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A Different Kind of Love

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by Amanda Delbeke, EM Summer Staff in West Virginia
Amanda and her team of four EM Summer Staff are facilitating mission trips in one of our biggest summers ever in West Virginia. We're excited to see how much they're already learning and how much their hearts have already turned toward the people of McDowell County.

West Virginia Mission Trips

Nerves were strong as the first team came and went, but God made sure to teach my team members and I something huge in the process. This is bigger than us. Much, much bigger.

This mission team was made up of individuals from North Carolina and a family from Ohio. It was amazing to see how well they bonded together and realized their larger purpose from day one. On night two of evening gatherings, I opened up discussion to share stories or places that they saw God present that day. Queue the point where I was holding back tears for the next 45 minutes. One of the team leaders had piped up on the consistency of the children that had come to serve. Although they came from two completely different places, the children were bright eyed and anxious to work together and make relationships in the community. Two of the boys were about 10, came from different churches and different states, and had not known each other more than 48 hours. Yet, they were a perfect example of God's unity. Here's a group of 35 of us, all from different church backgrounds, with different experiences and opinions, each uniquely made and gifted, working together to share and empower hope in the community. Yet, we're all sons and daughters of one God. What a beautiful picture of community.

West Virginia Mission Trips

On the group's last night in West Virginia, a cookout was hosted at the school for the families of homes the team had helped with. We ate lots, laughed even more, and even got some competitive basketball in. A bonfire was started and I was able to assist some kids from the community in roasting and eating s'mores for the first time. Their reactions to the first bite almost made me start blubbering like a baby. Such a simple concept became so personal in that moment. The importance of sharing God's love. It's easy to forget that we have never lived a day in our lives that God's love hasn't covered us, but, in that moment, I realized I have been placed here to be a catalyst to those unaware and share that message. When we are unified in His love, we are doing exactly what He asks of us. Building community with His other children and loving them as much as He loved each and every one of us first.

Looking back at my devotionals from before the team arrived and to the Monday of the team leaving, I had to laugh at how perfect it all worked out to be. Thursday's thought of the day was "If this is the worst thing that happens to me today, it's still a pretty good day." Fast forward to Monday's thought of the day: "My reactions testify to the kind of relationship I have with Jesus and the kind of effect He has on my heart." Dang.

I'm reminded daily that the words I use are a direct overflow of what my heart is speaking. When the happy gets bumped out of my heart, what's really there is going to be clearly on display. In those times it will either add to the authenticity of my love for Jesus, or go in the complete opposite direction. I am now yearning to always have a thankful heart full of praises instead of a grumbling heart consumed with circumstances. This all cannot be done without God in the center. A lesson I have to reassure myself of daily; that when I serve, laugh, or simply speak—God has the potential to work through the brilliant simplicity of each of us. When my heart is fully consumed with Him, my interactions will directly show it. And for that, I'm grateful. This first team has taught me much more than I anticipated on learning the entire summer. The importance of my authentic love and intentional building of community will leave a long-standing impact on this city. Not the memories of scrunched sandwich bread loaves, leaking sweet tea pitchers, or clogged toilets. Just my love. The simple yet profound thing that we so often take for granted.


LEARN MORE | Check out West Virginia mission trip dates for 2015!
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