Family Mission Trip [with Pictures!]

The family went on a mission trip last week to the Dominican Republic, an outfit called Mission Emanuel. It’s been around twenty-five years, and it does missions about as good as anybody. And the best part to me is that you can bring your family – your four year old has a role to play. I don’t know of another program that works like that.

So that’s why we went because we want a place to take our nine and seven year old where they can have a role to play.

And play it, they did.

Anna Rose befriended the local girls. David ministered to lepers. Lia did her medical magic. I served up comic relief.

It was great.

And I guess that is the thought I want to leave you with today…we all have a role to play, and each role is significant.

True. Lia’s role requires knowledge and expertise.

True. My role is loud and everyone sees it.

But everything Lia accomplished was at best temporary.

The smiles I brought won’t last forever.

The friendships Anna Rose began – well, one girl has found us on facebook and is becoming a virtual pen pal.

And the change that came over this one leper when David touched his cheek went far beyond the impact of the sermon I preached Wednesday night.

Not to belittle medicine or preaching, but I don’t want to elevate them either.

We are at our most useful when we do what God created us to do. That is the point. And I was fortunate enough to see the tip of it last week.