This family mission that included all ages of children was a challenge, as it was a new model of a trip. Kip and I sought prayer support weeks before the trip officially began, as well as our asking the Lord for His plan. Another factor was the early arrival of participants. We are used to being on our own for 2 days prior to the trip start to get familiar with the area, to shop for the team’s meals, to plan, meet ministry partners, and to rest before the team arrives. Another factor, we would be doing the on-sight project leader training of Mike, who had completed online project leader training.
Soon after our arrival, we learned that the Semester’s team that was here for training and scheduled to depart as we arrived, would be staying on, as their flight to Costa Rica had been canceled. They were in limbo until a flight was arranged for the 24 of them. They had been lodging in the space our team would occupy. (They moved upstairs)
So how did this all play out? The early arrivals helped us prepare for the team. The Semesters team spent time with our children. We shared the kitchen. One morning we had breakfast planned for 8:30 with pancakes. The Semester team had the same breakfast time and the same meal planned. Kip volunteered to cook all the pancakes for both teams. The Short-Term mission team and the Semester’s team loved on each other and enjoyed time together.
The Semesters team got word that they would fly out Tuesday morning. Monday dinner was our first meal and the start of our short-term trip. We invited the Semesters team to join us for worship, 3 would share with our team, and we would pray for them and their month-long mission. One shared how the family mission trip was so encouraging to them, to see whole families that wanted to serve God together. I realized that some may be married and have a family within 5 years- and here they saw how they can continue to do missions. Then some of the Semester’s team volunteered to take the children and do games and such with them, while I did an orientation with the parents. That was a huge help!!!
Kip and I learned all over again to trust God. Things that were unexpected for us, was no surprise to Him. It all worked out better than we could ever have imagined.
So back to the title of this blog- On our free day between trips, Kip and I headed out and had Steven Curtis Chapman’s cd in the player. First song- Glorious Unfolding. The lyrics brought tears as I saw how God faithfully brought about a glorious unfolding.
Part of the lyrics- “…don’t try to figure it out, just listen to what, I’m whispering to your heart. I know this is not, anything like you thought, the story of your life (this trip) was going to be … there’s so much of the story that’s still yet to unfold.
And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
You’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding”
Indeed, this is what happened! A glorious unfolding. Much more than we ever asked or imagined (Ephesians 3:20) Blogs are still being written by team members, so I will let them share their stories. We as leaders of this trip were so stretched, and so blessed. We are so thankful! Praise God!!
