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Global Encounters had a booth at the SCOPE homeschool convention in Sacramento, CA this past weekend. It was a great chance to meet new people!

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Ruth Fox
Medical student preparing for the mission field

I had it all worked out when I was ten. I was going to be a missionary and serve God! In the mind of a ten year old, that was it. I never thought about where I would go or what I would do once I got there; I was just sure about the missionary part.

As I got older and went on a few international mission trips, I realized that there is a little more that goes into getting to the mission field. I slowly started working though the plethora of decisions that needed to be made. I’ll go to China! Or not. After going to South America with Global Encounters I knew that was the region to which God was calling me. So I settled on WHERE, but WHAT was I supposed to do once I got down there? In seeking the Lord I realized that He was calling me to medical missions. Each mission trip I went on, it was the medical needs that both broke my heart and drew me to help. Okay, God. No problem. I’ll become a nurse and be down in my mission field in a few years. I had it all figured out.

But the plans that I had made for God weren’t the plans that He had made for me. The region of South America to which I was headed, the kind of training that I was pursuing, and the timing of hitting the mission field have all changed and changed again. God doesn’t always show us the whole pathway. He was just showing me one step at a time. I wanted to take that step and then keep right on running even though He hadn’t shown me His whole path. Sometimes God asks us to slow down, be patient, and wait on him.

I began to realize that my medical training is going to take a while… a long while. Why God? I’m ready to serve you now. Why should I wait? God has had to remind me repeatedly that I can serve Him anywhere. I know that God wants me on a foreign field in the future, but right now my mission field is here, at school, on the job, with friends, and at my church. I don’t need to wait to serve God till I’m in South America with my medical degree. God can use people all the time, here and now. Where is your mission field?

Click here for all the stories from the May, 2010 newsletter.

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Amy Cook
GE Staff Member, exploring options for long-term international ministry

I’ve known for several years that the Lord was calling me into full-time international missions. But, that doesn’t mean that I’m automatically prepared! I remember sitting in team devotions day one of my first Global Encounters trip and suddenly thinking “what in the world am I doing?!” Here I was with 23 strangers to spend three weeks in a strange country far away from all my family and friends. Was I crazy?!

But, the best preparation comes through practical experience. Get out of your comfort zone and follow Jesus wherever He leads you. Through it all, I’ve found my faith challenged, my personal “safety net” stretched (and stretched, and stretched…), and my relationship with God greatly deepened. Experiences like 8.0 magnitude earthquakes have just added to it.

Six trips and three years later, I’m writing from San Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico, living with Nathan and Julie Terrell for three months to assist them in their ministry. It’s an experience that only God could have arranged! My interest has always been in Bible translation and getting God’s Word into the hands and hearts of those living in more remote locations. And that’s exactly what the Terrells do! I get to work side by side with them learning what everyday missions is like, from creating audio Scripture CD’s, to printing study Bible portions, to translating kid’s curriculum for GE, to taking care of precious kiddos, to sewing curtains, to navigating the grocery store. It’s absolutely true that life is ministry, and ministry is life. In it all, let God be glorified! I can only imagine what He has planned next.

For more about Amy’s trip this summer, take a look at her personal blog. Click here for all the stories from the May, 2010 newsletter.

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Jacob Matchak
Protestant chaplain with the California Department of Juvenile Justice

I believe that short-term mission trips can become a part of the full-time ministry to which God has called you, even if He hasn’t called you to be a missionary. Short-term trips are unique in that they provide intense bursts of opportunities to learn more of God and His character in ways that push us out of our comfortable complacency. Rather then looking at them as time-outs from a personal work and ministry at home, they can be viewed as classrooms in which God personally tutors us in areas where we need to learn more of Him and His Kingdom. These classrooms open our senses to more of God and His truth than we perhaps would normally observe in the “routine” of a ministry that is full-time.

During each trip that I’ve been on, certain passages of God’s Word have taken on new meaning as I have read and experienced them in ways that I may not have if I had remained in the normal routine. Upon returning home, I’ve been grateful to see how the truth that I learned during the short-term has had a long-term impact in God’s continued maturing of my life and the ministry He has called me to.

Whether you feel called to the mission field or not, a short-term trip can be used by the Lord to teach us that we are His ministry. Through street evangelism, children’s ministry, work projects, and much more, He works in our lives, perfecting in us the life of Christ. I have seen the classroom of the short-term serve this purpose in my life as He continues to mold me more and more into His image.

Click here for all the stories from the May, 2010 newsletter.

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Steven Curry
Missionary in Chiapas, Mexico

What an amazing year of missions this has been for me! These were not just my first international mission trips, they were life-changing experiences that God has used in a wonderful way. I went on my first Global Encounters trip in March, 2009 to Colombia. Shortly after that, with the economy taking a toll on construction, I was laid off from my job as a project manager. Since I had time on my hands I was able to go on two other trips that year, one to Peru and the other to Chiapas, Mexico.

I loved every trip. I found huge delight in helping people by witnessing, discipling, and meeting physical needs. It gave me experience getting out of my comfort zone and serving Christ in new ways. Something was different about the Chiapas, Mexico trip though. While there, God spoke to my heart. I felt as though God would have me come back for at least a somewhat longer period of time.

I did return in January, 2010 and stayed a couple of months. One month with the GE language team and one by myself. God showed me that I was to come back and work full time with Nathan Terrell (missionary in Chiapas). It has been such a blessed journey. I am grateful for the ministry of GE, for the role it has played in my life and how God has used my time with them to give me direction in my life. To God be the glory!

Click here for all the stories from the May, 2010 newsletter.

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Loriann (Hodgdon) Matchak
Missionary in Irpen, Ukraine with her husband Joel

When I went on my first short-term mission trip to Romania in 2005 I had no idea what a huge impact it would have on my life and my future. I had always been interested in missions and had a heart for reaching children and young people with the Gospel of Jesus, but I was terrified at just the thought of actually going! So, when the opportunity came to go to Romania for three weeks with Global Encounters, I can’t say that I “jumped” at the chance. I hesitantly said “Yes” to the Lord and went.

Wow! It was one of the most amazing three weeks of my life! The Lord used those intense weeks of ministry to stretch me, test my faith, convict me of my selfishness, and open my eyes to the needs of the people around me and the ways in which God could use me to help meet those needs. I was so humbled that God would call me to share His love with others, not just in a foreign country, but also at home or anywhere else God wanted to take me.

The Lord allowed me to go again to Romania a year later as well as Mexico, Russia (twice), and Ecuador. Looking back on my experiences with short-term missions as a single person, I can see how the Lord used those times to prepare me for long-term missions. I am now married and my husband and I are serving the Lord full-time in Ukraine. We serve an awesome God and I cannot thank Him enough for allowing me the opportunity to go on that first short-term mission trip that had such an impact on my life and gave me direction for where I am today.

Joel’s Perspective:
Short-term mission trips have a way of forcing you to depend on Jehovah Jireh. We don’t know about others, but this has always been the case with us. While we were both single, it was, “Lord, if you want me to go on this mission trip, you need to provide for my ticket, room and board, ministry supplies, etc.” We found it was either the Lord provided the funding or we didn’t go! What great “field” training those trips were for where God has us now, as we serve together here in Ukraine. Our prayer is still the same, “Lord, if you want us to continue ministering here in Ukraine, you need to provide for ______.” And just as we found God faithful in our single years, faithful to provide for us to serve on four different continents, and in seven different countries on eighteen different trips, so we have found Him faithful as we serve here in Ukraine. He has met EVERY need. Jehovah Jireh is forever faithful!

Send an email to Joel and Loriann at joelandloriannmatchak@gmail.com to subscribe to their newsletter and stay up-to-date on what they are doing.

Click here for all the stories from the May, 2010 newsletter.

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There will be several blogs following this one describing the long-term impact of Global Encounters mission trips on the lives of those who participate. GE trips are definitely about the ministry that happens with the kids, teens, and other we serve in foreign countries… but it’s also about the the young people who participate and God’s work in their lives. We hope you enjoy the stories. If you’ve been on an international mission trip with Global Encounters during the past five years, there’s a good possibility you’ve traveled with one or more of these people.

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Amy Cook is packing suitcases today to start a new type of trip for her. After many short-term international mission trips, tomorrow she is heading out of the country for the entire summer.

First stop: Chiapas (fast becoming a favorite Global Encounters destination)! She will be working with Nathan and Julie Terrell and taking some more Spanish classes. This will be an excellent opportunity to get a taste of the mission field without the excitement and support of being surrounded by a team. So… it’s still exciting and she still has lots of support, but you’re going to miss us, right, Amy?

Second stop: Ecuador! Amy will be joining the team in Quito on June 20 for three weeks of ministry. She will also be working as my assistant and learning more about the leadership side of mission trips. Oh, the fun challenges of figuring out logistics in Spanish! OK, there’s a lot more to it than that, but that part sometimes makes you wonder if you’re going to go gray prematurely… like before you return home.

Third stop: back to Chiapas! Amy will be arriving on the same day as the Chiapas team, which she will be co-leading. (Terrells, please make sure Amy gets some sleep! Chiapas team, be nice to her!) Together with the team she will be working out in the jungles, teaching kids’ programs, installing water filtration systems, helping local churches, sleeping in hammocks… I’m very jealous!

Once the team returns home from Chiapas, Amy will be staying on for about another month, continuing her work with the Terrells and language school AND getting to be there for Grace and Steven’s wedding. OK, now we’re ALL envious!

Please keep Amy in your prayers. If you would like to contribute toward her trip you can do so through the Global Encounters online donation system.

Amy, have an absolutely wonderful, amazing summer! I’m thrilled to see you taking this next step toward God’s calling in your life. Can’t wait to see you in Ecuador (and could you bring me some Chiapas coffee… please?)

- Elizabeth Fox

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Global Encounters would like to give a huge congratulations to team leader Steven Curry and translator Grace Ozuna on their engagement! We are thrilled with what God is doing in your lives!

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An international trip is usually an exciting blend of discovering a foreign culture, working hard with a team, and growing in faith as you watch God at work. On your trip, it’s likely that the memories you make and the lessons you learn will influence who you are for the rest of your life.

Mission trips are busy! With all of the activity swirling around you, it’s easy to forget to record what God has been doing each day. And although your camera is great for documenting beautiful scenery and big events, it can’t record the lessons you learn. It’s up to you to remember your first impressions of the new country, the conversation with a team member, and the triumphs of a day of ministry. To get the most out of your trip, you have to write.

But writing doesn’t have to be a hard! Since my first international trip to Russia eight years ago, I’ve discovered five tips that can help to capture important memories of your foreign travels.

1. Plan Before You Go

It’s ultimately up to you to learn from your missions trip. Fortunately, you can work toward this long before you zip the last suitcase. A few weeks before you leave, list the goals that you and your parents have for the trip. Also, write down a few of your expectations; you’ll enjoy later comparing these with what the Lord taught you.

Read about the country before you go. Books or web sites like Wikipedia and Wikitravel can provide a wealth of summarized facts about the country’s history, economics, people groups, politics, and educational systems. A web site like Mission InfoBank can give you a great overview of the spiritual state of the country.

2. Stubbornly Make Time to Write

As fun as it is to be absorbed in the moment of your travels, you will probably later regret not being able to remember the major details of what happened. I try to write for a few minutes at the end of the day, as I can summarize what happened during the whole day.

Take a mini-notebook or index cards in your pocket during your travels. You can carry them anywhere and use spare moments to capture details you want to remember for later. If it’s too late at night, make a quick outline of the most important events of the day. Later, on the weekend or when traveling again, expand these notes in your journal.

3. Record Your Five Senses

When my thinking is foggy, I resort to writing about the five senses:

What I saw today: describe the bluish morning mist rising off the mountains, the characteristics of the people you met, or the early morning bustle in a city that never sleeps.

What I heard: write facts you learn about the country, meaningful conversations, street sounds, memorable quotes, and unique noises.

What I smelled: your sense of smell is a powerful collector of memories. Years later, smells often bring back a flood of memories from your trip. Diesel fumes and fresh snow sometimes remind me of Russia. Wood smoke smells like Peru to me. In the Middle East, it was crisp air and meat roasted in bustling, open-air markets that defined the locale.

What I tasted: the food you’ve eaten and how it’s different from what you eat at home.

What I touched or felt: write about the soft, cool afternoon breeze, pounding nails into tropical hardwood lumber, the cold tile floor of an orphanage, or swinging in a hammock at the end of a long day.

Finally, write what you’re thinking, how you’re feeling, and what you’ve been learning lately. If you want even more to write, try the five W questions: Who, What, Where, When, and Why.

4. Ask People Lots of Questions

Although it’s easier to hang out with other team members who speak English, your trip will be most satisfying long-term if you take time to get to know the local people. Whether it’s your translator or your missionary host, ask them all you can about their country:

- What kind of plants grow here?
- What do people usually eat? How is the food grown and prepared?
- How do the poor live here?
- What are some of the biggest challenges to the spiritual growth of the people?
- How active is the church?
- What are the major industries?
- How did you come to Christ? How did you come to serve here?
- What do people from this country view as important in life?

5. Follow Up

After you get home and catch up on sleep, re-read your travelogue and fill in missing details. I’m often amazed at what I have forgotten to document. As you retell stories to your family or chat with team members, record these too.

Finally, identify the biggest lessons from the trip. True learning happens when our actions change as a result of our experience. Right after a trip, I like to make a list of things that I’ve learned, what was different than I expected, and how I think God wants me to live differently as a result of the experience.

Capturing your missions adventure with a journal is a great way to maximize the resources you invested in the trip. With these tips and a little effort, you should be well on your way to learning what God has for you and remembering your global encounter forever!

Russ Bennett seeks to use the tools of communication to help those on the front lines of God’s work. He edits a free communication newsletter and organizes words and ideas with Productions of Light. He led a team to Mexico and has traveled in Europe, the Middle East, and South America.

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