As some of you may know, last summer I went on a mission trip to NYC. It was the only mission trip where I felt Satan was trying to sabotage the whole trip. And to be honest I let him do a pretty good job of it. I believed lies throughout the whole trip and by the time I returned to Florida I was ready to forget I ever went and had come to the conclusion that God would never let me go back. It was really sad for me because I had been so excited about going and really thought that God wanted me to serve their. Now don’t get me wrong, the trip definitely had its highlights and I was able to pray and minister to some hurting and searching people, and I will never forget how I saw God pursuing those people and loving them. It was really amazing.
When I got home from that trip I ended up throwing a good amount of my souvenirs away because I was so frustrated with all the lies I gave in too and believed. I was sure I would never go back. But I was wrong. I have been trying to just forget about that whole situation that happened last summer. But now out of the blue someone invited me to do a mission trip in the Bronx for a week in July. My first thought was I can’t go, God doesn’t want me there. Then as I was just lying on my bed thinking about NYC I started getting more and more excited about it and I started to remember all the things I loved about it and my original excitement for going to NYC. So I decided that I would go. As the days have been passing the more I have been getting excited about it. Today I wanted to really figure out why I was going. Was it just because I wanted to do it?
Some people think of nature when they think of beauty. They see green hills, or mountains and lakes, or maybe the peaceful beach scenes. I will completely agree that I sit in awe when I see things like that, and I love seeing how God created beauty in nature. However, when I think of NYC I think beauty. Some times I even question myself….how can you think of buildings and sidewalks and honking horns and the smell of trash are beauty. Well it’s not so much the surroundings, it’s the people. I stand in this city with millions of people from all over the world and I see God’s beauty and love when I look at them. God created us! We are his beautiful creation! We are his priority and his people. He loves us and is passionately pursuing us; chasing us with his unconditional love. I look around at all the different people from so many places and see a God who has created them with meaning and purpose and for love. I see people who are hurting and searching for something. They don’t even know what it is, but they are seeking. And I see a God who can’t wait for someone love them and tell them about him; A God who has called me to tell them of his love and grace, and how he sent his only son to earth to die on the cross for all our sins and who rose again, so we can have life. So we may enter into a personal relationship with him. I honestly care about these people. I know people are everywhere…but there’s something about this city that just captures my heart. And I have the opportunity now for a week to pour out my heart into children in theBronx.
So this is why I’m going, because I am joining God in wanting them to have a personal relationship with him, to experience truth and love. If you would pray for this trip I would appreciate it greatly! It is going to be amazing and would love your support. I’m sure I will have more to write as the dates get closer, I can’t wait to go! J
