My mission isn’t here. It’s everywhere. Our mission is EXACTLY where we’re at! 

I have realized I don’t need to be out of the country to serve the lord. 

It’s not like I haven’t known that or haven’t been told. I had a teacher that told us almost every Wednesday at FCA that our school is our mission, our community is our mission, or wherever we choose be CAN our mission. Why didn’t it sink in? Great question.

It wasn’t until Saturday night during worship, after our day off campus getting supplies along with evangelizing, that I was thinking about what a squad mate had shared in our debrief the other day. She expressed that for anyone her family would see in the streets in need, that they wouldn’t help. It was like there was rule that they couldn’t talk to them or do anything. But that concept has changed for her now. 

I didn’t know how much I related with that until Saturday night. In these past 18 years of my life, when have I went up to a homeless person and just talked to them? When have I prayed over someone in need? Get them food, or supplies they may need? I think I had unintentionally set that rule for myself, and tell me if I am wrong but I think most of us have as well. 

Guys what are we doing????

You may not be able to travel out of the country or even to other states. You know what? YOU DON'T HAVE TOO! People need you here! It’s not anything crazy. Start with a hello. Find a conversation starter like “hey I like your shirt, where’d you get it? and let the Holy Spirit take over.” Or be BOLD and say “hey do you know how much the lord loves you?” 

YALL! It’s that simple!  

We can’t waste all of these opportunities to bring people into our family, especially when it's God's children were talking about. The homeless guy who we have all seen on the street is made in the image of God. The pregnant teen selling flowers is made in the image of God. You and me are made in the image of God. We ALL are God's children. How do we think God likes us treating his children this way? We are called to love everyone, including the ones on the street. 

For our adventure day on Saturday we went to target, Walmart, and then to Chick Fil A. Though we were there to get snacks, supplies, and Dinner, our goal was to still evangelize and love on the people we encountered. There was a lady selling flowers right by chick fil a, so we started a conversation, bought some flowers from her, prayed over her, the husband and baby to come. She is 19 years old, 5 months along, and trying to make money for the family before the baby comes. She turns out to be from Romania, which if you don't know is our 2nd country we are going to. Like What!!! WE didn't talk about Jesus, but we are praying that through our conversation she felt loved, seen, and cared for. 

Tomorrow, I bet you all will leave your house, maybe. 

Talk to someone, give a compliment, you don’t even have to bring up the name Jesus, they will see the difference in you. AND the next time you see someone on the street, actually stop and talk to them, pray with them, share the love of Jesus if you feel called too, money isn't even required. 

Believe that God will work through your obedience. 

Through this experience, I see the world and the people in it so differently than I did 2 weeks ago. I pray your view would change as well. More importantly allow it to change. :)