I just returned from a week long mission trip to Barranquilla, Colombia.  This was my 6th trip to Barranquilla, but this year’s trip was different from the others.  The trip included 27 people from my home church, including 13 youth.
 
My husband and I often comment that one of the best things we can do for our kids is to take them overseas.  It opens their eyes to poverty and the needs of the world beyond what they can see or even grasp here in the states.  It gives them a deeper appreciation for what we have, and it allows them to go out of their comfort zone and be completely molded by God to accomplish His purpose in their lives.  While on the trip, I was able to see the Lord do some amazing things.  I wish I had room in this newsletter to tell you the details how God orchestrated for me to work side by side with a church that I helped to start 5 years ago.  I wish I could tell you about Margot, a 71 year old woman who gave her life to Christ and rejected the false teachings she had been putting her trust in.  But if I had to pick one thing to focus on, it would be the youth from my church.
Sunday evening, I sat and listened to each student, one by one, share how the trip impacted their lives.  I heard stories of God’s provision, God’s protection, and God’s power.  I heard each youth testify of how their lives were forever changed because of this trip to Colombia.  They shared how they were initially timid to share their faith, but now they felt a boldness to share, not only overseas, but at their schools and with their friends.  My 13 year old daughter shared how the Colombians sometimes told her they were too busy to hear the Gospel, but then they would just turn away and read a paper or watch television.  She insightfully said that sometimes we use the same excuse with God – we’re too busy to spend time with Him or do what He asks us to do.  To say it simply, the students on our team were greatly used by God last week.  Yes, they are just kids.  They don’t have the experiences or knowledge that we have as adults, but God used them in an amazing way while in Colombia. 
 
I started to think about the fact that most of the airline travel that I coordinate is for adults.  I rarely get a request for a youth team to travel overseas to share the Gospel.  Why?  Sometimes we put parameters around God.  We think the kids can only minister to other kids.  Or we think that because they are ‘youth’ they should do a construction project or a VBS.  These are great mission projects as well, but don’t limit God in what venue he can use your child.  Proverbs says to ‘train up a child in the way he should go.’  What better way than to go side by side with your child on a mission trip, sharing your faith.  The memories that are made and the melting of hearts toward spiritual things far outweigh any excuse you could come up with to ‘not’ go.  In Colombia, I witnessed first-hand ‘one generation’ proclaiming God’s works to the other!

Psalm 145:4-7 
“One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.  They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will mediate on your wonderful works.  They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your deeds.  They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”