"What good is it my brothers, if a man claims to have faith
but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is
without clothes and daily food. If one of you say to him, 'Go, I wish you well;
keep well fed' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In
the same way, by faith itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is
dead."
What does this say to you? Read it… let it sink in. How does it
apply to you? As you may have noticed, this verse is the header to this blog.
What could be a better Mission Statement to a missionary?! It’s easy to lose
sight of the task at hand when you’re faced with the many emotions that
overwhelm you. Beyond the emotions are the doubts and hurdles that take hold of
you. These are the times that this verse can be a light in the darkness. It’s a
reminder that helping your fellow man isn’t meant to be easy but it is
necessary.
Preparation is more than packing your bags and clinging to your
passport. Preparation takes soul searching, prayer, research, team meetings,
doctor’s appointments, family discussions, financial planning, supply
purchasing, travel planning, and so much more. As in life, these preparations
don’t always go as planned. There are only so many hours in the day and so many
responsibilities that require your time. (Keep in mind that we don’t get paid
to do this. This all happens in our free time.) Where do you place your
attention each day? There is no perfect science to balancing your life between your
responsibilities and the calling God places in your heart. Defeat starts to
close in on you and doubt plays with your mind. These two go into play while
you find yourself in the field as well. As a mother, I found it very difficult
to keep thoughts of my own children separate from the faces of the children we
saw each day. The devastation lingers and creates a feeling of hopelessness.
You wonder how far your current deeds will carry. Can you really make a
difference? Are you truly a key player in bringing hope and opportunity to a
community so deeply wounded?
Then, that moment comes along. Smiles from the children that love you
already, just because they know that you are there for them! The open arms of
an elderly woman who is thanking God for you and won’t be satisfied until she
has hugged you tightly! Witnessing the walls come down in a young mother who
only wants to know that she is doing the best thing for her children, and being
confirmed by your smile! The happy work of a man with a shovel in his hand
because, for the first time in a long time, he feels like a proud provider for
his family! The reality of your hard work comes to light! These are the seeds
that you are planting. Positivity, hope, strength, opportunity … separately,
these are just words. The actions behind these words make them tools! Actions
make them affective!
Missionaries have a strong calling in their heart to act. It is due
to this calling that we can take your kindness, love, and support, and give
them life in a world very different than our own! We do it because deeply
rooted in our souls and tied to our hearts is the message found in James 2:
14-17.
"What good is it my brothers, if a man claims to have faith
but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is
without clothes and daily food. If one of you say to him, 'Go, I wish you well;
keep well fed' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In
the same way, by faith itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is
dead."
Thank you again for reading!!
~ Genia
Ways to give:
Mail check and/or words of positivity to:
Hamilton Mill Presbyterian Church
C/O: Haiti Fund - Genia Davis
5152 Braselton Hwy
Hoschton, GA 30548
See the PayPal Giving Widget to the right! Your personal information is safe and secure. You can even donate anonymously!
Contact me at gmdavis81@gmail.com for more information!
As always, thank you for your support!!
Mail check and/or words of positivity to:
C/O: Haiti Fund - Genia Davis
5152 Braselton Hwy
Hoschton, GA 30548
or
Contact me at gmdavis81@gmail.com for more information!
As always, thank you for your support!!
