After weeks of posting, I think I am finished sharing about my Cape Town trip. I have shared the pictures I wanted to share and I have written the things I wanted to remember.
As I process this misson's trip I am continually reminded that this was not maybe the "typical" trip. We didn't stay in a hut in the middle of the jungle, we didn't build a house for someone or lead a vbs all week. This was very much an explortatory trip or a visionary trip. The pastor at Point Community, Jacques came to the Redeemer City to City church planting training several years ago. As his church is under the Redeemer umbrella he began talking to a staff member about a team coming to partner with his church. After much conversating and planning this was the year a team was able to go. Because we were the first team from Redeemer to go to Cape Town and we were the first team Point Community was hosting, our team was the "guinea pigs" in many ways.
For months after being asked to lead this trip, we really had no idea what our time in Cape Town would look like. Because of this, we spent much time talking to our team about being flexible and open to whatever may come our way while in Cape Town. I think our team really grapsed on to this idea, because flexibility was a huge strength on this Cape Town team. Everyday looked a little different and everyday our team was ready and joyful to do whatever came our way. I can't say enough how pleasant it is to be on a team that views a missions trip this way!
Because Point Community is still a very small church there wasn't too much for us to do during the week while we were there. Although we spent a great deal of time with the people, we also partnered with organizations with their denomination, and gained exposure to the largest township in SA and the work being done there.
We walked away having learned so much and excited for Redeemer to dive in a little deeper in a specific place and way in the future missions trips to Cape Town.
I think in some ways our team felt a little guilty during our trip, because it felt like we weren't doing much to help and we were gaining more than we are giving, yet I know this trip was so good for us on many levels. We built wonderful relationships with other members in the kingdom who live across the world, we were able to share our faith with people on the street and places we went, we were able to learn what it means to be a team and to labor so tightly with individuals who are very different than you, we were able to serve in small ways at u turn and arise, we were able to give financially to those we were with. Most of all we were able to learn what it means for God to use his sinful children for his Glory.
We walked away so blessed by the people of Cape Town. I walked way challenged by the joy of Christ I saw in others and the way I saw people making sacrifices for the Lord. It has affected my life in specific ways as I make decisions about my finances, my community, my future, the way I want to live my life. Although I won't dump all that out on my blog, I will say that I know God sent me to Cape Town for a reason. He knew I needed this trip. This trip will be a part of my story and I am thankful for that.
I would challenge you who read this blog to make foreign missions a part of your life. I know that you can do missions right where you are. Your neighbors need the Lord just as much as people across the word, but I will say there is something to the Lord taking you out of your comfort zone and travling to a foreign Land for HIM. Many people are fearful of foreign missions, don't think they can afford it, say they have to work or have too many responsibilities at home. Yes those are obsticles, but those should not be barriers. If God wants you to go he will provide for you. I have seen that time and again. Although I have always walked in to a missions trip a little uncertain the Lord always blows me away with his provision and plan. I think this is an area where we all need to be a little more open-handed
I didn't deserve this trip to Cape Town, but I am so incredibly thankful the Lord chose me to go. That he provided for me, stretched me, guided me, and used me.
I will look back on these 2 weeks with great fondness and blessing.
2 weeks after returning to NYC my team had a reunion/debrief. I loved how excited everyone was to see each other. It was a sweet time as a team. We prayed, we sang, we shared, we laughed, we dreamed for the team who will go next year.
I love that I live in the same city as these people!
For those who are tired of reading about my Cape Town adventures, I promise (well I think) I am done! I am sure I will stilll journal some about it and will eventually get my pics on facebook, but I think the blog is maxed out with Cape Town. I will get back to blogging about my boring crazy life in the big apple soon enough!
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