Lois's Mission Testimony

Hi. I'm Lois, and I went on a short-term mission trip to Thailand this summer. After going to the Philippines mission through college in 2016, I thought that I would like to have a job where I can go to mission during summer vacation. This Thailand mission trip felt like a dream come true after 7 years. Among the members of the mission team going together, there were members going on a mission for the first time, so I had even higher expectations.

While preparations for missions were in full swing, our church had many difficult days in the process of leaving the UMC. Even when there was no place to train, I believed until the end. There must be a reason why God is calling us to Thailand, and we just have to obey.

When we went to Thailand, we served the people through VBS, English camp, and various skits and dances. Ten days went by so quickly. As soon as I returned to work, I felt something empty. What changed?

Have many people met God?

What have I done?

At that moment, the word obedience entered my mind.

And Samuel said,

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

-1 Samuel 15:22

There are times when I mistakenly think that it is my own sacrifice going on missions. However through missions, God is teaching me something greater. In the missionary field, I sweat all day, take care of the members, carry bags of members who are sick, and socialize with people even when I am tired and sleepy - doing things I don't necessarily want to do. However, I came to know that God is looking at how much I obeyed God rather than what or how much I accomplished on the mission field.

I realized once more through this missions that doing God's work is not to exalt me but to exalt God in humility.

I can't change the world by going on one mission, but I can worship God and obey the small and insignificant things that I may not want to do. For those who didn't go to Thailand, living on obedience at every moment makes us all missionaries.

Thank you to all the believers who prayed for our Thailand mission team until the very end.