I came back recently from a provincial immersion in Negros Occidental. We went to a lot of places while I was there including San Carlos City, Calatrava, Sipalay, La Carlota, Talisay, and even Guimaras which is outside of Negros. I have done a few camp talks already (I’m actually saving my PowerPoints so I can use them later on if ever), a session for a Youth Power, a session for a ShouT, and a voice over for rejoice weekend.
There’s really a lot of travelling involved and a lot of the time it’s not too comfortable. The roads are bumpy and sometimes you get the open air vehicle or boat (meaning no air conditioning). It gets really hot and sometimes you’re put in situations where you don’t really know what to do. Despite all these things the Lord was very clear in what he was telling me through this experience.
Mission is a blessing.
There were a lot of things to do in the mission within the provinces but what I realized if that mission is a Gift from God. I remember how fast time would go when I got to a place to do mission only to feel as I am leaving the area, how long ago that activity seemed even though we just left. It is almost like the mission is a time vacuum where God allows you to realize your true purpose and in the same time bless other people through that process of realization. A moment so very close to the heart.
It really requires a giving of one’s self to others despite any discomforts that might entail yet the mission allows you to go beyond yourself and see God moving in what you are experiencing. I remember when we conducted a youth power in Sipalay, I was at the beach looking at a distance and the ocean stretched as far as the eye can see. I realized at that moment that the Lord was telling me that I was meant for that place, a place beyond where the eye can see, beyond myself, beyond my sin. That place is mission.
I was affirmed when my training head said that we all have sin but in mission we will have many opportunities to be holy. It is because in mission we are allowed to go beyond ourselves and our own comforts. Mission is truly a moment of grace.
