My Bahamas Mission Trip 2013: Day 2 of the Bahamas, Thursday, January 10, 2013

Day 2 of the Bahamas

First day of Ministry

Day two was the first day of ministry Group 2 had. Prior to this day, on day one, the highlights were arriving on a safe flights, getting encouraging words about the entire trip ahead, experiencing team building exercises, doing a work project, and having our nightly worship and message around a campfire.

A good word from Sean at the beginning of day one

Team building exercise with a hula hoop

Team building exercise with a game called tangled

Blind team building exercise

Work project at the Adventure Learning Centre

Pastor Sean giving a message at one of our nightly campfires

On the beginning of day two, Sean talked to our small group about how God speaks to us in a still small whisper and how God speaks to us all individually in a different way. I began to wonder how God speaks to me and while I was pondering this, I realized I wasn't too sure. I read Psalms 31:4 during our quite time, and it said, "Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge." I knew that when I am caught and become entangled in sin, God is always my refuge. We then went to the All-Saints Camp, a place for sick people who need help being taken care of. A small group of friends and I began doing a work project of sanding these floors and while we were doing it, we spent an awesome time in prayer and in the Lord. Afterwards, I had my first encounter with a man at the camp named James. He was the most joyful man I ever met. He rejoiced in knowing our names. He loved to talk to us, especially about life in the Bahamas and about God. He sang us the Bahamian National Anthem and some hymns with us. We got to sing worship songs with other locals at the camp with a guitar accompaniment from a good friend of mine, Jake. Some of the locals, like James, had such peace in their life despite the conditions they were in or how many valuables. There were people there who may not be able to sit up by themeselves but they did have joy that came from the Lord. That thought really sank deep into my heart. We then went to an elementary school where we got to play with some kids, make ballon animals for them, and maybe talk to them about Jesus. Afterwards, while my team was on kitchen duty, I was a little upset because I got in a small spiff with someone and not knowing this, Mr. Fanning casually came up to me and told me, "Be open to what God is telling you". I was really convicted when he told me that and realized that I have been anything but open to God. In reality, I've been resisting Him and rejecting Him in my life and spent to much time being angry at him for no good reason. I was not letting God be in complete control in my life because of sin holding me back. Up until this point, I have been subconsiously trying to avoid God as much as possible. I also thought how blessed I was with, with the life I have, a family who loves me, and an amazing school where I am brought up in a Christian enviornment. I wondered how my life would be like if I was a lot less fourtunate and may not have a family or at least not a loving one. I shared about thisI had at the campfire at night and how at school, I have been really good at, "talking the talk" but not, "walking the walk" anywhere outside of school. I then fully submitted myself to God and started listening to what God was telling me instead of ignoring the still small whisper (like Sean talked about earlier) of God. I have not been hearing this still small whisper of His because I have been too busy ignoring it. But God is merciful and forgiving. He still accepts me and loves me no matter what.