Hello. I'm James . . . James C. This is my story.

Five years ago I went on my first misison trip.

I spoke with Brett Light from Sitka and decided to go to Peru on a Maranatha Volunteers International project to construct a church.

Near the end of the project one of our team members asked me if I was ready to head up a project!

The following summer, Brett asked me the same thing when he came to Alaska Campmeeting.

I couldn't believe it. Having only been on one trip I was convinced that I was completely unequipped.

I was not ready for the challenge. Some may read this as I was unwilling to let God be God.

Then two years ago, my wife and I went on a Marantha project to construct a school in Ecuador.

And just over one year ago, Pastor Kack asked Lynda and I if we would be willing to head up a mission trip for the O'Malley church.

The Lord had little coaxing to solicit a response of "Here am I, Send me" (Isaiah 6:8).

These mission trips have eternally changed my perspective of our world whereas my previous non-mission overseas trips had not.

Two distinct impressions have remained with me from these two mission experiences.

The first is how extremely fortunate Americans are; we have life relatively easy and simply take it for granted.

(Too whom much is given . . . much is required Luke 12:48)

People in developing countries work extremely hard just to survive. Their diet and housing is frequently substandard if not out right deficient.

The other overwhelming impression is how content and satisfied people can be with very little in the way of material things.

By working with and for these people, I became keenly aware of the selfishness and injustice in our world.

It seemed a little thing that we were doing to help these "strangers" with their needs.

Howwever, they were unable to do it for themselves so it was enormeous to them and showed in their gratitude towards us.

In the process, they were showing me a better way to live . . . to serve others!

This reminds me that we too need help, actually Divine aid.

Praise God for our Saviour, Jesus Christ who sacrified everything to save us!

Oh how great a debt we owe.

In the time leading up to this mission trip, God has been impressing upon me the selfishness of human nature, including my own.

Our carnal nature is bent toward selfishness, and the overwhelming majority of the time we aren't even aware of it.

With our upcoming mission trip, Jesus affords us the opportunity to follow in His selfless footsteps.

His ministry consisted of addressing the physical needs of other people and then He was able to address their spiritual needs.

We have the opportunity to help construct a church for the Peñitas congregation, something that they are unable to do for themselves.

God has also blessed us with resources and faithfulness to support a Bible worker for their community to further the Gospel of Jesus.

May our example be one that rightly reflects the character of God Almighty.

Perhaps God is calling you to serve too. What will your answer be?

Here am I, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

 
James went to Seventh-day Adventist schools until he was in high school, but never had made a commitment to the Lord until he was an adult.  James has been a baptized member of the SDA church since 2000. 
 
Lynda