Explore Church in Missoula recently went on a mission trip to Brazil. Follow them on their journey as we post journal entries that were written by a member of their team. You can find previous entries at www.mtsbc.org.
Day 5
Our day of travel turned into a gigantic circle of airports, planes, and uber rides. We are back in Manaus now, 6 days into our traveling to the Amazon. Our plane was turned around on our way to our final destination due to mechanical issues. There is no mechanic deep in the jungle, so the flight was turned back to Manaus for repairs.
God has a plan. He has prepared good works for us in advance. It is hard to see what those good works are through setbacks. Is this an attack of the enemy? God, what is Your plan? What would you have us do? Lead us and guide us. Do not remain silent.
Short-term missions require flexibility and faith. It is a test of the heart and soul. We will be stronger because we continue to endure.
Day 6
We made it. It is a miracle. After being turned around, coming back to Manaus, reboarding the aircraft, then being marched off again to wait for another 3 hours, we finally touched down in our final destination in the Amazon. It was like a scene from Indiana Jones. They literally rolled a staircase up to the plane.
No one should say God bless you, go and be well fed and not feed the poor. God is always in the business of finding and caring for the orphan and the widow. This is the religion that God respects, to care for the orphan and widow. Even a cup of cold water in the name of the Father is the ministry of the gospel. The long-house and church plant, dubbed the “Buffalo House,” is a true expression of the gospel. For Jesus came to bind the broken hearted and he asked us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. There is a famous quote that adds the phrase “use words if necessary” to that admonition, and the Buffalo HHhjouse shows how to preach the gospel with and without words.
The danger of fulfilling felt needs is that people will become dependent, but in fulfilling the felt needs of hunger, thirst, and shelter, we admit our own condition of need, our humanity. We are dependent, and always will be dependent, on Christ. We are dependent on God for the food we eat, the clean water we drink, our shelter, and even more for our salvation. We never become independent. We never save ourselves. Our work never provides for us, God does. The fearlessness of generosity expresses our faith in God’s provision, especially when given from a place of lack. We can have compassion on those who are needy and dependent because we are needy and dependent in our souls. Coming face to face with my own dependence is bringing me closer to the Father.
Jesus said, I am the bread of life, but he said it to people he had literally just fed. People who, in His words, were there because he had fed them physically. So, let us continue in doing what God does, in fulfilling felt needs, so that people are present to hear that Jesus is the true bread from heaven. Those who become true disciples with not continue in earthly dependence, but will be emulators of Christ and of us, feeding and sheltering their fellow man, as we did. All the while, we will all remain spiritually dependent on Christ; first for salvation, and then for our spiritual needs. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father, and often He calls us to give those gifts to our fellow man.
The caretaker at the Buffalo House is named William. He is one of the first converts to Christianity from his tribe. He is a perfect example of these principles at work. As a convert, he is assisting in fulfilling other’s felt needs. He is feeding others. He is imitating Christ’s followers, as they imitated Christ.
You don’t need a degree, a piece of paper, or a title to do this real ministry and to live this true religion. Generosity is available to all. Seeing the intern at the Buffalo House minister to the children and hearing them enthusiastically quoting scripture shows the heartfelt connection she has with these kids. They can tell she cares for them. The look in her eyes, the smile on her face, shows them her care. Making connections and relationships, especially with children, makes a huge difference. Simple skills, like serving food, smiling, or singing, create connections that change lives. Anyone who cares can make the connection. You can make that difference.
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