After the trip: Blog 4. Where do we go from here?

Hebrews 6:10. (CSB) For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them.

You did it! You went on your major mission experience. You felt the anticipation. You felt the travel anxiety. You felt the stress of a new culture. You saw the joy in accomplishing a team goal. You felt the exhilaration of doing something that seemed impossible just months ago. And you made it home in one piece. (I hope your luggage made it home in one piece as well).

So, now that your life has been altered and your personal awareness of the world has been expanded, what's next? You cannot go back to the way things were, at least in your own mind and spirit. You've seen God do some great things. You've done amazing things. You will never forget the experience. And now you see your current situation differently than you did before.

So, now what?

• EMBRACE THE CHANGE. Embrace the change in perspective you have experienced. Your eyes have been opened to new eating options, new languages and cultural expressions, new sights and smells, This new world is valid one--and one that many people embrace as their own on a daily basis. Do not minimize their culture, nor forget the reality of it.

• BE THANKFUL. Some parts of your trip revealed truths about your own behavior and culture in a good way. Perhaps you saw how your education and language was a benefit in your travels. Perhaps you saw how impactful your personal wealth was. Perhaps you realized that your own government and political system, in spite of its own flaws, is better than the system you experienced in your travels. There are many ways mission trips can help you appreciate your current life. Be thankful to God for all of the good things he has given to you.

• ACCEPT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN CHANGED. A mission trip can also expose your own selfishness and pride. Meeting believers around the world shows us that we do not know everything about God, nor do we know everything about Christian worship and Christian service. We also must come to terms with our own spiritual weaknesses. We did not always trust God, but he still came through. We did not always understand what God was doing, but he showed his power anyway. And maybe we lost sight of our primary goal--obedience to God's call, presenting the Gospel to the world, and serving Christians in a global context. It was never about what we could do on our own. It is always about serving the body of Christ the power of the Spirit of God. If we can see and accept God's work over our own glory, then we will find transformation through our mission journey.

• ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU SEE THE WORLD A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY NOW. In some ways, your trip exposed some cultural flaws in your own world. Perhaps your hosts were extremely kind and gracious, whereas your own culture tends to be exclusive, individualistic, and judgmental. Maybe you saw new expressions of worship and religion that lifted your spirit and made you feel closer to God. Perhaps you saw how economically challenged people find joy in the little things in life, and you realized that your own culture can be spoiled and unhappy. Maybe you saw true poverty and realized how broken some parts of our world truly are. Do not minimize these realizations. Process your new awareness and commit to life changes as you see the need. Most of all, BE GRATEFUL THAT GOD HAS USED THIS EXPERIENCE TO CHALLENGE YOU TO GROWTH.

• BRING THE CHANGE HOME. Let others hear your story. Show them how the trip impacted your life. And let the change you experienced be seen in the transformation of your own behavior in your own culture.

• BE READY TO SAY YES AGAIN! Respond to God and embrace growth in your life. God can speak in many ways on cross-cultural trips. You will have a new understanding of poverty and your own wealth. You will have a broader perspective on religion and worship. You will see how different people can be--and yet how much we have in common with humanity throughout the world. Some of you will be called to return to this same people group in the future to bring more aid and more information about the Gospel. Some of you may never return but will always have a special feeling for this country or people group. But all of us return changed--more aware of how God works in the world and more aware of our small place within God's bigger plan. Be willing and ready to commit to fulfilling your place in God's plan. And be ready to say yes when he come calling with another opportunity to serve him in missions.

Remember: A mission trip is not the finish line—it is a launching point for your next stage of growth in faith and Christian service. I pray you will continue to experience God's presence and calling in your life as you move forward with your new appreciation for God's mission calling on your life.