Sometimes there can be misconceptions of what mission is. People travel across the world thinking that they are taking the Gospel with them, but really God is already at work. We get to join in with Him and what He is already doing. Also sometimes we think that we're going out carrying a message that we already have got all figured out...but as you will see in this weeks blogpost there are lessons that only God can teach his followers on a foreign soil. The reason so many team members return to the Czech Republic is the growth they experience in their relationship with God. Stepping out into a foreign culture challenges us to rely completely on Him and His Word. This week you are going to hear Jenna's story of when she first travelled to the Czech Republic and what she is learning through this experience.
A number of years ago, the thought that I would be preparing to go on my third trip to the Czech Republic was something that I wouldn't have believed. This year I cannot wait to spend another summer dependant on God and relying on his promises.
Growing up I was privileged to be a part of a Christian family, although it wasn't until my early teenage years that I started to grow in my relationship with God.
At first I was resistant to go to youth events. It was the perseverance and love that leaders and young people from within the group showed me, that gave me the interest and confidence to go. Being part of the youth ministry in 1st Pres changed my idea of what it means to be a Christian and gave me friendships with people who encourage, love and live out their faith! The friendships that started within the group are ones that can challenge me in my walk with God.
Leaving home and going to another country was something I never thought I would be apart of but three years ago I decided it was something I wanted and needed to do. That year I was nervous about every aspect of the trip but was given confidence through the people on the team and through God's word. Reading verses such as Philippians 4 vs 13 "For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need." and Matthew 10 vs 20 "For it won't be you doing the talking - it will be the spirit of your father talking through you." amongst many others taught me that I wasn't alone at any point in the trip and that it wasn't about me, it was about God.
Throughout that first year I experienced many things that made me step out of my comfort zone. Sharing my story in discussion groups was something that was made easier by the encouragement of those around me and knowing that God was the one who was speaking.
Before we left Saintfield someone said, "they will be silent, we have to break the silence" even-though this was said in a different context it was something that replayed on my mind. Many of the Czech students had the opportunity to hear about God, Jesus or the Bible. It was exciting for us to get to be alongside Czech students as they reflected in the silence about what they had heard. In these moments it was amazing to let God work through us in our actions and let our words be His words.
During my first camp I learnt that prayer is undoubtably powerful. Relationships don't work without communication and prayer is our communication with God. We don't bring God to the Czech Republic, he is already there. We go so that God can use us in ways that we couldn't do, without Him working through us.
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" these words from MLK Jr proclaim even louder that we should not be silent about the most important relationship we have, which we believe is a relationship with Jesus.
I am so excited to go out to Czech for a third time as part of a team with some of my closest friends. Thank you for your support and prayer for our team.
~Jenna
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