Psalm 90:17 (ESV)17 Let the favor] of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands; yes, establish the work of our hands!
Why did you volunteer to go the Honduras? Did you think it would be a nice vacation or time away? Have you asked anyone who has been on the trip before what it was like. Most of us have been here before. This is my fourth trip. I can tell you it is very hard work with some 10 hour days. We have seen as many as 250 patients in five working days and setup and torn down the dental clinic. This is no job for wimps. Add to that the heat and intermittent electricity and you do not have the ideal working conditions. So why would anyone of sound mind want to go on this mission? Because the righteous shall bear fruit.
Our purpose in life is to glorify God and serve others. 1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms… so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” Serving is a form of worship, a way to express gratitude for what Jesus has done for us, and to share the love and grace we’ve been given. When I complete a hard day’s work, I am tired. In Honduras, I am also sweaty. However, there is a sense of satisfaction that comes from having served others that is hard to put into words. It fills a need in our soul. We were designed to work and deliver deeds of service. Our team members each have different gifts and talents we use. The using of these gifts brings glory to the Giver. Our Creator is praised and glorified by the work of our hands in service to others.
What about the people who cannot go with us on the trip? One of the things Cam Witt, our team leader, encourages us to do is to ask friends and family to sponsor us in our efforts. By getting sponsors, we are giving opportunity for someone who cannot go on the trip to participate in God’s work to His glory. If you are a sponsor, God bless you! You too are doing His work. You are part of the team!
It is all about Grace. In this opportunity, God’s grace toward us translates into our passing on the grace we received to others. We see this when we arrive as hundreds of kids show up on Saturday to greet us. The smiles on their faces and the gleam in their eyes coupled with the hugs they give show their appreciation. The are mirrors of the love god has given us which we pass on to those we serve. And how about those with whom we serve? I love to go because I will be together with friends in Christ again this side of heaven. Love abounds from every corner and person. Jose Lino is the Caretaker of the property. But during our service week, he takes care of us. He comes by to make sure we have what we need to complete our mission. I’m pretty good with words but they cannot explain the feeling of serving God’s people. So, here we are again Lord. Thank You for bringing us here safely and giving us another chance to glorify You. In Jesus name!
https://newspring.cc/articles/8-blessings-we-get-from-serving