scheduled for 2012), I often find our kids/teens viewing visitors in a
numb maner - as if the novelty of people spending thousands of dollars
in travel expenses and flying 24+ hours to visit them is a normal,
every-day thing. As sad as that is, it's not just their numbness and
unappreciative attitudes, it's also training them to be museum pieces.
They're used to photos flashing when international visitor comes.
They're used to surface-level questions and faking a smile for a week.
To be honest, the real, hard, tough, dirty, messy ministry that comes
with community-ministry happens when the 'show' is over and life gets
back to life. While the visit from foreigners is lovely for me (an
American) and those that work in communities (even locals themselves
with a knowledge of the sacrifice of these visitors), the actual
community ministry is fruitless unless someone is one the ground
day-in day-out: counseling, teaching, praying, assisting, feeding,
listening, equipping ... living life beside these beautiful,
God-imaged people.
Check out this site (http://thinkchildsafe.org/thinkbeforevisiting/)
and think about your view and experience of missions.
Know that all efforts to love and do good in the name of Christ are
NOT in vain; however, as we become more educated in the process of
missions (near and far), we're all learning how vital Biblical
church-planting, discipleship and long-term partnerships are!
Pray for South Africa.
Pray for Capricorn Community Church.
Pray for your own church as you live out the Great Commission in your own way!
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