Twelve other people and I recently had the opportunity to spend a week in Guibert, Haiti, doing construction at a boy's orphanage. Our work including pouring concrete, putting new windows into one of the rooms and painting two other rooms, one of which became a new living area for the youngest boys at the orphanage.

Stuart Harris with children at the orphanage in Guibert, Haiti.

Throughout the week, I couldn't help but feel some pride over the work we were doing. Many of the boys had never had much room to live in, and some had even had to share a bed for the past couple of years. With the new room we were painting, we gave many of the boys their own bed for the first time, plus a bigger room with more space for them to sleep in. I felt like we were doing this great work for a country that was in desperate need.

One day late into the week, I was reminded of a verse in Deuteronomy 8. God was speaking to the Israelites before he brought them into the Promised Land. He told them: "Beware lest you say in your heart, 'my power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to make wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is to this day."

God's desire was to keep his people from becoming prideful, and his way of doing that was to remind them that he—not their own strength—was the source of everything they accomplished, even the things they built with their own hands.

Harris and friends

Group that ministered in Haiti through GoNowMissions.

I realized that my pride had been souring the whole week, thinking that it was my gifts and the work of my own hands that had built these walls. The truth was, God had been doing an amazing work long before our team ever got to Haiti, and he would continue working long after we left. Since the earthquake hit two years ago, God has provided 42 new houses for people in the village where we were working, plus the surrounding area. The church where the orphanage was located, although small in size, was filled with the life and joy of people knowing and worshipping Christ, and our team did nothing to create that. With all of the problems with poverty, hunger, and voodoo worship in the country, God was rebuilding homes, feeding his people, and raising disciples that honored and glorified his name as a nation.

We may have offered our hands to help build a house for a few orphans, but God was the one giving them a home when they had nothing. We may have laughed and played with the boys all week, but he is the one who fathers them and gives them a hope and a future. I went to Haiti to offer an amazing service, but I can't offer the eternal life that God can through faith in his Son. He has been working in Haiti for many years, and simply let me be a witness of what he was doing. For that, I am thankful.

Stuart Harris, a student at the University of Texas, served in Guibert, Haiti, with Go Now Missions.

Israel Mendez, a student at Texas A&M University – Kingsville, was part of the New York City GoNow Missions team that returned Dec. 21 from a week of ministry in the Big Apple.

As Mendez was attempting to fly out of San Antonio for New York, the flight was delayed several times, according to GoNow Missions ministry assistant Laura Howery.

"In the midst of that, Israel got to share Christ with someone at the airport," she said.

He tells the story in the accompanying video clip.

Go Now Missions mobilizes students from Texas Baptist churches and Baptist Student Ministry to share the love of Christ across the world.

Trips either completed or ongoing during December are:

Dec. 9-17 – Transniestria

Dec. 14-21 – Haiti

Dec. 16-23 – Mission Arlington

Dec. 16-21 – New York City

Dec. 17-Jan. 1 – Go Now East Asia

Dec. 17-Jan. 1 – Red Lights East Asia

Dec. 18-Jan. 5 – WTAMU BSM East Asia

Dec. 26-Jan. 8 – Savannah

Dec. 27-Jan. 7 – Wayland BSM Haiti

Dec. 27-Jan. 7 – Tarleton BSM Haiti

A GoNowMissions team of six students and one adult sponsor returned Dec. 17 from a week-long trip working with orphans in Moldova.

According to Gloria Tillman of GoNowMissions, the team had planned to go into Transniestria, a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine, to deliver boots to orphans there.

Teams were to go from one orphanage to another, but although the boots made it into Transniestria, the team did not.

"The boots will eventually get to the orphans that need them, but our team will not be a part of that," she said. Instead, the team stayed in Moldova working with the orphanages there, "putting on Christmas shows, telling the Christmas story, singing Christmas songs, and sharing love and life with the orphans they met."

"Our students have the opportunity to work with orphans and others in need. They are there to put a smile on a child's face and give a child hope in the future through Christ."

Working through Children's Emergency Relief International (CERI), GoNowMissions has sent a team for several Christmas seasons in a row, alternating between Transniestria and Moldova.

More videos from the trip are posted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gonowmissions .

We didn’t feel as prepared as we could have been going into it, and we weren’t sure what they really wanted from us. Still, I was excited to go and finally be able to work with kids.

We arrived, and I very quickly found out none of the kids spoke any English. Since I know very little German, I was worried. How was I going to be able to do anything? People came up to me and began talking in German. I tried to understand what they were saying but quickly had to explain, “I am sorry, but I speak only a little German.” I soon became frustrated.

The conference began, and the speaker was talking in Arabic. An interpreter was translating to German, and my friend Pia sat beside me translating to English. At that moment, I was thinking it was going to be a long four days. I asked: “Why did you send me here God? I don’t speak German. I don’t speak Arabic. What will you have me do?”

Yet once we started the children’s program, everything turned around. To see the children’s smiling faces touched my heart. I told them I don’t speak much German. I explained they would have to speak slowly to me and help me try to understand. It was amazing. There were 7-year-olds and 8-year-olds being more patient with me than I was.

On the second day, one of the little girls smiled and told me in German that we were friends. I was so amazed that she still felt connected to me, and that we were growing together without speaking much. I felt God was showing me how it does not matter what language we speak. If God wants us to lead children in a different language, he will make it work.
 
The rest of the weekend was very tiresome—always trying to figure out what was being said and to speak in German more than English. But I felt God took me there to help me realize why I am in Austria, even without being able to speak German. I’m here to do his will.

Callie Chudej, a student at A&M University of Corpus Christi, is serving with Go Now Missions in Austria.

Where I am in the Middle East, people are persecuted for leaving their religion behind and choosing to follow the truth.  For them to choose to go as far as being baptized and physically show how they have changed can lead to worse persecution—even exile from the family or worse.

This is what baptism is all about. It is about showing in a physical way the change in you now that you know the Father.  It is showing that even though there may and will be persecution, nothing can keep you from the Father.

There were three who made the decision to do this—ages 21, 19 and 17. These guys took the brave step and showed to the world they are different because they know the truth and what the truth says to do.

After getting to be a part of this, we were able to share with them in their first taking of the Lord’s Supper. Then we were able to go to some nearby woods for a meeting that only happens once a year. With more than 500 people, we praised God for what he has done.

Standing there listening to the speaker and hearing it translated in more than five languages and hearing the songs of praise was so touching. Even though there where all these differences physically and culturally, we were able to sing to the Lord together and pray for the country, for the lost and for each other.

It reminded me that even though we get stuck in our own little world, there are brothers and sisters everywhere whop are seeking to do God’s will. One thing that I know for sure is that not only does God have plans for every single one of us, but also that he is moving in the Middle East.

J.P. is a student at Midwestern State University, serving with Go No Missions in the Middle East. His full name is withheld for security reasons.

I left America thinking I would jump right into things. And I can't say I exactly have. I thought more projects were going to be running and that I would be more involved right from the get-go. In no way is it bad that things are not beginning to happen as quickly as I would have thought. It was just different than I expected.

God has shown me how I am not here on my time. But I am fulfilling his purpose on his precious time. I need to be patient and realize I am here to serve when needed. God showed me that I am being used from the beginning, and I will get to see amazing things he wants to be done.

I am reading through Philippians right now and being reminded how I need to imitate Christ's humility in everything I do—not just the big things where everyone can see, but even the little things. Not complain on the inside about things I don’t feel like are important. I need to be so thankful for God sending me here and giving me the opportunity to be used in a different way than I am use to and do it cheerfully. I am also reminded in Philippians that I am here to fulfill God’s purpose—not mine, not the church I am working with or the department I am working at.

And most of all, when I feel lonely or feel out of place, I need to lean on the Lord and go to him in prayer. He and only he will give me peace and guard my heart. I love rereading through Scripture and getting that encouragement and being reminded whom I should be imitating. I can sometimes lose that focus when so much is going on around me, especially when serving.

Callie Chudej, a student at A&M University of Corpus Christi, is serving with Go Now Missions in Austria.

As soon I emerge from the rubble and trash, a maze of tiny houses begin. I stumble through the uneven and broken pavement trying to hold my balance. Kids run all around me.

“Hi, aunty!” one yells. As I look at him, a naked boy with a crusty nose and black-tainted cheeks, my heart slowly begins to break.

I wave and smile, trying to not to let him see how insecure I feel. Even after coming here many times, it still feels like it’s the first time.

I keep going, eyes on the ground, minding every uncertain step I take.

I briefly look inside the tiny one-room houses, and I see most of their space is filled with altars for their idols. Flowers and burning incense surround well-adorned mantles.

I see it as I pass the next shack, and the next one, and the next.
My heart keeps breaking.

Kids, animals, women, they all spew into the alleyways outside their tiny compound. One woman washes dishes with dirty water, while her neighbor picks lice from her 2-year-old child’s hair.

I see dogs quenching their thirst from the same water everyone drinks.

Don’t they know it isn’t safe? Don’t they know it isn’t healthy?
How can they? It’s the only source of water they have around.

I try to clear my mind praying for God’s voice to comfort me in the middle of such desolate view. Then, I remembered my past prayer: “Break my heart for what breaks yours.”

Prayer request granted.

I squeeze my way through a tiny alley filled with puddles of stagnant water. I block out the odors, but I have to breath sometime. So, every now and then, I take in the stench.
I can smell the hopelessness.

A couple of steps more and there I’ll be, a tiny building cramped with 50-ish tiny souls waiting for me to shake their tiny little hands—to tell them more about a friend named “Jesus.”

Barefooted, naked, dirty and stinky, they all surround me. Before, I would have cared. Now, everything blends in thanks to the love I’ve been given, thanks to the love I have to share.

It’s nearing 5 p.m., and it’ll be dark soon. So, I begin with a simple prayer that echoes over the slum.

“Thank you, Jesus, for my life. Thank you, Jesus, for my family. Thank you for loving us and for your sacrifice. Amen.”

S.M. is  student at the University of Texas-Pan American, serving with Go Now Missions in South Asia. Her full name is withheld for security reasons.

One of the Bible studies that we led was with the barangay captain’s daughters. The barangay captain is kind of like a mayor, and he has a lot of power and influence in the village. So, it was a huge blessing to be able to minister to his family.

Both of his daughters were saved, but they did not understand or seek God’s truth. As we led Bible study with them, we were able to show them the truth. Before, these young women did not read their Bibles. But since we started doing Bible study with them, they have been reading their Bibles more for themselves. Praise God!

Liz Tadlock, a student at Texas A&M University, served with a mission team in the Philippines.

Sam started feeling sick while he was visiting one of the houses in the village. My fellow team members who were sharing at the same house reported feeling lots of opposition as they were sharing the gospel.

For the next two days, Sam could not participate in ministry and ate very little. We prayed earnestly and asked God to heal him. If Sam did not start to improve, we would have to leave the village three days early.

The next day, he started feeling better. And two days later, after sharing the gospel at the local high school, 10 students gave their lives to Jesus.

God healed Sam and showed his grace to us by saving those students. If we had left early, those students might not have heard the gospel.

Liz Tadlock, a student at Texas A&M University, served with a mission team in the Philippines.

Lala started telling me about her fasting month. She talked about the command to ask forgiveness of every friend and family member at the end of the fasting month.

“Lala,” I said to her, “Isa (the Muslim name for Jesus) came as a perfect sacrifice.” I talked about how his ancestors had to offer sacrifices of rams and bulls to cleanse them from their sins. She nodded, agreeing with me.

“Isa may be your prophet, but he is my Savior,” I continued. “And he came to be the ultimate and best sacrifice that will make you, me and everyone clean before God if we trust in him to cleanse us from our sins.” His blood is enough, I explained.

“So,” she said, thoughtfully, “Jesus can wash away all of my sins?”

Joy filled my heart. I knew the Holy Spirit was working in her heart and drawing her to salvation. I know the Lord is good and perfect in his salvation of all peoples.

Sarah, a student from the University of Texas, served with Go Now Missions in Southeast Asia this summer. Her last name is withheld for security reasons.

Tired. Overwhelmed. Tearful. These words described my spirit as the community health team and I headed across the city to do another hepatitis B camp.

We planned to give the second dose of medicine to a group of construction workers, hoping they would all come back after their first dose one month ago. But for some reason, my heart was heavy, and my eyes were glued to the heaviness outside my window. We were stalled for about 30 minutes at one point, and I could feel myself shutting down as I saw the pain in the eyes of those passing. I blinked and turned away, then saw a rickshaw parked in front of our vehicle. "Pray for South Asia" was stamped on two bumper stickers on the front. I knew God was speaking to me.

What is the answer to this burden for the lost, for my feelings of hopelessness? Prayer. What am I to do with this mass of broken humanity? Push it away from me, on to the foot of God's throne. Let him take the load and give me a piece or two as he instructs me on what I should do with them.

We spent the next 30 minutes traveling, and with each minute I saw more poverty. Each picture was like a blow. Hindu temples galore, the Muslim call to prayer, people in rags, filth on the streets, broken-down buildings, a beggar tapping on my car window.

A little boy asked for food. His small voice whispered, telling me to pray, but I began to hear Satan speak: "See? There is no way these people can know Christ. I am very powerful here. You are so powerless. Just give up. You're pathetic. They will never learn. They are too stupid, too far gone, too lost in the stronghold of evil. God's mission is impossible in this place." And he laughed.

I clenched my teeth as hot tears came. His words were my feelings exactly, but the Lord gave me the strength to resist in His truth. No, it is not. God is able. I will choose to trust him.

Psalm 37 has become a comfort for me here, as I wonder what good can be done by someone so small in faith in a world so full of darkness. I believe the words speak for themselves.

"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes." (vs. 3-7)

He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world. I will trust God. He is in control. I will submit my anxieties in prayer. He will be made famous. Evil shall perish. There will be South Asian tongues and knees at his throne.

Rachel, a student at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, is serving in South Asia.

Building houses in the Philippines began with my training June 2 and ended a debriefing Aug. 4. As this summer mission has ended, it would be so simple and human for this experience in the Philippines to end. This idea is engrained in our very human nature, right?

The apostle Paul knew much about human nature. In Galatians, he tells that group of believers: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.” (Galatians 5:16-17)

Applying this passage to our lives, we must fight against every part of the flesh that goes contrary to the will and word of God. One thing we must fight is our forgetfulness. As I read through the book of Exodus, I was taken back by how many times the Lord repeated himself. Every ritual and sacrifice had meaning. From Passover to the Feat of Unleavened bread, each was given so the people would not forget what God had done. Exodus 20:2 says, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.”

“Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, ‘We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.’” (Exodus 24:7)  Yet only 12 chapters later, we find these very same people building for themselves a golden calf to worship. How easily do we forget what God has delivered us from.

This summer, the Lord delivered me from some chains of my own. While at my university, I now have a deeper desire to dig into the Scriptures and to be mentored by a college minister . I want to learn to live out this love Jesus speaks of, a love by which people will know we are followers of Jesus Christ, not just nice people. I want to grow into being a man after God's own heart, not just to be classified as a “college student.” Receiving a diploma does not magically make you a man or woman.

May I never forget what I have learned and been taught by God. He has allowed this mission to change my life—not in a crying, tear-jerking emotional way, but at the very core of my being. This chapter of my life is part of the never-ending relationship I have with God. May we learn from the past, and never forget what God has done in our own lives. May we not live for the dot of this life, but for the arrow of eternity.

Dan Black, a student at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, served this summer with a Nehemiah Team in the Philippines, in association with Habitat for Humanity.