J-D's mission interview

as a mission partner now with Strandtown Baptist Church i had to go up front to talk about were why and stuff about my trip! thank you all for your support. i thought i would post the interview up here for the ones that would have liked to have made it. ..jd.


J-D’s trip to Peru-Colombia. Interview. Sunday evening 23ed

Jd. You are going on a mission trip where is it too? When and how long for?

I am going to Peru and Colombia to work in 4 children’s homes and also in 1 school for a week. Most of my program is on the blog that I have set up. I will be flying out of Belfast on the 21st. For 5 and half months. But also flying out that same date is Peter Lockhart. Who will be a volunteer with me in the first home for 5 and half weeks. He is talking a gap year and spending some time there too. I’m really glad that I am not flying out on my own.

How is your fundraising going?

We are half way there I think. But we have also a fundraiser organised, a quiz on Saturday the 13th of DEC everyone’s invited. And to keep in touch with how the trip is getting on you can visit the blog set up for both of us. Also please take a prayer card and stick in on your fridge and remember us in you prayers.

Why is it that you are going out there to work in children’s homes and why so many?

Yes it does sound quite odd. But there is a story that brings me up to this point.
I believe that we all have a purpose on this earth! And God has plans for us all! I was adopted into a missionary family in Peru where I lived for about 14years. I became a Christian very young and always thanked the Lord that he had adopted me also into his Christian family.
I wondered at the other kids that did not get the opportunity to know a family and a God that loves them. Before I left Peru I always had a desire to go back one day to see about setting up a children’s home. Or do something like this in the ministry for children in need.
This was always working in my heart but I never knew when I would get an opportunity to really look in to doing something about this. But last year I had a small breakdown which made me jump out of UNI on my third year. I believe this was necessary to give me time to think where I was being directed. Then I had the opportunity to go to CVII with the church team. There I saw the reality of what a Christian home for lots of kids looked like. And I was impressed. The impact of God’s love for the kids, for the mountain mission and for the workers and team was really there. God was there in that work and was blessing it.
Coming back, I so wanted to be part of this amazing ministry. Then I remembered I had been thinking this way for the last nine years! So therefore I believe that it is my time to act. I decided to go back to Peru, to Arequipa where I was adopted from to look in to this type of ministry! To see the need, and how I could be part of this in the future. I will also look at other children’s homes to learn and see all there is to start or work along side a home. I am looking for my placement within Gods calling.

What will you do then you come back?

I will join any course that is required and maybe set up a charity and go with the placement of Gods Calling.
Now, If we are open to Gods calling, will He show us the way?
When I come back I will let you know more of Gods direction in my life. I am only an instrument in his plan, invited to work with Him on this. I feel privileged that He is using me- a crazy person like me.

Is there anything else you want to share with us, before we pray for you and this trip?

Yes! I want to encourage you that we all can be part of God’s plan. Let me use an analogy that helps me a lot and helps me focus in this direction. This is a sort of story that takes place in the future. I would like your participation.. so close your eyes as you listen........
Imagine for a moment that you are now sitting in heaven, and you are going to hear two people having a conversation:

“Do you remember the time that you were on earth?”
“No not really, it seems a long way off, and the time on that world now seems a very short one.”
“I remember something that Jesus said to us in the Bible. ‘You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
“If only we had another chance, to impact others for God! So they too could be here in heaven with us!”

picture> "This world is not my home I'm just passing through"

Ok everyone you may open your eyes! Let me remind you of something tonight: You will be my witnesses in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and all over the world”.
My encouragement is that while we are here we impact everyone we meet with God’s love, so that many more will be able to be with us in heaven. Let’s be heaven-focussed!

Prayer points for Jd:
· The program of trip works out without any problems
· That funding for trip works out
· That he is prepared for the trip
· That he may be strong in my walk with God as he seeks to find his will in his life in Youth work in Peru with children in children’s homes.
· Through any difficulties that arise that with God we can learn and grow in our faith and closeness to Him.
· That the trip for Peter Lockhart (with J-D for the 1st 6 weeks) works out really well for him too!