The Journey Beings
This summer, a group of 25 youth and young adults from the South England Conference (SEC) embarked on a journey, which unknown to them would change their lives. Filled with a mixture of nervousness and excited energy, when the assorted UK mission team boarded the 22:00 flight from Heathrow to Brazil, they accepted a challenge to participate in both a communal spiritual resurgence, and an individual development through the humbling act of serving others.
Acts of Service
This mission trip gave the attendees the opportunity to be Christ's ambassadors through the act of service. The Brasilia Central Church 'CALEBE' campaign arranged duties in poor local communities that would make a difference in the lives of the residents. The UK mission team redecorated a community church, repainted an outdated children's nursery, renovated playgrounds, assisted in house building, evangelised through music, song, literature distribution as well as befriending many of the locals they met.
Power of Service
Despite the cultural and language barriers, a language that transcended human limitations was the universal language of Christ's love. This experience demonstrated in a profound way that life is full of contradictions, that although we are flawed and broken in different ways, through the powerful glue of Jesus Christ we can be made whole. Members of the UK mission team came from different walks of life with varying relationships with God, but each one learned on this mission trip more about themselves, the untold rewards of soldiering for Jesus and ultimately that God is able even when we are not.
Team Bond
The love of Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a power within each Christian that brings them not just closer to God, but also to each other. This was truly felt by everyone on the Brazil mission trip. Each person coming from a completely different walk of life and with different backgrounds, cultures and experiences, however, being one in spirit and faith the group attending this trip didn't just become a team but a family. A family that was able to love, encourage and grow together, a family that was united in mission. This being true between all attendees from the UK, but everyone who they met along this journey, specially the CALEBE's which they met in Brasilia.
Future
As a result of many special and powerful moments felt by each attendee of the Brazil Mission Trip, and through the guiding and the power of the Holy Spirit, the end of this trip is now a new beginning. The team which was born through this mission has formed a strong union, and despite all the challenges they have come to a common understanding that mission is not a trip but a lifestyle. As a result of this, they have agreed to form a team after the model set by the CALEBE, to be the hands and mouth pieces of God within the South England Conference.
