I K.I.S.S.ed Missions Goodbye

I just finished day 1 of our mission trip in Peru. We went and visited an orphanage today of about 20 children who, through sickness, addiction, finances and/or death, were sent to live in the Camino Del Vida home for boys and girls. Now to set the stage, faith and its' surface and depth have been front and center in my thoughts and prayers lately. Hearing the man with the demon possessed son cry out to Jesus, "Lord, increase my faith!" I thought of all the ups and downs of my faith walk and life experiences. The pain of lost dreams, lost family and lost opportunities ring out. The guilt some days of a life that I consider far too comfortable (thank you, Psalm 16:5-6 for an answer to that) feels overwhelming.

Walking off the bus, into a real mission field was easier than you'd think. For a player (in my opinion) that spends far too long practicing and not enough time in the game, the invitation was immediate. A small girl, with a quick smile and wicked right kick, beckoned me to catch a volleyball, that became a soccer ball and as the missions team disappeared to tour the facility, I was introduced to the Peruvian game of vente uno, with rules and words that I couldn't comprehend, but one thing I understood: sometimes our best bet, after exhausting our resources, beating ourselves to a pulp and living outside our center is to just 'keep it simple stupid'. Remembering two things: God is much better at determining our worth and we are called only to respond to Him, believing that He believes more in us than we ever will.

"...what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you that you care for him?" Ps 8:4