In the midst of craziness, but I had to check this out...

Read this article by Fuller's own Kara Powell, if you're interested for the future, or have ever gone on a short-term missions trip. It raises some important issues that we as Westernized Christians who do these trips must contend with and be honest about. I loved going to Africa this summer, but I did struggle with the real "help" I was providing. It's one reason I decided to help sponsor one of the children in Ilula: so I can remain connected in some way with their community...I am also wanting to take a trip this summer somewhere (possibly Cambodia, Zambia, or Venezuela)...this would also be for school credit, but this article reminds me of the things that I wrestled with in my Incarnation and Mission class last quarter, and how I need to consider the needs of the people that we seek to serve before my own desire to feel "helpful."

This is also why my "project" (for lack of a better term) at my church...not the Kingdom Assignment (as dubbed) but something I've been working on before that... is something that I've become passionate about...an entire church community seeking regular, consistent time with the downtrodden and oppressed, welcoming them into community and engaging in mutual exchanges with them. This is all very vague and cryptic, but i don't have the time (or energy :( ) to explain. I will post on this again soon, in hopes that people out there in the wide world of cyberspace will pass on wisdom, encouragement, criticism, etc.