Perfectly timed, as is typically the case with Jesus, the daily devotional in my inbox Wednesday started with “Jesus rebuked the wind” Matthew 4-35-41.  How fitting as this group of 19 takes five days out of their regular routines traveling to Kentucky for tornado damage cleanup and repair. 

After praying out at The Vineyard to launch the mission, we headed out, snacks in hand and excitement and some nervous anticipation among this almost all first-timer mission trip group. Pastor Kathy reminded us that the mission started right away, new relationships and conversations forming on the trip down. One can’t help too with eight hours on the road, sort of forced team building. I had a friend once who referred to long car rides with non-believing colleagues as hostage evangelism. 

We did a little praying of our own for Jesus to rebuke the storm as our caravan of drivers confronted heavy rain for a prolonged time. The red radar showing us perfectly synced, moving along with the storm. I suppose there’s a life metaphor there too. With His help, we got to Chick-Fil-A in Evansville all together and safe. 

Grouping up and meeting our host Tyler with World Compassion Network and Ryan with CrossRoads Mission at First Christian Church, we stashed our stuff and connected as a debrief. The church here is amazing, converting a large part of its education wing to house groups of volunteers stretching back now nearly four years. 

We talked about the storms we all had to face to come on the trip. The whispers of doubt that we shouldn’t go. The storms of life that easily could have provided an excuse to stay home. I’m so happy this group pushed through and came. Our prayer for Thursday is that we can be Jesus’ hands and feet to rebuke the storm damage in people’s lives here. And that through this service and new relationships the storms in the lives of this group are likewise calmed like the seas in Matthew 4. 

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