MA26 – Aug 26 (Last Day)
This morning, during breakfast and our devotional time, knowing our mission trip was drawing to our close, we reflected on the past three weeks. The pastor asked an important question: “What did you think of the trip this year?”
During the day, we had a visit with Emmi and spent some time discussing this same question, and some of the doubts and fears she is facing even as she continues to express her determination to continue serving God to her full ability.
In the evening we had dinner and a visit with Arayik and Nelli, and Arayik asked the same question the pastor had asked this morning. So here is a summary of our reflections:
Like a farmer who must perform various chores at different times, there is a seasonality to mission work which is important to acknowledge. Sometimes it is all about preparing the ground; sometimes it’s planting the seed; sometimes it’s watering; sometimes it’s pruning; sometimes it’s even weeding. And, sometimes, it’s doing nothing but resting after having done everything that can be done, and just letting the sun do its work.
We came to Armenia this year just as a new crop of figs was ripening. We were able to enjoy them right off the trees, fresh and ready for picking, and tasty. Yet before we arrived, someone had done the necessary work to ensure that these fruits could be ready at this time.
This is how we see this year’s mission trip. A lot of ground has been prepared, through the new contacts we made this year; a lot of seed has been sown through the messages, Bibles, tracts and devotional books given out; there has been watering through prayer and even tears over the people and ministry here; pruning through some of the encouragement and admonishment of our ministry partners; and even weeding, as we encountered some opposition and dealt with false teachings and doctrines. There was some harvesting too, as we rejoiced over the three (soon to be four) newly-established Bible Study groups, witnessed two people give their lives to Christ and celebrated the baptism of eight others.
In addition to all of this, we do not forget the other situations in which we found ourselves where we recognize the importance of waiting and allowing the Son to do his work.
Unlike a farmer who must normally do his chores in consecutive order, we had the privilege of doing all of ours at various times throughout our visit.
We are grateful to God for giving us this opportunity once again, and we are again trusting him to continue his work after we leave.
May his will be done!
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