Sunday I returned from a two week mission trip in Elmira, NY. It was a good mission trip. In the end we had over 200 Bible study leads and 17 families are interested in the Adventist School opening up there this September. All of this is very exciting and I know God is working in Elmira and there are souls just waiting to know the truth about God and longing to know Him.
My main focus during the trip was 5 girls. I happened to be assigned the task of girl's dean and I was assured that I wouldn't have many problems at all. In fact I was told that I should be thankful I wasn't the boy's dean. In reality the opposite was true. I never realized how hurtful girl's could be to each other. My main issues were: modesty in both appearance and deportment, complaining, gossip, backbiting, and refusal to do what was asked of them. All in all it could have been worse but those are plants that if watered and allowed to grow only lead down paths that are not very pleasant. So I prayed. Each morning I would pray for the girls and the staff.I prayed for the Holy Spirit to work in the girl's hearts, and that the Holy Spirit would work in our hearts as staff. I prayed God would show me things in my life that was hindering the girls (He was faithful and I saw some things in my own life that I repented of and by God's grace gaining a victory over). I prayed that we as staff would be good examples and that He would give us wisdom to lead the girls. It was a positive experience. Though there were challenges every day I saw God lead. In particular there were two girls that I saw growth and a desire to follow God.
Na Imah came to the trip because her grandmother suggested that she go. Her grandmother was the cook for the mission trip and Na Imah was staying with her grandmother for the summer. Na Imah is not an adventist and her grandmother is. The last day of outreach during the first week we arrived back to the school early. So it ended up that I and Na Imah were sitting on the swings and just chatting and that was the first day that I started to get to know Na Imah. A few days after that I was again talking to Na Imah and she asked me a Bible question. Three times during the trip we had an impromptu Bible study that other people came and joined us. The second one Na Imah proclaimed, "I have to go to an Adventist college because where else would I learn these things!" Her questions were so sincere and she is earnestly desiring to know God!
Brittany I found out came on the trip because she wants to be a Christian. She said her family is Christian and she wants to be one too. Twice she expressed to me a desire to be baptized when she gets home. Brittany was the youngest girl on the trip and very aggressive. I had trouble with Brittany. But I came to adore her because God allowed me to see past her flaws and to see her potential. I saw that she could be bold for God. The first morning of the trip I reminded the girls to do devotions and I could tell she wasn't thrilled by this but one morning I walked in the room and she was reading a little devotional without anyone saying anything to the girls about devotions. I saw her demeanor soften just a bit as she was there. I saw God use her during outreach and to encourage me during the trip with a hug or a word of thanks.
There is nothing more amazing than watching God change a life. When they give their hearts to Christ and begin walking with Him. Brittany got up during the last worship to share a testimony about the trip and she was rambling on about how she was so aggressive. The Bible worker stopped her and said to her that God would use those character traits and polish them and turn them into positive traits to be used for Him.That is true for each one of us. He is taking us and polishing our characters to be more and more like His. It is a day by day, moment by moment process, surrendering our hearts to God and being lead by Him.
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