It's now almost a year since I left to spend six weeks in Mexico on a short-term mission trip. The cool thing is that my trip didn't end when I got home - God has been working in my life long before this trip and he continues to work in my life and impact me.
Going to Mexico changed my life. I discovered so much more of God's heart for reaching the people of the world with the good news of Jesus Christ. I was humbled to see God use me to bring people just a little bit closer to knowing him in whatever way that I could. I continue to be humbled as I see God work and remember that God changes peoples lives and we just have the privilege of doing our part in loving, sharing and living out our faith as part of that process.
Since I have returned, I have done a course called Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (www.perspectives.org.au). I plan on continuing to do the Advanced Perspectives course this year. I have had the opportunity to share about my time in Mexico with a number of churches and gatherings of young people (and also with anyone that would listen!!). Every time I start to talk about life in Queretaro and my time in Mexico, my passion is renewed and I get super-excited! Just last week I was able to go up to Sydney and assist with the International Teams Summer Teams Training where we equipped three teams of young people to head overseas to Uganda, Greece and Thailand for 3 weeks of mission experience.
I feel God is challenging me to take the next step and to seriously consider stepping out into full-time cross-cultural mission for him. I would invite you as friends and those who have been with me on the journey so far to pray with me for God's guidance as I consider how and where I best serve God.
I do feel that God may be pointing me back to Mexico as I have a strong passion for Mexico and integrated into the culture well during my time there. I also have continued speaking and writing Spanish since I have returned and I am looking at continuing study in Spanish. I am considering the potential of doing a two-year term in Queretaro with International Teams, but I'm open to God's leading for where, when and who he would have me go with.
There are a few specific areas that I would value your prayers for:
- First and foremost that I draw even closer to God and that I have a strong and consistent relationship with Him;
- For guidance and confirmation as to whether Mexico is where God would have me return to;
- For guidance around the training and equipping I should complete before heading out and that training and equipping that I may be able to do on the field; and
- For guidance around timeframes and how that interacts with my current job.
I thank you for your friendship, prayers and support as I continue on my journey. I would value your input into my journey as you pray, so if you have any encouragement, please feel free to share.
I'm excited about God's plan for young people and have been inspired to see friends and aquaintences stepping out to engage in short and long term mission work. I'm excited that God has a plan for each of you and that we are all on a journey, so I'd like to challenge you also - what's your next step in your journey with God?
With God's richest blessing,
Phil
