The Perfect Team!

Jimmy Drills!You have heard of the perfect storm, right?  Well now you are going to hear about the perfect team!  It is not about which people are on the mission field today but who is on the mission field today.  It is not about the types of people who are on the mission field today but the citizenship of the people on the field today.  It is not about the personalities or abilities of the people on the field today but the focus of the people on the field today.

Eight years ago, I went to Managua, Nicaragua with a team of 6 "bench builders."  All of which were inexperienced woodworkers.  Two men (me and a chauvanist in denial) and four women.  The wood was not even rough hewn and had to be sized and planed - each board foot.  The tools were inadequate and the plans flawed.  No one was the master of any of the tools and at the end of the first day we had only one bench built.  With 5 days remaining to build and an order of 30 or so benches, we were depressed and wondering.  Prayer, focus and God's favor prevailed as we made over 50 benches in the remaining days.  Complete, varnished - done.  The chauvanist confessed at the end, "I would have never thought it but you all work better and harder than any team of guys could have or would have."  What he did not know was that it was in the "need" that the people turned to God and became better than ever.  It was in the willingness to do anything or everything that the people of Northwest shone and found themselves useful and are an excellent well drilling team.

God was honored then and he is honored here today.  God has sent out 5 very equipped humans into an unknown field and any one of them would tell you today that this is a "surprisingly successful team".  They do not think too little of themselves but rather the natural man would think the November team (plumbers, mechanics, physical laborers and "smarty pants.") might be more equipped than this team.  But once again, the Church has equipped people to go when, where and do what God wants.  This team all knows they are to be here.  They all know that they can and will do anything or everything and they will love whatever it is.  They are willing to be stretched and willing to do the mundane.  They know their strengths and weaknesses.

Most importantly, and perhaps the greatest success, is that they are so close and focused on One Father that without even words they know each others strengths as well.  Everyone has little things that are fun about the others' jobs but they know they are in the right job - therefore they are effective for him.  If asked, anyone of them would choose the exact job for the others and for themselves.  Indeed, when you seek His direction to be effective for His work in His place - you all get the same answer.

We demand that our volunteer missionaries learn that they are the most important part of the mission trip.  The weakest of them will be the weakest link in the team chain.  The team will rise and fall on individual preparation.  It is not about the task, the initial talent but the character and wisdom of the people.  This team is the perfect team because of Christ and their surrender to Him.  Any team of any people like this will also be "the perfect team."

Be proud of what the Lord has caused in His People.

MISSION TRIP UPDATE - It is cold and rainy again.  We finish the well and place the pump on our final well today.  We learn to field dress the well and break it down.  We clean.  We shower and we come home to the people we love.  Look for pictures after lunch.  Keep praying.