It's happened to anyone who has taken a mission trip. We go, we work, we fall in love with the place. Then that special kid, or person you met, or whoever asks the question, "are you coming back?" God has really given you a great time on this trip, and you've had fun and really developed a heart for the place, so you say, "yes! I'll be back next summer!"
What's wrong with this picture.....well....fast forward into the future.
You really did have a great time, and you'd love to come back....but...
God opened a door for another trip and you feel led to go...so you don't go back.
Your church decides to go somewhere else next year and there is no trip...so you don't go back.
The excitement of the week fades and although you have fond memories...you don't go back.
Life gets busy...you didn't realize you needed that summer school class...you get a new job and don't have vacation time...you don't go back.
You get sick...you don't go back.
Meanwhile, somewhere there is a kid asking the missionary or leader in her church, when is ____________ coming back.
Mission teams, let me be clear...as missionaries we LOVE having you come and help us out. There is a lot of progress that can be made when a mission team comes. Your heartstrings are pulled, and hopefully you will pray, keep in touch, and come back. However, you don't know your future. God may be calling you to do work somewhere else or life may happen. That's okay.
Please, when you take a mission trip, don't make a promise to be back the next time, because there may not be a next time. You can say I want to come back. You can even say I might come back. But, please don't promise to come back.
Let me give you an example from the other side. I took some kids somewhere a few days ago. The girl asked if I would be here for VBS. I said no, I had to leave before then. She said, "okay, I really liked __________, will she be back?" "No," I said, "I heard she was going to _________." "Okay then, will __________ be back?" "No, she moved somewhere else. She doesn't go to that church anymore." In this case I knew where the people were and what they were doing, but I don't always know.
This went on for quite awhile as my heart broke for the girl. She doesn't understand that things come up. She only understands that someone made a promise that they didn't keep. Don't get me wrong, she will have a good time at VBS. Maybe a mission team will come, maybe not. If they don't that's okay. If they do, will someone else accidentally break a promise?
Let me be clear, I would LOVE to come back to Reno. Honestly, I would even LOVE to live here again. However, I don't know what God holds in my future. So when I get asked when I'm coming back, I say "I don't know. Hopefully someday."
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love this!
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