Mission work is a misunderstood field. When you tell someone you are going on a mission trip, you would be lying if you said you didn’t have a picture of what that meant in your head already formulated.

Whether you believe you are going to a country where Christianity Is strictly prohibited or whether you are going to a country where Christians are known, but maybe the numbers aren’t where they need to be to carry God’s word, there is a whole spectrum of views and opinions in the middle. You don’t have to go far to do mission work, either. Walk out your front door. Go to downtown Dallas. Serve in a homeless shelter. Go to a domestic violence shelter. Go to a food pantry. Go further, too. There are places where people (single moms, single dads, children, families, individuals) need help with their homes, their bills, or just finding a meal. They need a shower or just some clean clothes. Mission work comes in so many different sizes and shapes.

I’ve have been so lucky to personally know a wonderful family who took on a huge mission in Africa and have been able to pray, watch, and support their needs. Sometimes, I can support them financially, sometimes I can only support them through getting others connected, sometimes I can only support by supplying a need they have. About Face Missions in Africa is a blessing to so many children and villages in the area.

When the Bys family left America to move to Africa, they faced unbelievable challenges. Safety, medicine, food, money, land, even locals to help. The need God placed in front of them was huge and God continues to provide for them. Sometimes, the answer is no, but what God has built in Africa…an orphanage where those kids now call Mrs. Bys “mama” or where Mr. Bys now raises up other pastors. A school where they educate hundreds of children…for free. No fees for supplies or clothes and they are fed as well. I would encourage you to do some digging through their site above and read more on their mission, their amazing school, Mercy Christian Academy and the church they have built there, too. The need to support this ministry is great.

Our church has gone on two mission trips. Richard and Silas went on one to a city outside of Budapest last year to a church camp called Word of Life. When they returned, Silas was different. Silas has obviously grown up some in the process, but there’s a part of Silas that I always knew as a mom was different. That God was going to use Silas differently. As I’ve continue to watch Silas grow into music, I’ve questioned if music was his ministry. Silas understands the Bible so much better than I am. He studies it deeply and he takes things in, but he doesn’t often speak up. He listens. He internalizes.

This past summer, Silas returned, this time, taking me. I wouldn’t call the trip “missionary work” but I would call it “mission work.” We worked at a camp for a week alongside children. Our primary job there was to teach them English. In the process of teaching English, Scripture comes up. Things we teach them, like a simple scavenger hunt, for example, can link back to bible verses and creation. Anything is usable and God will use that time to help build His Kingdom.

What I saw in that camp though was how it changed Silas. Silas connected with kids (kids he still talks to). When you think of mission work, you may have this perception that someone is going to sit down with a really thick Bible and start going over very confusing verses and try to explain to you why God exists. Honestly, even as a Christian, that’s probably one of the hardest things for me to do. Not because I don’t want to…but because it’s hard for me to make you believe something you can’t see if you don’t have faith or haven’t experienced it. I can talk to you about all the things God has done in my life, but what good does that do to you? It’s like going to a magic show. You see the results, but you can’t necessarily see how it was done. You just have to take my word.

Mission work there was fruitful not just for Silas (and myself), but also for those kids he built connections with and for the lasting “drip” in the hearts of those he worked with. The Gospel has been shared now and Silas can still answer questions, still pray for those friends. The choice is now theirs to accept or deny the gift God has offered.

I am super excited to take Elysha on a mission trip (despite my massive fear of flying and clear motion sickness I learned I had last time) – and maybe one day we’ll get the stars to align and take our whole family.

In the meantime, Silas is going on another one! Mission work has been so good for him. However, it is so expensive for us. We reach out to the body of Christ to help us fill this need. Silas is traveling to Costa Rica in March with several of his classmates from school and the cost is high. We have already made our deposit on this trip, but the payments start in October and we could use your help to get him there.

More than that, we could use PRAYER. This is the most important part. Prayers for safety, prayers for travel, prayers for the kids going to share Jesus, prayers to know when to stop talking and let the Lord talk, but mostly, prayers for lives to be changed there and for others to accept Christ. The trip in Costa Rica is evangelical. It is there to help support the community, but also to worship and to share the Gospel. To be the hands and feet of Jesus. This is great trip for Silas because it generally a safe country and Americans are well received. Richard and I will not be attending this trip, so prayers for us to leave our child in the hands of others and to fully trust God in this!

Please continue to pray for future mission trips that are opened up for us. I really enjoyed being in Hungary and could definitely see living there full-time and working for the Lord. Now isn’t the time and I can see this door is closed clearly, but the door has not closed on mission trips for us and especially for Silas.

Thank you for your prayers for him, for the lives they are touching and for the lives they will change in Costa Rica. Every dollar helps. I appreciate you being willing to give up that cup of coffee this week and get him there!

https://www.freefunder.com/campaign/send-silas-to-costa-rica