[1]Editor’s note: This story includes reporting from Lal S. Ce.
INDIANAPOLIS – Three adults from the Southern Baptist Fellowship group Myanmar Baptist Churches U.S.A. led a two-week mission trip to Central Asia in July as chaperones for seven youth ages 14 to 17.
Four of the teens were Chin/Burmese. Others were Filipino, Korean, Eritrean and Caucasian. The leaders were all Burmese. For most, it was their first time to participate in a mission trip.
“The scripture we held onto as we went on this trip was Luke 10,” said a team member who group leaders called “Sister C.” Sister C started the trip as a troubled teen and almost derailed the group’s plans a few times.
From the first day, spiritual warfare began and plans continually changed. The teens became distraught. They said they were afraid they would not be able to make the trip because of flight delays and changes.
“However, everyone around me reminded me to trust in God and have faith,” leader Elizabeth Din told Baptist Press. “God spoke to me through Psalm 27:13-14. I realized that God’s way, His plan of doing things is always different than mine and waiting for the Lord is better than a rush plan, so I began to be more thankful rather than worrying or grumbling.”
The warfare didn’t stop.
“This is when I realized that the moment anyone decides to obey the Lord, the enemy tries to steal that obedience,” Din said. “When all the team had arrived, we didn’t know what was ‘best for all’ but one thing we knew was that God brought all of us together for a purpose.”
Sister C is a new believer. From the second day, she struggled to mingle with her peers and even threw a tantrum to go home. Leaders considered obliging her.
“But time and time again, God reminded us that He also called Sister C to be on this team and to go to [Central Asia] just like everyone else, that her being part of the team was no mistake,” Din said. “Though at times it was difficult, God showed us how much He loves Sister C. There were some days when she didn’t want to do city ministry but even during those, we were able to read the Word with her and get to know her little by little.
“Sometimes I felt angry because this also impacted on how we planned things and how we wanted to serve the people here. But it also reminded me of how we are in front of God, wanting to get things done in the way we want although we know it is not the right plan of God.
“There wasn’t much we could do except to intercede on behalf of her and really get to know her in depth,” Din continued. “Sister C is someone who needs a lot of love, care and attention because she didn’t grow up with much father-figure love, so the enemy was always planting seed of doubt.”
On the team’s final night in Central Asia, leaders sat down with the older teen to talk and pray. “In the end, God called us to serve Sister C in the way she needed to be loved and served,” Din said.
“We had to repent for our humanistic thought and realize that God’s calling for this sister is irrevocable,” the leader continued. “That is how much love God has for Sister C and the rest of us.
“I think through this trip, I was able to serve the local youth through serving the [mission team] youth who are serving the local youth. When the youth were lost in direction or discernment, we were able to direct them with the Word of God, not only by our understanding. When they lack love, we correct them and realize how much we also need to love these [mission team] youth to serve the local youth.”
In the country where they served, only youth can preach the Gospel to the youth. It’s illegal for adults to do so.
“We realized that the [mission team] youth had so many fears, but as they served with one another they were able to encourage one another and overcome slowly,” Din said.
The American teens met many of their age who were open to hear the Gospel and were hungry for the truth. They also met many young people who are lost in addiction.
“Our hearts are broken for those friends [in addiction] so every day as we read the Word together, we remember them in our prayers and continue to have follow up,” Sister C said. “The friends we met are truly remnants that God has chosen for us, that the Lord gave us, like it says in Romans 11:4-5.”
Truly, the harvest is plentiful in Central Asia and the American team was a witness to that, Din said.
“We pray that the Lord will be the one to water all the seeds of hope planted this summer, and in due time, we will see all the people that heard the Gospel turn to Yeshua.
“On the very last night, we had a time of commitment. Four out of eight youth committed themselves to go back to serve there for one to two months next summer,” the leader added. “Three of the four committed to going back are Chin youth. God is stirring up revival among the Chin youth generation and we are seeing Psalm 110:1-3 being fulfilled in our generation.
“I pray that we will also be the one sending and going as well,” Din continued. “Please pray that God would protect the confession of the youth and their commitment! May the youth of our generation continue to be a generation that will not defile themselves to the things of this world but as it says in Daniel 12:3, be wise and shine like a star that will lead many to righteousness of God.”
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