| Of short term trips |

In my years of study at Tyndale, I have heard many things about short term mission trips. Many say that the resources consumed by flights, food, and housing could be better used in tangible ways by long term missionaries. And while this may be true economically speaking, I have also learned that God's kingdom has some interesting upside-down economics.

What I have witnessed in these past ten days has been breath taking at times. This is not because of beauty, but because of spiritual desolation. I'm proud to have taken a few days out of my year, to have traveled and witnessed God's beautiful world first hand, but more so to have been vulnerable and malleable such that God would show me His heart, and use me to do something about this spiritual desolation. I'm proud to have stood in the gap as I tried to support long term missionaries in their ministries that sometimes feel futile.

Pray for the church in Czech. Pray that the contrast be noticed, for in the darkest of places a little light has a significant impact. Pray that God would come alongside these beacons of light, give them strength and fuel to keep on burning, and that Satan would not hide them behind screens of deception and deceit. Pray for the church in Hlinsko as it is a city on a hill; may it shine brighter than ever before.

To all my Czech friends, you have been a tremendous blessing. The kindness you have shown me has been unreal. I'm praying that God would lead me back to you in a year's time. May His will be done, not mine.