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Mission trip

Justin Kollmeyer is Pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on Hwy. 314 in Fayetteville, between Lowe’s and The Pavilion. He invites anyone without a church right now, or anyone “seeking God” to come to Sunday worship at 8:15, 9:30 (Contemporary), or 11:00 (Pipe Organ). For more information log on at www.popdove.com or call 770-461-3403.

By Justin Kollmeyer
Contributing Writer

“I don't want to leave,” she said.

Now, that's not an unusual thing for a 16-year old to say. Except that what she didn't want to leave is rather unusual.

Many of our local churches and particularly church youth groups did “the mission trip thing” this summer. And for those of you who went on a mission trip, whether to Atlanta or Asia, you know the complete joy and blessing you received.

Isn't it amazing that the more you sweat, the more you work, the more you sacrifice, the more you give of yourself to others, the more you give up to in order to be in relationship with someone whom you hardly know, the more your life is much more about someone else and far less about you ... the MORE blessed and fulfilled you really are?! Awesome!

That's what a mission trip is all about! And when we go to people more unlike us culturally in places quite different from our own little world, in the Name of The Savior of us all, we get bound together in a way that's almost hard to explain, but so wonderful to experience! The old hymn writer had it right:

“Blest be the tie that binds

Our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship of kindred minds

Is like to that above.”

I was privileged to go with the Sr. High Youth from our church to Appalachia for a week-long mission trip. We trekked up to Logan, W.V., to work among some magnificent but far less fortunate people than ourselves.

Let me say this “theologically:” God does NOT sit in heaven and “punish” people with tragedy and disaster. Those are results of our “fallen world.” BUT God DOES care for and love people hurt by tragedy and disaster, and God provides HIS hands, feet, arms, and heart to help those who are victims.

That's all to say that God didn't make a flood rage down through the hollow, surging mud and muck into the modest riverside homes of hard-working people, SO THAT we could have a “great mission trip”. BUT when we arrived in Logan in the first week of June, the people there were reeling from this flood, one of the worst in the nation left behind by the Memorial Day weekend rains.

Coincidence that we were there? Absolutely not! Somehow God knew back in January when we “booked” this trip that the hands, feet, arms, shovels, and hearts of our youth would be HIS for these people who needed help so much!

Our group was divided into two teams. One team of our youth and adult advisors provided a daily “Kids' Club” for local children, many from families who were direct flood victims; others were simply less fortunate kids looking for a glimmer of hope and a chance at being loved. Our other team went up the hollow each day to shovel mud and muck, clean basements and crawlspaces, but mainly to be “little Christs” to the scared and nearly-distraught people. They worked side-by-side with the National Guard and Red Cross, who spoke so highly of their work and great attitude.

After knocking on the door of one house one day to offer any help needed, this one particular “little old lady” told our group that just that morning she had gone to God in prayer and told Him she was growing hopeless and asked God to “send some help.” Just after that, our knock was upon her door. Coincidence? Absolutely not! God had sent us in direct response to her cry!

That's what a mission trip is all about!

“I don't want to leave,” she said. Now, that's not an unusual thing for a 16-year old to say. Except that what she was leaving was shoveling mud and muck, all day long, in the hot sun, amidst a horrendous smell, with a body already over-tired and over-worked. But she had gotten to know the disabled woman who had no one else to help her, and a tearful hug and heart-deep prayer made these two unlikely sisters in the Family of God.

Now that's what a mission trip is all about!

Those of you who went on a mission trip this summer or at any time, please continue to tell your stories. And please continue to live out your “mission trip” everyday. We know this is the best life in the whole world!

Amen to that!