It is hard to believe that we’ve been back in Nashville for over two weeks already, as it we were just there. Though it has been wonderful to be home and to see family, it has been challenging as well. It’s always a struggle reinserting myself back into daily life after a mission trip, but for some reason this time has been much more difficult.
It is truly humbling to be used for God’s purpose, be that at home or around the world. Knowing you’ve been used while feeling unworthy to be used fit perfectly when describing my emotions from our trip.
One of the things I will remember is what an outstanding job each of our team members did while there. From players getting up to talk and share about their faith for the first time in their lives, to Tony and Josie doing an outstanding job leading, I was impressed time and time again.
I’ve come away from the trip with a couple of personal reflections. There really aren’t answers right now, more things for me to think about, pray about, and work through. In what ways should we, as a team, be involved in ministry in and around Belmont that we haven’t done in the past? In what ways should I, as a coach, minister to our team that I haven’t done in the past?
Thank you to all of you that supported us and our trip. Whether through prayer, transportation, finances, or communication, each piece of support meant a great deal to us and is yielding eternal significance in the lives of many people. Thank you to all of the parents that entrusted your daughters to us and allowed us to take them to Brazil for this life changing experience.
Last, but far from least, a special thanks goes to BW for leading our trip. After beginning to talk and pray about this trip four years ago, it was amazing to see it all take place. Thank you for all the work you did in preparation for our trip, and thank you for the example you continue to set here at Belmont. It was an honor to minister alongside you as your brother in Christ.
This trip is another beginning in our lives of God working in us and through us. I don’t know where my (or our team’s) journey will take me, but I know that He does.
There is a chorus by Steve Green (from Philippians 1:6) that seems appropriate now in light of God working in and through us:
He who began a good work in you, He who began a good work in you, Will be faithful to complete it, He'll be faithful to complete it, He who started the work, Will be faithful to complete it in you
Deane
