Reflections on a Recent Short-Term Mission Trip
By Gary Koontz
 Our trip to East Asia was a wonderful adventure. You HAVE to make a decision to go on one of these trips. Your life will be blessed in the most wonderful way.
We met with students at universities and conducted "English corners" where everyone can ask questions and discuss anything. We also had many private sessions with one, two, or three people at a time and prayed with them to accept the Father. Among those were several students, our interpreter's mother, a taxi driver, boys and girls that we had been in touch with all last year, as well as teachers and administrators. It was so exciting and the emotions were overwhelming. They don't take accepting our Lord lightly; you can see the change in them immediately. They have hope and joy! They are taught how to study and pray and we follow up on them.
Here are a few comments in e-mails recently:
"Dear Grandpa and Grandma, Thank you for your pray for me and my father. I'm deeply touched. When I told the story about you and me to my other friends, all of them said, ‘how lucky you are!’ Of course I believe I'm the luckiest person in the world because God put us together even though sometimes I think I am the most unfortunate girl among my friends, as a lot of disasters happened to my family, but still I will comfort myself because I believe God has his special purpose of special reason for the matters he has arranged for me. That's also why I can't forget the special love from you and I'll cherish it forever."
Another e-mail:
"Thanks Gary my dearest Grandpa, for helping me to know God and I like to be with him. Every day my life is so colorful and fantastic! I couldn't imagine the life without him now. I'm still keep my habit to write the diary now. I'll keep seeking him."
 A Beijing student says "Dear Grandpa, I want to tell you a piece of good news! Guess what? You couldn't figure it out! OK. Now I can reveal it! Yesterday I had the baptismal! The most unforgettable moment in my life. Before I was soaked into the water I was nervous and excited. After I came out, I feel definitely sure that I will follow Him in all my life! I have never been so sure about that since the moment I came out from the water. Right now, we are sharing the same Spirit and same Lord! Thank you God for choosing me! Thank you God for giving this new life. Right now, I'm totally new now! A nice feeling when I know that I'm reborned by the Holy Spirit."
It is so wonderful to be a part of the joy and astonishment in these people's lives. We are the ones who are blessed by taking His message around the world.
Gary Koontz |
