Top Reasons Why You Won't Go On A Mission Trip

7.) “I already have plans for Spring Break/Summer”

Ok.  Sure that’s legitimate.  But… are they real plans? Do they include watching Netflix? Could you do them at another point in your life? Maybe you think that you can’t commit to a trip because you aren’t sure what are you doing during Spring Break or over the summer. But think about this- anytime we offer up our time to God for the sake of another (the homeless, forgotten & poor, for example), we are rewarded. By taking this step out in faith to say “yes” despite ourselves and the idealized alternative plan that may come along, we say “yes” to a plan that is much greater than anything we can imagine. Take the leap!

6.) “I love my bed….I don’t want to get dirty.” 

Yes, yes so this reason maybe isn’t as serious as the others, but nonetheless is still a concern for some. But alas, even though your comfy bed complete with down comforter is probably super relaxing, I have full confidence you can part from it for one week.That’s not so bad! Plus, getting dirty once in a while is good for you! Really, think of how many people in foreign countries don’t have running water and live in filth on a daily basis. Hello, reality check.

5.) “I won’t know anyone!”

You might be thinking, “this trip sounds awesome, but I don’t know a soul going! Oh, except that one missionary who invited me, but they know everyone.” A) missionaries don’t know everyone; B) What better way to bond with other people than by spending a week  with them, sharing intense experiences, bonding over using Eastern toilets, and trying new weird foods together? I can totally relate to this fear. I was there once too!

4.) “I’m just straight up afraid!” 

“The only thing to fear is fear itself!” I know, Franklin Roosevelt said that not me, but hey it’s true. I think this fear is pretty much unanimous before going on mission. I know when I went on my first mission trip I was afraid. I didn't know the language, i was way out of my comfort zone and I would miss work and have so much to catch up on.  But, thankfully! These things may have appeared scary at first, but facing them and realizing I can be uncomfortable, hot and dirty in a foreign country while also experiencing a profound peace & joy like no other, now that is life-changing. 

3.) “I need to work over Spring Break! I have an internship this summer!”

Yes, work is important! But, you have your whole life to work! Plus, mission trips look excellent on any job resume and could be the difference between you and a fellow applicant applying for a future job after college. Expanding your horizons and immersing yourself into another culture through service and faith is a highly marketable experience for many job fields!  

2.) “I’m not that religious!” 

Sure, the idea of a mission trip might freak you out a bit (it did for me!). You may be thinking, “I’m kind of into my faith, but this may be too much.” Yet, wherever you are in your faith journey right now, God’s greatest desire is for you to know Him more. If you just attend church on Sundays or don’t go at all, that’s okay; this is an opportunity for you to explore your faith in a totally different environment.  By saying “Yes” to the trip, He will bless your time and you will be amazed. It may be scary, but totally worth it! 

1.) “I don’t have the money!”

This may be the most popular excuse, and I get it, I really do.  You are “poor” (or so you think; 5 minutes in a third world country will change your mind).  But no need to worry, we can help you be prepared and  equipped to fundraise your trip.  Family & friends (especially Grandmas!) love giving money towards non-profits & mission trips.  Ask them- you will be surprised! Plus, if God wants you on this trip, He will provide for you.  Guaranteed.

So what are you waiting for? Come join us at The Refuge for a weekend or week. It will be a life changing experience you won't regret.
For more information about our trips, please  Click here to email Gayla Hardin our US Groups Coordinator. 

It's Been A While

The Adventure of All In....there's a lot packaged in there. And it's been a while since I've posted simply because when you're all in it takes up a lot of time. But here I am at the keyboard again sitting down to write. Why? Because someone else out there may be All In. Someone else out there may be taken big risks and be in the middle of the process and not know what tomorrow holds. This is why I write. I write to inspire. I write to inspire you and to inspire myself to keep going.

If you've been all in and you've risked big, you've taken the step off the ledge and you're waiting for the next step to appear you know it's hard. It's scary. It's lonely. It can paralyze you if you let it. 

You've gone all in and things are going great - you're full of passion and drive and motivation. And then 1 month becomes one year. One year becomes 2. 2 years increasing the vision and causes you to go further in, now you're at 3 or more and things happen. The enemy comes against you or problems arise. There have been people all along who never thought you could, would, or should and the problems keep coming or the people keep leaving and you stop and think...this is hard.

I'm here to tell you one thing....you're absolutely right it's hard. And it's going to get harder. Nothing great every came easy. You don't become a millionaire overnight. You don't finish a big dream in a year. Everything is  a process and it's a hard process. But it's so worth it. 1 Samuel 30:6 says that David was greatly distressed but he encouraged himself in the Lord. And when things get hard and you think you can't go on that's what you need to do....encourage yourself in the Lord. Find strength in Him.

He has called you to great and mighty things. Not because you are the best this or the most talented that but because you are willing. And because you are willing - you great and might warrior full of faith - He will use you, He will strengthen you.  It's not to say that He is going to make it easy, but He will make it possible. 

We have been building The Refuge for 3 years. I never thought it would be easy but I also didn't think that sometimes it would be THIS hard. I always knew it would be worth it. When I look at the faces of those kids I'm fighting for, it's worth it. When someone says yes, I would love to sponsor a child - it's worth it. When people tell me they want to go on mission, it's worth it.  It's also worth it when people tell me they don't want to give, they don't want to go, and they don't care about those kids in mexico. That's ok - because I was called to Mexico - obviously they weren't. It's still worth it.

Whatever your All In looks like today - I promise you - it's worth it. Don't let fear paralyze you. Don't let discouragement bring you down. Don't let problems stop you. Call out to Him, your rock, your redeemer, your banner, your provider, your encourager.