Preparing for the Journey

"An inch of surprise leads to a mile of gratefulness."

- Brother David Steindl-Rast

Every mission trip is unique. This will be my fourth trip with Yucatan Penninsula Missions, but the only think I'm expecting are surprises. Our team consists of high school youth, college students, young adults, and the young at heart. I am excited to see how this group finds the love of God in each other and in the people of Mexico and through the work we will do.

One of the first things we think about in preparing for a trip, missionary or otherwise, is how to prepare. What vaccinations do we need? What supplies must we buy? How much money do we take along? Do we have all our documentation?

In the anxiety these kinds of preparations can create, I would encourage our team to remember how Jesus' disciples were sent out on thier first mission.

Mark 6:6b-13
Then Jesus went about among the villages teaching. 7He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.’ 12So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

The disciples were successful in their mission, living off the kindness of strangers and making it up as they went along. Even as we make careful preparation, we can trust that it is Christ who sends us out and will uphold us on our journey when, inevitably, we are forced to seek out the kindness of strangers and make things up as we go.

Peace in our preparations.

Amy