As Mark has said, we are all home and recovering! I thought I would add some "final thoughts" to add to what has already been said, and to perhaps wrap up some of the feelings I have had. And to be honest, this blog has served and will serve as a vital part of my journaling for this trip, as will the hundreds of photos and hours of video that we have taken. You can all look forward to a LONG presentation! Ok, kidding....
A Mission Trip about...
I believe that Tom Drinnen would say that the book of Daniel is not a book about Daniel, but a book about God, and how He used Daniel. And the book of Esther is not about Esther, but a book about God, and how He used Esther. And the book of Noah is not a book about Noah. In fact, it is not a book in the Bible... (did I get you?!)
While we could list a number of things that "we" did, our mission trip was not a mission trip about us, but a trip about how God could use us to accomplish a number of things. Many of the team, as well as Tommy, have mentioned so many "God stories" in this trip, and with regard to the VOH. Tommy has made many contacts with people who have the means to make a substantial difference in the financial future of the VOH. We have seen many things being worked out, with the only real answer being divine intervention.
There are several ways just in the construction of the baptistry that I could elaborate on, but suffice it to say that God made sure it was positioned exactly parallel to the bath house, which was essential to conform to the future plans of the new church building, and that the drain was perfectly centered in the floor of the bathroom. And each of these happened in spite of three significant changes in the construction method and thus the dimensions of the baptistry. Especially with the placement of the drain, we could not have measured and gotten it any closer to center. The moral of the story for me, anyway, was that when we try to center our lives on our own, we will never be able to do it. However, when we allow God to take control, He will perfectly center it, just like our drain!
I believe that the focus of the trip was to honestly look for ways that God was working in what "we" were doing. And by finding Him so involved in every little aspect of what was being done, it was much easier to just sit back, do what we saw needed to be done, and let God go to work.
The VOH certainly planted seeds in us, and we hope to use the experience to change our personal lives and our family expectations as a result. And hopefully, we can be a better example of what a Christian family looks like.
And so... we thank God for allowing us to be a part of His plan, both at the VOH and at home. And I echo Mark's "thank you" to all of you who have supported us both financially and prayerfully. What "we" accomplished was not just accomplished by those of us blessed to be there, but also by all of you who were at home on your knees praying to our awesome God!
May God bless you all, and see fit to allow us all to return to the VOH someday, and to take some of you with us to share what we have experienced!
In Him,
Jeff
A Mission Trip about...
I believe that Tom Drinnen would say that the book of Daniel is not a book about Daniel, but a book about God, and how He used Daniel. And the book of Esther is not about Esther, but a book about God, and how He used Esther. And the book of Noah is not a book about Noah. In fact, it is not a book in the Bible... (did I get you?!)
While we could list a number of things that "we" did, our mission trip was not a mission trip about us, but a trip about how God could use us to accomplish a number of things. Many of the team, as well as Tommy, have mentioned so many "God stories" in this trip, and with regard to the VOH. Tommy has made many contacts with people who have the means to make a substantial difference in the financial future of the VOH. We have seen many things being worked out, with the only real answer being divine intervention.
There are several ways just in the construction of the baptistry that I could elaborate on, but suffice it to say that God made sure it was positioned exactly parallel to the bath house, which was essential to conform to the future plans of the new church building, and that the drain was perfectly centered in the floor of the bathroom. And each of these happened in spite of three significant changes in the construction method and thus the dimensions of the baptistry. Especially with the placement of the drain, we could not have measured and gotten it any closer to center. The moral of the story for me, anyway, was that when we try to center our lives on our own, we will never be able to do it. However, when we allow God to take control, He will perfectly center it, just like our drain!
I believe that the focus of the trip was to honestly look for ways that God was working in what "we" were doing. And by finding Him so involved in every little aspect of what was being done, it was much easier to just sit back, do what we saw needed to be done, and let God go to work.
The VOH certainly planted seeds in us, and we hope to use the experience to change our personal lives and our family expectations as a result. And hopefully, we can be a better example of what a Christian family looks like.
And so... we thank God for allowing us to be a part of His plan, both at the VOH and at home. And I echo Mark's "thank you" to all of you who have supported us both financially and prayerfully. What "we" accomplished was not just accomplished by those of us blessed to be there, but also by all of you who were at home on your knees praying to our awesome God!
May God bless you all, and see fit to allow us all to return to the VOH someday, and to take some of you with us to share what we have experienced!
In Him,
Jeff
5 comments:
Jeff, your writing has kept us close to you and the Village of Hope. As I followed your daily experiences I, too, learned more and more what it really means to put God in the center. What a blessing The Ghana Team has been to Arlington! Thank you! And I thank God for your safe return. Anita
Jeff: Thanks for your "closing" remarks, as they have set me thinking about mine and Stan's familt unit. I have to admit that God has not always been at the center. Thanks for sharing, and thanks too for the cool postcards! Becky
AaaaaaaMEN Jeff! Ha!
April
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