I've been surrounded lately by the word "sustainable." It's a hot vocab word in the circles I hang out in, and is the topic of many conversations. What can we do in missions and ministry that is really sustainable in the sense that it is more helpful than hurtful to the people we are trying to work with? And in my heart I was questioning my decision to go to Ecuador, and asking myself, "Is it sustainable?"
Not in the sense that most people would define it. We don't create long-term jobs for people while we're overseas, we can't build long-lasting relationships, and we can't create a long-term care program. But we CAN do something that is more important than any of that.
I think in our good desire to do things that are sustainable, we lose sight of what's really sustainable. Because we know that someday all of this will slip away, and all we will have left is our relationship with Jesus.
In Ecuador, we planted the seed of the Gospel in people's hearts and lives, we encouraged believers who were growing weary, and we saw people come to know Jesus. THAT is sustainable.
And watching the students on the trip grow, lay down their struggles and sins at the foot of the cross, cry, laugh, and believe....THAT was and IS sustainable.
The change that happens in the lives of the students and leaders on the trip is always life-altering....and that is part of what the trip is about. When we are pushed beyond our limits, lots of times we see, feel, and hear things we normally wouldn' t.
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