Thoughts From a Bus Passenger

I’m telling you, it’s going to be weird when I actually have to fly to get where I’m going.  Going on a big trip to Honduras via bus just didn’t hold the thrill that it used to, back when I was wet behind the ears about land travel through Central America.  Now, instead of looking forward to seeing new things at the border, I look forward to eating food at my favorite food stands, especially the handmade tortillas and the freshly squeezed fruit juices, and watching all the foreigners pay way too much to use a bathroom :)

Leading a focus group

Last week I had the privilege to travel to Honduras to participate in a CRWM Latin American conference centered on youth and violence.  In total, there were 86 participants from (I think) 11 different countries—a huge and diverse group indeed!  Throughout the many sessions in the conference, we had the opportunity to worship God in three different languages (Spanish, Creole and English) as well as learn about a youth program called IMPACT (which began in Romania) and how it has spread to many countries around the world.  Rachel and I also had the brief opportunity to share what we are doing here in Costa Rica and how our model and approach is different and unique.  Initially we were going to have an hour to present but when our turn came, we were only given 10 minutes!!  Ok, so that was hard to say the least, but I think we managed and hopefully people were able to take away something from what we shared.  While learning about different youth programs throughout the world was interesting, my favorite part of the conference was meeting new and old friends from many different countries.  Consequently, I’ve been offered several times to visit friends in places like the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Romania, and Guatemala just to name a few (and I may take them all up on the offer someday!). 

Having fun with new and old friends :)

After attending this conference, what’s most been on my mind is the idea of “missions”.  I think that over the years, this word has become so warped and changed from what it originally meant that it no longer resembles its former self.  What in the world does “mission” even mean anymore?  Thoughts jump into my mind: knocking on doors, passing out Bibles, shaking hands and preaching on sidewalks.  But is it bigger than that?  I believe it is.  Having teen bible studies is as much a mission as having a soup kitchen for the needy, or a human rights campaign on sex trafficking, or hosting awareness group to promote breast feeding—though they might not work directly under or for a church, they are doing God’s work, albeit a bit more covertly than some other missions.  While in Honduras, I got the chance to talk with Dana Bates (who has his PhD from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies) and how he came up with the idea for the IMPACT clubs in Romania.  Ok, so this guy is kind of a big shot and he was personally chit-chatting with little ol’ me.  Needless to say, I felt pretty good :)  Anyway, he said something that really meshed with what I have already been pondering: people try too hard to separate mission work and community development; in reality, they are two sides to the same coin and cannot (and should not) be separated.  When we work together for the betterment of our communities, for the betterment of others, we are living out God’s kingdom here on earth.  And that’s how it should be.  

But who is qualified to do missions, we might ask?  Bible thumpers?  English teachers?  Community workers?  Pastors?  High school students?  Me?  To put it simply: yes.  We are all qualified, but even more than that we are all called, to mission work.  In our homes.  In our communities.  In our schools.  In our government.  In our nation.  In our world.  Not just the missionaries that are commissioned by the churches.  Not just the sociologists or anthropologists with their fancy degrees.  Not just the theology experts or Bible teachers or pastors.  All of us.

So I say: so what if the word “mission” has changed?!  In my opinion, it has become more holistic over the years to recognize that every act we do to advance God’s kingdom is an act of service, an act of mission work.  So let’s not limit ourselves and “let the experts handle it.”  Because, guess what folks, we are all called to be the hands and feet of God, the loving neighbors, the humble servants.  Let us all pray that we never forget this challenge every morning we wake up and begin our day.  Let us not forget who we are and what we are called to do as children of God.

Stay tuned until next time!