Caleb Su
This year I had the opportunity to go on missions and to serve the country of Nicaragua. I decided to go on missions this year because of encouragement from my friends and because I had missed out on the opportunity last year due to some unforeseen circumstances. My friends also went to Nicaragua last year and listening about the experience they had on going to missions made me motivated to go and see what God was doing in the many countries that STSM had to offer. I was excited to go and serve the people and the country.
A lesson I have learned through missions would be first how God taught me to be content with what I have. This lesson came through morning devotions where we were reading Philippians 3 -4, specifically verse 11 in chapter 4 where it writes, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.” My experience of seeing the country of Nicaragua, talking with the locals here, and learning about their lives, showed me the valuable lesson of what being content actually means. When I first saw the poor living conditions of the people in Matagalpa, I felt bad for them, but yet these locals showed me that it isn’t something to be sad about but rather they rejoice and are content with what they have. I learned that with whatever I have I should be content and that these locals, even with what little they have, are overjoyed and happy to know and to be pursuing Christ rather than chasing worldly things. Matthew 6:33, Jesus writes,” Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” These Nicaraguans that I have met are trusting and pursuing God knowing that He will provide.
A blessing I have received is how much love I have received from the Nicaraguans that I have met. I came to Nicaragua not being able to speak a lick of Spanish, so throughout the month, I made the effort to learn and connect with the culture. Through my Spanish learning, many of these Nicaraguans saw the effort that I put into learning more about the culture and the language and were so appreciative of this small act of love, but it was really me who got the blessing of receiving more insight from them.
A second blessing was the missionaries and the amount of hospitality that the team had received. When I was sick, Missionary Kim took care of me well and I was truly blessed. It made me motivated and strengthened to get better as soon as possible to go out and do ministry. I couldn’t be sick forever and through the missionary’s hospitality, I made sure to garner all of my will to get better and to go back out to ministry with all my effort.
Another lesson that I learned was the power of prayer. I have to admit I am not someone who prays every day so going into missions, prayer wasn't the utmost priority for me, but I was taught the importance and power of prayer when I prayed for these kids after the end of every VBS. It’s sad that I might never be able to see these kids again, but what I can do for them is at least pray and ask that God would guide them.
Lastly, I learned that each day is so precious and full of new opportunities. While recovering from the stomach flu, I was reading Ephesians 5:16-17 which says, “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.” Though it was hard to be dependent on God, I also was able to see that God plans each day thoroughly with new opportunities. So though I thought I had wasted a day of not doing ministry, God carried me through these times to show that I should be grateful for the opportunity to do ministry as each day is full of new opportunities, and I should give all of my effort to God during it. God truly makes everything happen according to his plans and we are his servants used in the greater plan of God’s kingdom.
So in conclusion, I hope to apply these lessons at home. The lesson of contentment is applied in my daily walk with God as I shouldn’t be yearning for so much or complaining about my discontent when God has given me more than I have asked for. Though my human nature wants so much more, God wants me to continue walking in his path and I should pursue God more than anything. I must seek God’s kingdom as God will provide everything else for me. The second lesson taught me to always pray and that prayer is a powerful weapon. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 writes, “ Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances: for this the will of God in Christ Jesus”. Like PR mentioned in one of his sermons, it doesn’t mean praying every day as a chore but with earnestness and dependency on our relationship with Christ. Prayer is a weapon that we use to fight against the enemy but to also pray for those around us and to use it to grow our love for him continuously. The last lesson taught me that each day should be taken as a day full of new opportunities that I should take hold of. That each day isn’t a day where I do nothing but a new chance to be intentional. Each day is a day that God has made where He wants us to take part in growing His kingdom that we may not see now, but know that He sees.
