“AS WE WERE GOING!”

I was part of a mission team that went to Jamaica over a year ago.  Our theme for the week stemmed from the actual meaning of “Go” found in the Great Commission (“AS YOU ARE GOING).   We took that theme and tried to develop it all week long.  Here’s a cool story that came from our willingness to serve “as we were going.”

“Well I haven’t said anything for a month and I know that your ears are itching to hear my voice but since I probably won’t have time to call and tell all of you guys this, I’m just going to write it up here. A year ago and a couple days, I was given the opportunity to go back to Jamaica for a week. I went down there not knowing a single soul except for Marla, Finley, and Ruby. On my flight from Memphis to Montego Bay I prayed the whole way that God would just give me one friend that I can go to and confide in for the week. I didn’t care if they were a guy or girl, old or young, anyone would be fine. Well I got off the plane and made it through customs and was greeted with a smile by Mary the intern and Finley! Finley and I talked for a while while we waited for the other group to get there. The first guy that came out was Jon Lyles. Jon had the brightest look on his face and then if possible, when he saw the ACE sign his face lit up even more. Then came the rest of the crew: Mr. Bill, Mr. Greg, Miss Terri, Nathaniel, Courtney, Amanda, Bekah, Blair, Joel, Jessica, and Hannah. Within 20 minutes I had a friend. Nathaniel. After the Burger King stop I had another friend: Mr. Bill. By the time we had driven 10 minutes from the Burger King, God blessed me with not just one friend to confide in for the entire week but 12. The next day they renamed their group ‘Westside Church and Joey.’ I could write a Harry Potter book worth (the thick ones) on each person and how they befriended me and how I’ve been blessed thus far as a result of them and it would just be a skeletal view of what they did and how they had an impact on me. You know that verse that talks about God providing for all our needs? Or the one that talks about being blessed beyond measure? Or how about the verse that talks about His faithfulness? I experienced it firsthand that week down in Jamaica and the blessing keep on coming as a result of those 12 friends. I am now at North Greenville University in South Carolina as a result of those 12 people. After attending that school for a semester I have made even more friends that lift me up and encourage me. And I know that other people can see the difference that those 12 God put in my path have made in my life. All of that just in one year. So guys, when God says go: Go. When God says grow: Grow. When He says no: it’s not a suggestion. But when He says “I know”: You better perk your ears up and listen to what He tells you, cause it will change your life. The group from Westside changed mine. I don’t know how many times I have told you guys (Westside) this, and I don’t know if you will end up reading this or not but you mean more to me than you can possibly imagine and I thank God daily for every one of you.”

So, step out of that comfort zone and care about somebody today…..you’ll never know what kind of impact you’ll make!

~ by jonlyles on July 7, 2009.