Another mission trip... not like the last...

When I first learned that our church was sending a group to 'babysit' kids in the Caribbean – I instantly wanted to be part of that.  The details made the trip even more and more enticing and I waited patiently to see if God would invite me to be part of the VBS team... and he did.

It's true, I act like a pretty big kid most of the time.  I sing, dance, make a fool of myself many times within any given day.  Most adults are highly embarrassed to be seen with me, when I am in my fun loving kid mode.  But I tell you that childlike spirit was exactly what I needed for this special mission trip.

For this trip, I was asked to lead the VBS classroom for the 5-6 year old missionary children, whose parents serve in Latin America and Africa.  I am very well diverse in middle schoolers but have survived raising two kids that once where the ages 5-6, so how hard could it be? 

Let me start off to say, I have a new found respect for teachers of 5-6 year olds.  I quickly learned that my childlike funnest wasn't nearly enough. 

I spent five days with 14 little people and after those five days - exhaustion was an understatement.  I gave everything I had to love those kids,  teach them about God's love, entertain them, make them feel special and make their week at 'some' missionary retreat a true blessing.  

I would tell anyone that I had THE best class ever!  I had some of the kindest children I have ever met in life.  After only one day with them, they had already opened their hearts and let us be a part of their lives.  I joked with many of them that I wanted to take them home.  

We had a blast - playing games, singing songs and just being together.  
That's what it was all about for these precious kids.  Being together with other kids that are in the same situation as themselves.  

They are foreigners in foreign lands.  They don't see their grandparents or extended families often.  They don't really belong to any one place,  not to where they came from or where they are currently living. They live a bit of a difficult life not because they choose it, but because their parents were called into one of the hardest/greatest ministries you can be called into - the great commission.  They live out the gospel each and everyday - in a place that's not really their home.

These "M.K's" are adaptable.  They are great with change and flexibility.  They are use to it.  You would think them to be reserved or sheltered but they are caring and kind.   They will love you after 10 minutes of knowing you.  And they can have fun with the simplest of things - like a giant inflatable named Sammy.  

What this experience taught me was, even those these kids appear to be overlooked,  living in the spiritual war zone - up close and personal, they have the spirit of love.  These children were way more than I am- most days.  They showed up excited and full of life, where as I show up needing a double espresso.  Sure they are kids and that's what youth is all about.  But, they  weren't  jaded or cynical, as they have a right to be.  They weren't perfect but they sure reminded me why Jesus loves children so much and what it means to have faith like a child.  

I gave them all I had.  In retrospect in such a short time they deserve that and so much more than me.  My fellow team would shriek when they saw the kids running up to us yelling "Ms. Heather, Ms. Heather."   Hugging and singing to us. 

The children's enthusiasm and love was priceless and worth being utterly exhausted and overwhelmed.

The reality for me is, most likely they will soon forget my name.  They will forget all the fun we had in that short week.  They will forget many things.  But they will continue to grow up, across the world.  They will be full of love for the next teacher and adults that come into their life.  They will continue to be shaped into the person God has set out for them.  Just as God does in each of us.   Life goes on and we grow from each experience.  

For me, and each new experience God lays before me, I am constantly reminded of HIS eternal love and grace - this time it came from 'babysitting' a bunch of silly seahorses in the Caribbean.