A Missionary’s Mindset

The following is the main teaching I give to every person who wants to volunteer at one of our camps for orphans in Korea. It is also probably the best advice that could be given to anyone who desires to do missionary work…

One of the greatest acts of love ever made was Jesus Christ coming down from heaven here to this earth to experience life with us. Jesus, in heaven, had a perfect relationship with the Father. He had angels attending to His every need. He had all power and all knowledge. He had complete authority. But through the incarnation He, being God, came down as a human… and not only as just a human, but as an infant. Jesus endured life as all of us do, from being a helpless little baby to being a child to being a teenager to becoming an adult. For all of Jesus’ life He never complained about all He had given up for us. Despite being God Almighty He chose to wash our feet, to lay hands on the children and bless them, to heal all who was sick that came to Him, and to travel by foot and by boat all throughout the land. While Jesus was on earth His focus was on loving us, not worrying about His own discomforts and not dwelling on all that He was really entitled to.

If someone serves with us for one of our camps for the orphans, we tell them that while serving the kids they must lay down any of their own entitlement just as Jesus did when He came to us. We tell them they are not to complain or arrive late or slip out early. We tell our volunteers that they must set the right example for the kids. Even if they don’t like some of the food served at our camp, they must eat it and be positive about it. Even if the weather is really bad, they will not complain but keep positive. Even if one of the kids gives them trouble, they will keep their chin up and know that they are the adult and that they are filled with God’s love and that they will not be discouraged by a child. We tell them that they must be an excellent example to the kids by honoring the leaders and by encouraging their fellow volunteers. They must have the same attitude of Christ, that while they are serving they will remain positive and faithful to the end of their mission.

Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and had all that He needed. He knew He was on a mission from His Father and that His Father would not let Him down. So Jesus remained strong and steady even when people mocked Him, betrayed Him, and denied Him.

The source of our strength in serving the orphans and whoever else God sends us to is that we too are filled with the Holy Spirit and that we lack nothing. No bad weather, no crummy food, no fussy child will steal our joy or our strength. Rather, for the joy set before us (completing the mission God has given us and knowing Him more through the process), we will endure whatever it takes. God is good!

Philippians 2:5-11 – Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death–ever death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Check out how all the girls were blessed by our volunteers at our last Arts and Crafts Camp. Strong, loving, faithful volunteers = children free from fear and insecurity, able to smile and laugh knowing they are in a completely safe environment…