Can you believe that God allows us to serve Him? It’s just amazing the ways He uses us when we let Him. In the seemingly small ways (although there are really no small ways when it comes to making an eternal difference) to the big things He lets us do, I’m just amazed that He can and will use us. And I’m grateful for that.
For many years, I have had the desire to go on a mission trip. Once I had children, I let that desire fade, knowing that my place was here at home. In my book, Saving Savvy, I talk about how God so graciously brought the mission field to me, opening doors to serve various local ministries through giving and teaching opportunities. But recently, incredibly, He has made it possible for me to finally head out on a mission trip!
Last month I was asked by Samaritan’s Purse (the organization headed up by Franklin Graham that began Operation Christmas Child) if I would like to go on a trip to Ecuador to deliver the Christmas shoe boxes. Can you imagine how excited I was?
Honestly, I wouldn’t have asked for this, not with my kids as small as they are. But yet, the Lord presented the opportunity to me, answering a prayer that I had pretty much put away for now, and I have a complete peace about going. When I got the email and talked about it with my husband to see what he thought, there was no hesitation on his end. Completely supportive, he was excited for me, because he has been on a mission trip himself (he went to Haiti in 2010), and he knew what an impact it would have on my life.
Now, the reason this is so amazing for me is that it fulfilled two desires of my heart. First, to go serve and be in the foreign mission field, if for only a short time. Secondly, to be able to partner with a stellar organization and a cause that is dear to my heart: teaching children about Jesus! For the past three years, my family has participated in Operation Christmas Child. Each year when we pack our boxes, we long to do more. We try to connect more deeply, through simple things like a handwritten letter or a picture and by putting just a little more thought into the items we put into the box. Each year seems to build on the previous. As a family, our hearts are drawn more fully into making sure these boxes are treasures for those who receive them.
My children have grown to love shopping year round for items to fill the boxes, and they love putting them together, and sending them out with great care. My daughter prayed each night before we sent our boxes that the items would bless the child who received it and that it would be exactly what that child needed. The biggest blessing has been watching my children learn to care for and love others in this process.
I will be leaving on February 19th, staying until February 25th. (I am even more excited because I am getting to go with my sweet friend Christy over at Southern Plate.) I realize this is the opportunity of a lifetime, but the hardest part for me is going to be leaving my little ones for that long. I have never been away from them for more than two nights. I know everything will be fine, but I want to ask you to pray for me (and them) now and while I am gone. In that way, you know, you will be going with me. You will be a part of this trip.
Here are some areas I would love covered in prayer:
- Pray that God will prepare my heart before I go, so I can minister to the children and families I meet, as well as to be a blessing to the people who work with Samaritan’s Purse.
- Pray that I will be open to what God has to teach me in this process, both before and during my trip.
- Pray for my family while I am gone. There will be childcare and scheduling needs, as well as two little ones missing their mom and a daddy who will have a lot to do!
- Please pray for a safe journey.
Have you ever been on a mission trip or desire to go? If so, I’d love to hear about it. If you haven’t, I’d love to hear about your very own mission opportunities right where you are.
Photo Credit: Operation Christmas Child
That’s awesome! So excited for you!
I’ve been on several mission trips. All of them have been here in the United States, and one of them was at Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home in Memphis for an entire summer. All of my experiences were life changing, and spoke directly to the area(s) that God was working with me at that particular time. I know for a fact, that on each mission trip, God wanted me to be there at that time.
The one piece of advice that I can give is stay in prayer. Satan will still try to work his way in because God is going to move in your life in ways that offend the enemy BIG TIME. It also helps to have a group of wise, Godly people praying at strategic times during your trip.
Priscilla – Thank you so much for that! I am pulling together a prayer team, and I will depend on each of my readers too. I can’t wait to see what God does through this community.
I personally haven’t been on anything but local outreaches. But my mom went on several trips to Honduras before she went to be with the Lord. And I second what Priscilla said. God will move, but the devil will try to throw everything but the kitchen sink at you to foil your plans. Start praying for peace and dominion over things now. And also what she said about praying at strategic times, trip to the airport, while you’re in flight, while you’re passing out the boxes, and on the way home.
How awesome! I went on my first mission trip to India last May, and it was an amazing experience. I agree with the others- stay in prayer. Satan tried everything he could to keep us from getting there. Our team of 25 people ended up taking 8 different flights to get there when we’d original planned to have 3. We had several children who needed special care due to the very hot temperatures, but thankfully we had qualified medical people on our team who cared for them. While we were there on the last day, a major storm hit the area where we were holding a Vacation Bible School. Several areas of Delhi were flooded, but we stayed in prayer and worshipped God through the storm and we received very little rain. On the trip back, a volcano erupted in Europe, and the Lord provided so that we were on the last flight out of Europe to America. Yes, Satan attacked. He threw all he could at us. But the Lord came through. He protected us and provided at every step. Thankfully, we had many people praying here in America. Because of that missions trip, we had a large number of people saved, and we encouraged the Indian believers with just with our presence. (It was over 1,000 people!) God ignited a fire in that area of India, and I believe that there will be countless more touched for Christ. I hope that your mission trip is a wonderful experience. I really got an idea of just how blessed we are here in America from my trip to India. I have to warn you though- once you’ve been bitten by the missions bug, you’ll want to go again! Have a wonderful trip, and I believe God will use you to do great things for His kingdom!
Bridgett – I really appreciate your encouragement to stay in prayer. I think many times I forget how incredibly important it is to put EVERYTHING in prayer before the Lord. Especially all the details. Please pray for me that my passport issues get resolved. Yes, they tell me my birth certificate had issues. Never before have they, but they do now. I am confident it will get worked out. But now I will take heart and cover it all in prayer, every part! Thanks so much for reading.
Praying for you and Christy! I read her blog too!
Your opportunity gives me hope. About 40 years ago I read a book that a counselor, a young woman, gave my sister and I at a theater where a Christian movie was being shown..Let’s Go to India about the children buried alive and the flower families that Pandita Ramabai started at the Mukti Mission. I wanted to hold the little babies and give out bread to the hungry. The desire to go hasn’t left me, and I presently know two who have gone on a short term ministry in the past year. (One goes periodically.) Cleaning out at my parents’, I came across the story of Pandiat’s life, sparking anew the flame of desire to “rescue the perishing” with the Gospel. I can’t express well the sadness over this desire being thwarted…yet knowing that all things are possible with God as He opens the doors. In the meantime, with my husband in ministry, we have had opportunities stateside, but that early sense of service where need is great, hasn’t left me. What a wonderful opportunity for you…in His time. Thanks for letting us know your early desire and the opportunity to share about this. Keep us posted, Kelly!
Diane – Thank so much for sharing your experiences. I’ll have to put that book on my ever growing list of good reads. My favorite reads lately have been Christian biographies. I love hearing how other believers are living out their lives for Christ. Even if it is something I will never be able to do at this season in my life, it encourages me to open my eyes and see opportunities around me. 🙂
Kelly,
My family and I were missionaries to Ecuador for about 6 years. You are in for an exciting adventure. Ecuador is a very beautiful country and the children will capture your heart. The needs there are incredible. We were also blessed with the opportunity of giving out shoeboxes there. What a joy that was!! The children were so thrilled to receive all of the goodies. Samaritan’s Purse does an incredible job by also providing the gospel in a booklet form. The group we worked with also told the story of the gospel to make it more concrete in their minds. God bless you in this opportunity to share!!
I went on a trip to Belize. We organized and held a Vacation Bible School in a poor section of Belize City. Open sewers, melting pavement and killer bees. Nothing impacted me like the children. When we came out of our hotel in that same section of the city, the children were gathered like butterflies, flitting from one person to another. There were so many children we ending up dividing them into age groups and using 3 different bldgs. So many came to know Jesus. On our last day there I prayed that God would allow me to lead a person to Christ personally because that opportunity hadn’t been mine as yet. The teenagers with us were doing a mime in a parking lot next to the city offices. I sat on the steps behind all the people gathered praying. When the altar call was given, two children from somewhere in the front of the crowd circled around and came, sat down, and asked, what the man was talking about. It was my joy to tell them of God’s salvation. God delights in giving us the desires of our heart.
I love the work of Samaritans Purse. You will have to tell us how it is possible to be engaged besides doing the boxes. I know you will be blessed.
God can do anything you know- far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams. Ephesians 3:20 The Message
Lola – Thank you so much for sharing your experience, it makes me excited for my own trip. I can’t wait!!
What an amazing time you will have. Prayer is, indeed, the most important part of the preparation and the trip. See if you can recruit your own ‘prayer team’–a group willing to be truly committed to pray you through this. I am a year-round volunteer Area Coordinator for Operation Christmas Child in northwestern PA and was able to go to the Dominican Republic to help distribute shoeboxes in 2009. It was not always the fairytale experience I thought it would be and I sometimes struggled with communication and being outgoing to interact with the children. I know that God will use this trip greatly in your life and in the lives of others through your influence. Satan knows that, too, and will be active. But we know WHO wins!
Thank you so much for your encouragement!
What an awesome thing for you to be able to go. Samaritans Purse is a fabulous organization to work with. Prayers for you and the group going with you and prayers for the children who’s lives with be touched with the Love of our Savior!
Hi!!
I went to school with Sheila and Bradford (they were tiny and cute….I’m older 🙂
I saw her link to your Youtube and found your blog from there 🙂
YOU ARE SO LUCKY!!! I would SO love to hand out those boxes.
I love reading Katie’s blog…wow…is she inspiring or what???!!!
My boys and I are going to Alaska in July on a mission trip.
Well, I’ll pray for you and watch for upcoming videos! I hope to see them
opening their boxes 🙂
My husband and I have been to Ecuador 7 times and we love it there! The children are precious and so loving. And actually, Fernando has been our bus driver every time we have been. He is a great friend and has pretty much been a member of our team each time. We do bible school with the kids and have received such blessings each time. God has done amazing and unique things with each trip. We also pack shoe boxes each year and have also volunteered at the sort center in Charlotte, Atlanta and Boone. Our hearts desire and my prayer is to be able to go to
Ecuador and hand out the boxes to the kids. I have really enjoyed reading and sharing your journey with you. Thank you so much for sharing. God is so good!!!
Carol – Fernando was our driver the entire week! What a neat connection. Before we left last week we got the opportunity to minister and pray with him. He took such great care of us. Thank you for your prayers!!