We're heading back!!!

Good afternoon, and welcome back to the blog.  What a year!  I won’t bore you with the details, and just jump right into it.  We are heading back to Ghana this September.  It will have been 2 years since our last visit.  This year, we are taking one of our board members, John Grosso, as well as our dear sweet Alicia Bowles.  It is hard to believe how time flies. 

Troy and I made our first trip in 2009, but truth is, sometimes it feels like yesterday.  Throughout the years, traveling to Ghana has just been a part of the ministry.  There are a lot of blessings by going, but with the blessings it is a lot of work and a lot to be aware of  - to be careful to avoid.  There are conflicting opinions regarding benefit or harm of short-term missions.  Do they do more harm than good?  We have learned and are constantly learning, how we prepare and how we go may matter more than what we do.

I was reading an article written by missionaries in Guatemala who shared common concerns and issues. These are some of their thoughts blended with my heart.

We are not the hero.  The families and communities we are called to work with in Ghana, do not need a short-term hero.  They need long-term partners.  One Step In Faith could not successfully follow God’s lead without the continued work and relationship building of our in-country cross cultural workers and in-country Star Throwers!  During our travel in Ghana this year, our main agenda is to continue the bridge of relationship building, as well as filling the cups of those who pour out day in-day out into the lives of the OSIF families and their communities.

We are poor too.  Poverty looks different than you expect.  There is material poverty, physical poverty, spiritual poverty, and systemic poverty.  Jesus called us to serve, but before we can expect to serve others we have to acknowledge our own brokenness and absolute need for none other than God.  It is too easy to enter into the lives of the families in Ghana and walk away feeling pity and remorse for their “poor” life.  However, if you release all your preconceived notions about these families, allow yourself to be fully present and in the moment, and truly build a relationship with the individuals – you begin to see them as creations of God, just like you.  In this, you can see in their eyes, poverty’s definition to them is not even the same as yours.  They carry such joy and love, despite a life lacking material items.  You might even find when you leave Ghana, you’ve learned a few things about finding joy in the simplicity of life.

Join them.  If planning work, don’t do all the work, invite the community to join you.  There is that old saying, give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.  This has huge merit, but beyond that, so often the work we go to do - the community already knows how to do.  This year we are planning on sponsoring a Hep B clinic.  Instead of bringing a team full of doctors and nurses, Dave and Ellen will coordinate with a local pharmacy to manage the entire clinic.  This is a significant component in relationship building, empowering and investing in the people to help themselves. 

You are an ambassador for your country.  With technology these days, regardless of circumstances, so often developing countries (including Ghana) have access to videos, movies, and social media views of USA.  Through these, they have already developed ideas of what life is like here.  It is your opportunity to debunk these likely incorrect assumptions.  I remember during our first trip in 2009, one of the house guards was sharing he believed every boy in the USA received a red convertible sports car when he turned 18.  Talk about incorrect assumptions.  It is extremely difficult to completely relate equally with others from another culture.  It requires they see you as equal, and I promise that can be nearly impossible.  But, when their belief is at 18 a boy is given his dreams – it is completely impossible.  We know this is not true, and through sharing our lives, being vulnerable, allowing the relationship building to be a two-way street, we reprogram misconceptions and build bridges that allow for long-term partnership for His kingdom. 

All of this was not to be discouraging, but to change the way we think of mission trips.  To change the purpose and benefit.  It costs a lot of money to travel to Ghana, stay the couple weeks, and support needs while in country.  A lot of money, many feel should be sent to the long-term missionaries to continue the long-term partnerships.  So, why do it?  In my humble opinion, there are so many!  I can tell you , if it wasn't for our first trip in 2009, we may not have listened to God's call for us to launch OSIF.  Without listing all the reasons -I'll list the most important.  It's simple.
Jesus called us to go.  Jesus himself left the Father to live among us.  So, go – leave the comfort of your home – and share your life.  Live with them, learn from them, eat what they eat, and when you return, be their voice to share their story.  SHARE what you’ve learned.  Share their names, their stories, about their lives and most importantly about the author - Jesus and all He is doing through His people.  It’s not all about the cute kid pictures (even if our kiddos are super adorable!)  Take one step in faith, one step at a time, and share your life with those who God calls you to serve – in Ghana or the ends of the earth.  For us, little by little, visit by visit, God has built an amazing love between both us and them AND them and us.  It is through this, we are learning from each other and share in the growth of God’s kingdom. 

One final thought I’ll share – Jesus called us ALL to go!  But, you do not have to fly to Ghana to join in His work.  Look out your window…it’s a big world out there and you can build relationships with those in your neighborhood, regulars at the local dog park, at your school (your children's school), at work, or even at the grocery store.  The thing to do is - pray for God to reveal His heart for the people around you ...and for Him to show you the least of these.  Then...Look them in the eye, Smile, and Begin a conversation (start with hello!).  It may change your life.

Love to you all!