Editorial

By Donna Messenger, Editor

Flexibility

There's nothing like moving out of your comfort zone and into another culture to teach you flexibility. Months of prayer and planning go into preparation for short-term experiences, yet the best-laid plans are often cast aside because of "glitches" encountered on the field.

Can you prepare for the "glitches"? Or are they part of the real plan - God's plan? For those of you who are looking at this issue of the Message contemplating future involvement in some way on a short-term missions trip, I have one word of advice - go, but go with a flexible spirit.

Sometimes the ministry you expect to be involved in doesn't materialize. Be willing to let God use you in ways you would never have expected. You may find that the unplanned encounters will be the ones you remember the longest - the highlights of your trip.

People often want to have the "full experience" of missionary life, but 99% of the time, it is difficult to create a "full experience" in a two-week trip. The amount of ministry a team experiences in a two-week trip is rarely the "true picture" of a missionary's activities.

You may expect to be more involved with nationals, but your words of encouragement to a frazzled missionary could be the fuel he or she needs to stay faithful in language study or persevere through the difficulties of ministry.

Pay attention to the culture around you. Be willing to learn new perspectives on worship from national believers. Listen to your missionary host when he warns you of cultural faux pas, such as "Don't put your hands in your pockets when you pray," or "Don't talk on public buses."

Plan your trip - one week, one month, or one year. Prepare your ministry - education, construction, or encouragement. Prepare your heart - to learn as well as to give. And then be flexible and let God work His plan!