A few weeks back, we came from Oriental Mindoro for Living Waters Asia's yearly mission trip called the Gospel Buzz. Every trip we've had in the past post it's unique kind of challenges. In the past, we had to face a wet climate, a hostile community and the dangers posted by rebel groups. You can be sure about it, even before we embark on a particular trip, we already expect these kinds of challenges. For this year's trip, we knew that the challenge we will have to face, together with the common challenges, is the difficulty of climbing a mountain to reach a local tribe. Now take it from me. It's one thing to know the challenge but it's a totally different thing to really experience the actual challenge. We hiked for about two hours and forty-five minutes to reach the Mangyan tribe, crossing a river and hiking several difficult mountains. Now when I say difficult, I mean difficult. The mountains we trekked had very varied grounds. There were steep sections, muddy sections and rocky sections with very sharp rocks which makes the hike more difficult. I remember myself praying several times during the hike, asking God to help me not to quit as it will be a bad example for people who were with me that looked at me as their leader. But as much as I wanted to keep the hardships I was experiencing to myself the point came when I just sighed, "I can't do it anymore!" with many hearing me. But I praise the Lord because I eventually got to our destination.
I developed a deeper acknowledgment of missionaries who go to mountain communities to share the Gospel to people there. Climbing mountains is just one of the many challenges they face. Living in a place where the usual comforts of city life is absent is I believe, a bigger challenge. Add to that the difficulty of adjusting to the culture and language of a particular place. They willingly go through these just so they can heed God's call for them to go to the regions beyond for the cause of the Gospel.
And many Christians in urbanized places continue to ignore their duty of declaring the Gospel despite the "ideal" conditions they are in. This is sad.
I believe that more money should go to supporting missions. If a church does not have a mission fund to support missions then that church should stop existing. God's call is that we deliver the Gospel unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). Not all of us can go there. But there are those who are going there or are already there. The only way you can obey the call in Acts 1:8 is if we support missions, and when I say "support", I mean generously!
Why are missionaries in difficult places able to continue with their God-given work? I believe the experience of the presence of God in their lives as a result of their obedience is the answer. Intimacy with God is so satisfying for them! And how can one be intimate with God? If you embrace His will in your life. Missionaries clearly have embraced God's will in their lives. Who would want to be away from the comforts of urban life and the joy of family in exchange for the difficult life of missions? Only a deep contentment in God can make a person do that. And again you can only feel God's presence in your life if you will embrace His will. God's presence is where His will is. I remember Moses in the 33rd chapter of Exodus when he said to God that although they will be brought to a land flowing with milk and honey, if God's presence will not be there, then it would be better not to be in that place. Don't you want to be where His presence is?
Mission life is difficult, I can never overemphasize that fact. But it's fulfilling because it is God that you're with (See the promise at the end of Matt. 28:19-20). It's rewarding! Because God Himself and His presence is the reward. You want to prove what I'm saying? Then go to missions.
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