By Kevin Van Wyk
On June 18th, 25 of us returned from Jamaica after a week of cross-cultural experience. I’ve had numerous people stop me to ask how the trip was. I’ve given a variety of responses according to what memory happened to be in my brain. 

But, each time I felt I was really answering a different question… “Was it worth the cost?” I am quite frugal. I don’t like spending money on vacations, clothes, or food. So spending hundreds of dollars for one week in Jamaica is hard for me to justify. I can’t help but think they would be better served with a check and prayer.

So, let me share some reasons to go, and then I’ll share some reasons I never want to go again. Keep reading and you’ll get some thoughts from Jessa and Doug on the trip, too.

Reasons to Go…
1.   For me this was a matter of obedience. Mat. 28:19 assumes we will go and make disciples. Many years ago I was convicted by Bill Brights message which challenged believers to have a divine call to stay. The default should be for us to go. With that reminder and a nudge from Jessa and Zack, I figured I should pray about going. God’s voice was clear; “Go.” I asked multiple times for a different answer, but got the same response. So, for me this was a matter of obedience and the question of value to the Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf (CCCD), myself, or others with me was not the issue.
2.   We did bless CCCD. We made huge improvements to the Knockpatrick campus, befriended deaf students, and encouraged the staff and missionaries. With 25 of us we got a lot of projects done that would have taken weeks for others to do. We power washed and painted 3/4 of the missionary dorm, painted the cement support walls along the driveway, painted a welcome sign on the wall, made repairs to cement walls in pig pens, cleaned and organized a storage shed, and built new backboards for basketball. Maybe even more significantly, we befriended the students. Some were far better at communicating than others, but the friendly competition with older kids and fun activities with littler ones was love in action. I also believe the conversation with Eva, the missionary host, and the two college interns was helpful. They were weary, yet our discussions and support for them made a difference.
3.   We learned something… well, a lot of things. We learned about signing, poverty, self-sustaining efforts in missions, God’s working in the hearts of deaf students, patience, strange foods, international travel, that lizards do bite, and much more. There are stories and lessons in each of these. For me, two stand out. First, was the creation of Deaf Can Coffee as a coffee shop staffed by deaf students  who are trained and now sought after by other coffee shops. This was inspiring to see and taste. Second, was the development of patience in me. I like my task list and being able to check things off. The message we heard from Eva was to enjoy the relationships. Church will start late, meals will start late (lunch was often after 2pm), so enjoy time with people.

Hopefully, this gives some helpful answers as to why we should continue to send groups on short-term mission trips. Now, let me share the underbelly of missions that makes me want to stay home.
1.   I hate the stress of flying. There were confusing signs and chaotic crowds from the start, long winding lines, TSA questioning our Bibles in suitcases, an angry Jamaican customs officer who hated everything I did, and a complete search of everything in my suitcase just before getting on the plane. Seriously, they removed everything from my luggage, which was meticulously packed to fit, only to say, “Hurry up, you're going to miss your flight.” They helped throw everything in and smashed it shut. I was a bit annoyed. I suppose I learned some patience and kindness in all that.
2.   Lizards, cockroaches, wasps, and ants… I comforted myself, thinking the lizards are at least eating the spiders and mosquitoes! You should ask Doug about the wasps, Isaac about the biting lizard, and Jack about the ants. I am more grateful now for a clean, pest-free home.
3.   One more to share for now… food. Now in all fairness, it was excellent. Several times I thought I could be paying $30 for this meal. (That is US dollars, not Jamaican.) I never went hungry and they always had peanut butter and jelly. (Guavah jam, actually, and it was really good!) The only reason this made my list was because of the surprise Orange Scotch Bonnet Pepper (known as the Jamaican Hot Pepper) which I ate. That baby was 40 times hotter than a jalapeño and similar to a Habanero according to the Scoville Heat Units measurements. No one else seemed to get one, so it must have been a special treat God decided to bless me with. I learned to rejoice in suffering.

So, was it worth going? 

Absolutely. It was not a vacation or something I would choose of my own desire, but it was good. I learned a ton and can support and pray for CCCD with far greater understanding and compassion. I hope you consider going.

Also, a big thank you goes to all who supported us in prayer and financially! Your gifts made a difference in the world and in the heart of many!

A Prayer: Lord, “I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
O’er mountain, or plain, or sea;
I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord,
I’ll be what you want me to be.  
It may not be on the mountain’s height, Or over the stormy sea;
It may not be at the battle’s front 
My Lord will have need of me;
But if by a still, small voice He calls
To paths I do not know,
I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Thine,
I’ll go where You want me to go.” By Mary Brown

By Pastor Kevin Van Wyk
The past couple months were packed with some great moments. We had 12 youth become Covenant Partners and two of these individuals were baptized as believers. It was a joy to see these youth profess Christ as their Lord and Savior and then commit to following him. The baptisms were unforgettable. Let me tell you, there is no reason I would ever go into a frozen lake, except for a moment like this. It made for a truly memorable profession of faith and I am grateful to have participated.
 
Our Covenant Partner Vows include confessions (core beliefs we affirm) and commitments (things we promise to do).  Specifically, they are…
Confession:
I believe in one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; confess Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord; and accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the supreme authority for faith and life. I accept the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed as ecumenical expressions of the Christian faith.
Commitments:
I will trust Jesus as the only Savior and Lord, connect deeply with Jesus’ followers, grow to be like Jesus, serve sacrificially as Jesus did, reach out to the world with the love and truth of Jesus, and worship Jesus as the ruler of all.
I will maintain a life of prayer, study God’s Word, participate in the Lord’s supper, gather with believers regularly, use my spiritual gifts and financial resources to further the mission of Jesus through the local church, live a life pleasing to God and accept the spiritual guidance of the church leadership.
I will walk in a spirit of Christian love seeking unity, purity and peace within this congregation. 
 
Last month, I shared a bit about what true believers should believe. In that post, I largely focused on what our Covenant Partners/member should believe, noting that understanding all the doctrines in the creeds aren’t necessarily essential to be saved.
 
The Bible uses the Greek word pisteuo and we translate that into English as believe, have faith, or trust. So, this is why we have included in the first commitment of our Covenant Partner Vows a promise to “trust Jesus as the only Savior and Lord…” We wanted to emphasize that Christianity is not just giving mental assent to the love and power of God, but that it is an ongoing reliance on Jesus who gave his life for us on the cross and now sits with the Father as our Lord. He pleaded with the disciple “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.” (John 14:1 NLT) 
 
This trust is lived out primarily in praying. Our vows go on to say “I will maintain a life of prayer…” This is a profound vow that should be taken as a privilege and blessing, not a burden. If we truly trust Jesus, we will go to him with every need and praise him for every blessing. 
 
So, if you say you believe in Jesus, does your prayer life reflect that trust? 
 
My guess is that nearly everyone reading this feels rather inadequate in this area. So, let me offer some very practical ways you solidify your trust in God through prayer…
 

1. Strategic Stickies: I love Post-it notes and Staples Stickies. I always have them on my desk. Try posting a couple in strategic places like the 
   1. Bathroom mirror (Lord, help me see who you made me to be.) 
   2. Water faucet (Holy Spirit, guide me today.)
   3. Car dashboard (Lord, help me turn from evil.)
2. Pray with others: One of the best ways to learn to pray is to hang with those who do. I am so refreshed and encouraged by hearing others pray. There’s no pressure, just a chance to sit with God. Join us Sundays at 8:30am in the Green Room or Tuesdays at 8am in the Prayer Room.
3. Pray with your family: If you are not in the habit, start today! Before the kids leave, put your hand on their shoulder and ask God to bless them. It can be that short, but it will matter. Before they go to bed, ask them about their fears and concerns and then have them pray. Meals are another great time to pray.
4. Set a Reminder: Tell Siri to remind you every day at 1:19pm to pray Psalm 119:25 “Revive me by your word.”
5. Prayer Chair: Apparently during our mission trip to Jamaica we will take turns sitting in the prayer chair for an hour. Try it. Bring your Bible and a journal.

 
Does cooking dinner matter more than prayer? Does showering? Pulling weeds? Mowing the lawn? Brushing your teeth? The good news is you can pray as you do them. But the habit above will help truly maintain a life of prayer. 
 
Lord, Help us be a people of true faith, who trust you at every turn. Inspire us to pray. Nudge us by your spirit to make time to humbly come before your throne of grace. Amen.