There is no I in Team

On the long-long-long flight back, I had time to think about what God was teaching me during this short mission trip. I sure hope I was able to bring His good word to a few people. There is no doubt, we worked hard and provided a lot of fun and games. We "taught our hearts out" trying to help children to understand God's love.

But we also learned a lot about ourselves. I think each of us, in our secret hearts, learned something new about ourselves and our relationship with the Father. We learned a little about self-sacrifice. Certainly, not anything near those who are life-long career missionaries, but a little maybe.

Pam, as our leader, kept us safe, on time, and led us all the way through to complete the task. I am so thankful for this. Steve never waived, not once, as the humble minister that he is to us all. I can learn from this. Tracie's beautiful flute that played "As the Deer Pants" squeezed my heart in remembrance of another time hearing that beautiful psalm. Kim's vibrant personality kept us laughing and added pure joy to the trip. She wrote the book for "fun-loving". Mary's gift for giving provided so many gifts to help us remember, in a tangible way, this life-changing trip. I'll treasure the silver cross, always. I've never met a better and more talented middle school teacher than Mary. Beka 's enthusiasm was very contagious. What a wonderful testimony for one so young. I really appreciated Linda's love for everyone on the trip. She demonstrated this in tangible ways by making sure we had all the supplies needed and taking special care that as many people as possible were comfortable. The children responded beautifully to Bridgette's gentle spirit. I loved the high finance goldfish. Scott was a friend and a teacher to those young boys. I think they loved him for his honest presentation of the gospel. And, Ruth was in my heart, remembering her desire to give to this team.

All these together, spell team. Our devotional book for the team asked that we reflect on what we learned. As I was reading and praying I thought about all our precautions for cleanliness, safe food and water. I came across this verse in Matthew:

Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is elminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceeds evil....to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.

I pray that I might have a clean heart so that whatever comes out of my mouth will edify and uplift. There may not be an I in Team, I pray I am in Him.