Global Outreach Trip

CG,
I just can't get over how many women are saying that if you do this now you are some way going to hurt your children.
When my youngest was 6 mths old, and my oldest was about 6, I had to go on a two week trip to train for work. There was no way I could turn it down, it was either go, or lose your job, a job I might mention I'd had for nearly 7 yrs. I couldn't afford to lose my job so I went.
My children haven't been affected by my leaving for two weeks. If you were to ask them today they wouldn't even remember it! I didn't have them clinging to me everytime I walked out the door screaming "Don't leave me!!"
All children go through the stage of not wanting their parents to leave them with people, but it doesn't have anything to do with any trips you took or didn't take.
Please consider this, if you don't take this chance now, how many years will it be before you decide that your children can live two weeks without you, 5? 10? 20? The younger they are the less likely they'll even remember you were gone. The oldest might remember for a week or two, but it won't last longer then that!

Thid does sound like a God lead thing and if he means for you to go the financial will also work out. Parents can sometimes be short sighted in the kind of thing especially if they are older and haven't been involved in this kind of thing themselves. I personally have not done this but know of other who have, on a mission trip to Mexico and their children were fine. If this were just a vacation your family would probably give you no hassle and even probably help! It is hard to decide if it is God that is putting the doubts but the fact the rest of this all laid into place so well, it may be someone else trying to stear you away for Gods work! Watch and pray for the financial end and God Bless you for having this in your heart. I will pray for you also and that His will be done....
K.

Hi CG, My name is K. and I am a Born Again believer in Jesus. First, of all I know you will be lead by Jesus as you ask Him his direction. What awsome "coinsidenences)that are taking place so far. I have never been on a missions trip, but if the Lord opens a door I would go thru it. Everyone I know has been changed by their experience. My church, Rock Community, just had a team go to the Dominine Republic. They gave their testomony 2 weeks ago. They couldn't say enough how the Lord provided
for them in every area and how they saw the Lord work in
awsome ways to minister to the people and answered prayers.
Jesus knows your heart too and I'm sure He will lead you
and answer your concerns and everything will go smoothly.
God bless you as you do His will. K.

Hi CG,

While I have never been on a mission trip nor away from my children for a length of time I do know that God puts things in front of you and asks you to follow without question or doubt. If it is meant to be (which to me it sounds like it is) then God will make sure the money is there. Pray about it and trust your initial instinct. You will find your instinct is actually God talking to you and working through you.

You are truly blessed to be picked for this mission. Trust in Him and all will work out as it should.

Godspeed,

S.

PS. Your husbands parents shouldn't have anywhere near as strong an impact as God's will. You also said it yourself in your bio on here "actions speak louder than words". Re-read what you wrote and look at the actions God has put in front of you.

I say if you really want to go, go. Two weeks isn't too long. I'm sure you'll miss your kids and vice versa but if this is what you have your heart set on doing, do it.

Since you've already got trusted people to babysit that will set your mind a bit more at ease. As for the money, I say if you don't have it then maybe this trip isn't such a good idea. Especially since you won't be able to work for two weeks, therefore leaving you with even less money.

I don't exactly know what it is you'd be doing in the Philippines but if you decide not to go, why not just send a small donation with those who do go? Or just find an organization that you can donate to that will help them.

To me it seems pretty clear what God wants you to do. Everything is falling into place. So I say obey God. I know some people will not agree with this statement, and to them I say read the Bible, but God comes first, not family. God gave us our kids and can easily take them away. I personally could not leave my kds right now. But you have people you trust and to take care of your kids. If all this was me I would do it, because it is God's will. Don't worry about what other people think, you know what God wants for you. The money will come if it is God's will. People at my church who wanted to go on missions trip started off with nothing, and by the time the money was due they had the money. God will provide just have faith.

CG
My husband went on a missions trip to Peru this year. I stayed home with the little one since this was a men's only trip with our church. We were able to raise the money easily to send him. If God has called you to go then he will supply all you need for the trip. Don't second guess yourself, that is what the devil wants you to do. Blessings! J.

First of all, a missions trip isn't about a vacation. You know that already. But the reason I say that is one of your first concerns was about going w/out knowing anyone. Well so what? That's not the reason for going. In the process of doing God's work, you make friends because you're all there for a common purpose, and as a team you need to get along to do things efficiently.
Secondly, your in-laws may not share the deep convictions that you and your hubby do. That's possibly where their critical comments come from. If it isn't a common faith, there will be no common understanding.
And they probably do have the kids' and dog's best interests at heart.
So what should you do? Pray about it and a lot. Pray for a sign whether (or not) the Lord wants you to do this. He may want you to but maybe not now. Pray for a sign. Ask for group prayer at the next meeting. Because it is expensive, there are kids to think about. Maybe just one of you should go and the other stay with the kids. I think I would give it a lot of second thought with an 8 month old. I mean not even a year old and you're considering a long term stay on the opposite side of the world. Good luck

I can't tell you if you should go...but I do know this; No matter what you choose, you are not disobeying God. It is clear that He is making it available and easier for you to go, but the God I love and worship will never fault parents for choosing to stay with their children and wait for the next opportunity.

Personally, I think that your doubt is God's way of telling you that either way, it's okay. Our teenage son has been on mission trips out of the country and we haven't paid for a cent of it...it was all earned during fundraising. I KNOW God will take care of that.

Is there any chance your children can go with you. Maybe He has opened this door for you and filled the trip with so many ppl you know so that you will have a community of ppl to help you with your children on the trip. There are a lot of ppl out there who don't understand the powerful calling of God...it's not their fault, they just don't realize that He is above all. But one mom is right when she said that He has also called you to be a mom. Just commit to follow Him and you won't be wrong. Some ppl believe that the devil is closeby, luring you into bad decisions...but I don't. The devil is far away from me as long as I am aware that God follows me everywhere. God is omnipresent, the devil is not...he is only a fallen angel.

Good luck deciding~

I am a believer and I know how it is when circumstances line up and it seems it is from God. I want to urge you to pass on this at this time. Leaving your baby at this age is a very bad idea! I'd be real concerned if it were only a day or two. Two weeks - no way! Even your sone will find it very painful! The Lord always wants us to put our families ahead of ministry - not ahead of Him but ahead of work done in His name. I've been serving the Lord for 30+ years and teach Bible studies. I cannot believe this would be His will for you now.

I think it is wonderful that you & your husband would consider such a trip - how very selfless of you. I do, also think that it would be hard to leave the children when they are still so young - they need you most now. And I also think that if this trip happened when they were a little older, what a valuable lesson you would be teaching them! For now, only you see its worth, but later, your entire family could benefit. Good luck with your decision.

First of all, congrats on getting your group started! Taking the first steps of forming a group can always be a trying process... kudos for giving it a go!

One of the first things can really help getting started is finding ways to get organized early on. Coming up with the tools to manage your members, plan your events and get the word out about everything you do can be tricky.

I'd say the best way to get a jump on this: set up a group home page on a fundraising website. Many of them are free to use and can offer new groups amazing tools to organize, find new volunteers and raise awareness for a cause (regardless of whether you actually want to fundraise). Some require that you have non-profit status to form a group, but plenty others will give student groups, church groups and other groups without non-profit status some awesome ways to help get your group off the ground.

For example, one good site to help new groups is GroupSpaces (www.groupspaces.com). They offer plenty of tools to help get groups off the ground, including some event management functions that let you create events, as well as managing your members. And if you're interested in fundraising for your group eventually, they can link to your account and charge 2.5% of donations received (while some other sites charge as much as 5%).

Another good option would be Empowered.org (www.empowered.org). It is a bit newer than GroupSpaces and their platform is geared more towards social action, but are open to all small groups, regardless of non-profit status. Also, they offer plenty of solid tools to help new groups, and give groups the ability to create specific volunteer activities and events for each group (which GroupSpaces doesn't do). And if you ever were interested in fundraising, they offer specific fundraising campaigns (and charge 1.5% of donations) - nice if you ever go down that road.

There are some other sites worth looking into - MeetUp is another one that helps groups, but doesn't offer as many tools as the other two I mentioned. Anyways, I really think that setting a home would really help jump start the group-starting process.

Hope that helps! Good luck with your group going forward.

Hello CG! It is wonderful that you and your husband would consider a missions trip! I have not yet gone myself but have supported others and have many friends who go. (I do want to go myself one day)

To your question, I would not leave little ones to go on a mission trip. Everything has a time and a season. Although you've got the babysitter figured out, two weeks is a long time, especially with an 8 month old. I would suggest supporting someone else financially who is going.

I know you are excited and that is awesome, pray and ask God what direction He would have you to take first and foremost.

You don't want to spend money you don't have and come back strapped for cash. Or be on the mission trip not able to focus because you are thinking about your little ones. We all have to do what we can, when we can in the Kingdom of God, now may not be the right time for mission trips for you and your husband.

I hope this helps! ~D.

One thing you need to understand is that motherhood is a calling of God. When you are in the depths of dirty diapers, and whining children, it may not seem so, but God loves the women of the world who raise children. When you talk of clothing the naked and feeding the hungry, and teaching God's word to those who don't know it....do you ever think that you fulfill that role as a mother? You do. Being a mother is not the excitement of teaching God's word abroad and seeing the immediate results. Being a mother is sometimes boring, sometimes thankless, and sometimes feels like a wasted effort. But, no one can love your children as much as you do, and therefore no one can give them the care that you can. Motherhood is your calling right now. But when your children are older, when they can understand why their parents have left them and what it is that you will do... that will be the time.
In the meantime, love your calling as a mother and look for opportunities locally where you can serve your fellow man... we live in one of the most beaten economies in our the country. There is much need for your willingness to serve right here in Metro-Detroit if you look.
May God continue to bless you.

As for me, personally, I would not leave my 8 month old for that long - even with trusted friends or family members. I know there is great need in the Philippines for help, but your daughter needs you too. I suggest you save money and go next year. The fact that your children are so young, coupled with your doubt, tells me you're not as ready as you think. There will always be a need elsewhere; focus on your home first and other things will fall into place.