On Saturday morning, May 18, our team met for its first pre-trip orientation and training. This session was lead via video-conference by Rev. Sandra Dorisainvil, director of short-term missions for our denomination’s International Ministries.

At this session participants engaged the biblical concept of being a “stranger,” recognizing the cultural sensitivities of traveling to a foreign land. We were reminded of the ethics of being a guest in another country; this serves as the foundation of our journey.

In the American Baptist Churches, our global servants (missionaries) are trained to identify the needs of the people they serve, then work to generously and lovingly provide for those needs. We don’t presume to know what’s best for those we serve, and we recognize that we will grow in our knowledge and faith by setting aside out own cultural and personal tendencies to meet the needs of another.

We also began discussing some practical considerations for traveling such a great distance. One of our team members said of this training, “The trip is beginning to feel very real now.”

Please pray for our team as we prepare for this journey. Pray for our safety and effectiveness in ministry, but also for our own spiritual growth. It’s very often the case that those who engage in this type of ministry return with a new sense of God’s presence in life. Pray that God would begin molding the hearts of all involved in this effort. And pray for our church; that we might do all we can to support those from our midst who have answered God’s call to serve in this way.