Sharing the Gospel Right Down the Street

Ever since I was a little girl I have dreamed of going on a missions trip. Maybe you have too, or maybe you haven’t. Either way, I would like to share with you the story of my first missions trip and the lessons that I learned from that experience. 

During the spring semester (2020) of my freshman year in college, I had the opportunity to participate on a local missions trip to a city just down the road from my university. This was not exactly how I imagined my first missions trip to be. I had pictured going abroad somewhere “different and exciting.”

However, this turned out to be exactly the experience I needed for a first missions trip. I learned that God is needed everywhere in the world, EVEN in places just down the street. 

There were about ten of us on this missions trip and it lasted for about three and half days. We started off by joining a prayer night at one of the local churches. This was a beautiful way to start the trip because we were able to pray over our team and pray for those whom we would be interacting with throughout the trip. This was a way to turn our minds and focus on God and remind ourselves that we were going on this trip to honor and glorify Him.

On our trip, my group worked with the local Salvation Army as well as a nearby church.

At the Salvation Army we helped clean and organize their building. We also served and ate with the homeless. Eating lunch and conversing with those who were homeless was an area of the trip that really stretched me.

One thing to know about me is that I am a shy introvert who tends to get anxious in social situations. So, talking to strangers is hard. Especially homeless people. Up until this trip I had never interacted with a homeless person before in this way, so it was quite a new experience.

On the second night when we handed out dinner to the homeless, I had the opportunity to have a conversation with a couple of the men that came in—well actually they started the conversation with me. It ended being a great experience and I had a lot of fun!

It turns out that homeless people are not as scary as I used to think. I learned that at their core, they are just like you and me! They are made and loved by God just like everyone else. Just like you and me. I am not sure why I never realized this before, but I am sure glad I learned it then. 

During the rest of the trip, I helped move donated furniture and clothes from one place to another. We also had some fun playing games as a group, sharing meals together, worshipping together, and doing a city-wide picture scavenger hunt together.

Overall all this trip was an amazing experience and I am so thankful that I had  this opportunity. Here are some of the great things I learned about God and His creation:

1. Everyone is made in the image of God and they are all worth loving.

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” - Genesis 1:27 (NIV) - 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16 (NIV) -

2. Local missions trips are just as important as international missions trips because everyone, everywhere needs to hear the Gospel and experience the love of God. 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:8 (NIV) - 

“Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I [Jesus] am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) -

3. God is working even when we cannot see it. Therefore we must not give up but continue to do the work which He has called each of us to do. 

“Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” - Galatians 6:8-10 (NIV) - 

I hope my story and lessons encourage you. I challenge you to go out and be a good neighbor to those around you. Go out and shine the light of Jesus! And never “become weary in doing good.” God bless you friend!