What else could I learn on a mission trip? ... to trust God and more

Sometimes, we just won’t know the answer but we are called and meant to be obedient and go

I have been on five short-term international mission trips. So when I decided to go on another and was appointed the team leader, I thought, “God, what else can I learn?” When I returned from my first trip to India in 2015, I decided to not spend any money on myself for one year. This included not buying designer shoes, handbags, or clothing. As a magazine editor, this was a hard feat but after seeing poverty first-hand in Southern India, I knew I had to put my money to better—or more purposeful—use. So that year, I used the money I would normally buy those things to bless the homeless and to donate to organizations that were spreading the Gospel of Christ and serving others.

So for this sixth trip, this time to Honduras to visit Casa de Abby, a home for girls who have been sexually abused, I kept asking myself what would be different. And although I did not get a resounding revelation, in my heart, I just knew I was supposed to go. Sometimes, we just won’t know the answer up front but we are called and meant to be obedient and go. So I packed my bags and went to Honduras with six other women from my church. Our mission included delivering a message that would resonate with the Casa de Abby girls; doing two days of Vacation Bible School with kids in the community; going door to door to pray for local people in the surrounding neighborhood, and more.

Our team held meetings in preparation leading up to the trip. Before I left Atlanta, I prepared a message on Moses to complement our Superheroes of the Bible VBS theme. But after having a conversation with Brother Michael Vincent, the man who cofounded Casa de Abby, I knew that message would not effectively engage the crowd. So I changed my message less than 48 hours before I was supposed to give it. I titled it, “God’s Blueprint For Your Life” and made up my mind to move forward confidently in Christ with that sermon. After giving the message (slideshow included), the summer intern at Casa de Abby said to me, “I needed to hear this tonight. I am unsure about what’s next and your message reminded me that God is in control.”

A couple of days later when we were delivering food -- rice, beans and flour -- in the neighborhood, I was praying for a grandfather and his family. In the middle of the prayer, the translator told me that he told her to tell me to stop praying. I was not rattled because I knew the prayer was disturbing the enemy. So I closed out the prayer in the name of Jesus Christ and then stopped. Although the spirits inside of him did not want to hear what I had to say, I knew (and know) that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12).” It reminded me that no weapon formed against me will prosper (Isaiah 54:17) and that the blood of Jesus covers me. I had nothing to fear. God has my back, front, left side, right side, and my head to the soles of my feet. I just need to be compliant to His will and assignments for my life.

As the trip progressed, we were gearing up for VBS. On the first day, my role was to welcome the kids. On the second day, I was asked to supervise kickball. Being flexible and adaptable is key when serving the Lord. Wherever you are needed, go. I am not an outdoorsy person but I did what I had to do to make sure the kids were equipped with the rules of the game in order to play and have fun. Like Nike’s slogan says, “Just do it.” Do it for the Lord and do it all with excellence exhibiting His love.

Now that I’ve been back home for almost two months, I am reminded that on my walk with Christ, there is always more to learn. Everyday with Jesus is a new experience. I should have never even asked God what else I could learn. Silly me. I told the team that we must continue to work for Christ even after returning from our trip. John 9:4 says, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.”

There is a lot to unpack here. But now, after going on six international mission trips, when I ask myself if I learned anything new, I say, “Yes, I did.” I learned to trust God with every detail of my life. He is in control, I just need to be obedient to His will, and I need to remain flexible. In all of these things, He will continue to prove Himself over and over again.

He did for me in Honduras and He can do it for you, too. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). So let go and trust Him to show up and show out in not only your life but in the lives of others. He will and can use you to make a difference for His kingdom—internationally or locally. His will be done.

To contact the author, follow her on Instagram @laurakadowney.