Who would ever consider taking children on a mission trip? My wife and I asked this same question 9 years ago. Little did we know what God had in store for us. What a blessing it has been!
It has been amazing to see God work in our lives individually and as a family. When we are serving together as a family we have noticed our bond is closer and more united than at any other time. God created each of us to serve him. When we do this on the mission field it brings us into a closer bond with Him and those around us. We have noticed when we remove ourselves from all the distractions of the world and serve together as a family it brings us into a closer relationship with God which in turn brings us closer together as a family. The other aspect of taking your kids onto the mission field is that it opens their eyes to other cultures and people. I want my children to understand that God created and loves all people, all nations, and all tribes! The mission field has opened our kid’s eyes to how blessed we are to live where we have access to clean water, food and the ability to worship God freely! As we have served over these last 9 years in South America our prayer is that God would plant seeds in our kid’s hearts that would give them a passion for the lost. We pray that God would give them a love for people who are not like them and for God to give them a compassionate heart for those who are less fortunate than we are.
We have seen these qualities emerge from our children over the last several years and know it is a direct reflection of what God has done in their lives while serving others. Needless to say, all our fears and reservations of taking our kids on a mission trip have been removed and replaced by Gods sovereign plan.
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying” All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the Age.”
Mark Kreikemeier
