FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE

I was recently challenged and encouraged by the testimony of a friend who having grown up in Australia, has recently taken part in some relief-based short term mission opportunities. Sometimes I hear well meaning Christians say that instead of sending people on short term missions the money could be better spent going directly to the people in the needy situation. I am a believer in the value of short term missions for many reasons (write and ask me if you like). But here are a few quotes from my friend's testimony which I think may serve as a challenge to many.

My friend recently visited Cambodia with Samaritan's Purse and some refugee camps in Thailand. She learned of hundreds of thousands of people who "have only one meal a day and very few possessions, and many of them have never seen freedom, and never will."

She writes: "All my life I have heard about situations like these, but to see them first hand, was very significant for me. I did not have an understanding of the severity and the widespread poverty that others suffer daily. Seeing these needs changed my heart. I will never be able to fully understand the challenges faced by the people I met, but I returned home challenged to make a difference."

"I often reflect about our comfortable, affluent life in Australia compared with the vast majority of the people in the world. We have all that we need . . . and more. I recently heard someone say, 'the West have domesticated God. We ask, "What can God do for me to make my life more comfortable?"'"

I too have been troubled with the immense affluence in which we live. Many people use the word 'need' so flippantly. I need new shoes. We need a new TV. I need a new mobile phone. etc. etc. First hand mission experience can be costly in finances and it can be challenging and daunting in a variety of ways - often depending upon one's personality. My friend's experiences in Asia prompted her to write: "Sometimes it is when we face challenges that we draw closer to God and during these times we have the opportunity to mature in our understanding, our relationship and our love of God."

Her challenge: "My prayer for you all and me is that we will continue to be stretched and grow in our understanding of God and that we will always have an eternal perspective in our everyday lives and circumstances."

(Quotes anonymous - used with permission)