A journey´s end brings new beginnings

There is a song we used to sing as children that goes, "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold." This was our first Work & Witness trip with Extreme Nazarene, which had us joining other Nazarenes from around the country, meeting one another for the very first time in Peru - at 1 am in the morning after a long travel day I might add. We then proceeded to room with people we had never met before and labor alongside one another for 10 days in high heat and humidity while in an unfamiliar culture. While it sounds like the makings of relationship disasters, just the opposite was true. As half the group left for Cusco yesterday morning there were hugs all around and a smattering of tears. Tonight, those of us still in Iquitos went out to dinner together and the bond of our new-found friendships was abundantly clear. We have requested one another´s email addresses from Extreme and new Facebook friends are already online. When Christ is our everything, loving one another flows naturally from that relationship. Serving alongside one another on a mission project simply adds to that bond. There is something very special that occurs when we step out in faith to answer the call to serve in unfamiliar territory; blessings abound, new spiritual insights are gained, our reliance on the Lord is made more clear, and friendships that will last an eternity are forged. Is God calling YOU to take a step of faith and serve in one of our mission projects this year? It could be in our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria or Ends of the Earth. Thanks for taking this journey with us - hope you can join us in person next time!