Wow! What a week! You are tired, but invigorated. You have seen God do some incredible things this week. You have been stretched to the limit both physically and spiritually. God has touched your heart and yes, you will never be the same. That’s why God brought you here.

But now you most go home. Return to the daily routine of your life and things that are so different from what you have done this week. It will be great to see the family that you have missed so much this week. But how will you ever describe what you have seen and experienced this week. As you return and begin to share your mission experience with family and friends, realize that it is like taking a snapshot of the Grand Canyon. No matter what you say, they won’t really be able to understand fully. It will be frustration. Your family might get tired of hearing your stories. Friends might just say, “oh how nice”, and turn and walk away. This is normal. Expect it!

How can you effectively communicate your mission trip? One way would be to think of that one special experience where you really saw God at work. The little girl that broke your heart. The pastor that you were so impressed with. The person that you spoke to that came to know Christ. Learn to tell that story well with descriptive terms that will make it seem real to whoever hears it. When someone asks you about your trip, tell them that you can’t share everything, but one thing that God showed you was…… Then close by saying something like; “If you ever get a chance to go on a mission trip, I would encourage to the go. It will be a blessing to your life. Or if you are able to help someone else go on a mission trip, it would be a great investment in the Lord’s kingdom.” Don’t make them feel guilty for not going, but encourage them to be involved in missions in the future.

Accept any opportunity to share your experiences with Sunday School classes, Bible study groups, or churches. You can be a blessing to other by sharing what God has done in your life this week.

Yes, this has certainly been a mountain top experience. But remember we all live life in the valleys. God uses the mountain tops to get our attention, to draw us closer to Him, and encourage us to do His will. How can you nurture this experience after you get home. First you can commit to pray for the Christians you have meet this week. You can also look for ways that God wants you to change your attitudes and possession to be able to serve Him better. Finally, you can seek opportunities to be involved in mission in your local church and community. We honor God when we offer Him the sacrifice of our obedience and service.