity to be involved in many different areas of serving and ministry. Part of your involvement means organising, helping, supporting and leading and these things have the amazing capacity to generate personal growth.
Being on missions means all hands on deck. It means travelling and negotiating with locals, and learning local customs and ways. All hands on deck means helping and being on the team with anything that is needing to be done. The idea is that our helping hands and encouraging attitude is the provision for such needs.
Being on mission means we appreciate what being a Christian looks like for others. Following Jesus is never easy, but in some places, it is harder. Many places across the world persecute Christians while others are punished for their faith. Faith has a way of becoming even more real when it is placed under pressure.
A missions trip means you slow down a little and just be. You sit and talk more. Think more. There is more time to not do and be disconnected from social media and TV. Slowing down does not mean ineffective. Slowing down means we can take more in.
On mission, learning about a different culture means you learn about different values, and see situations from a new perspective. This relates to lifestyle, time, food and what makes people happy and what makes people sad. These experiences enrich our own thinking and lives. What you also notice is that you are less aware of your own news, and more aware of the local news. You become aware of the issues of another nation and lose track of your own news.
One of the fun aspects of a missions trip is that you connect and bond with others who you travel with. And in the process of serving together, you create many memories. You share in a deeper connection and in your faith steps. Sharing the journey with others grows your relationships and builds stronger connections.