torrencelee

Church is a home. Home = Family

Truthfully in high school/youth group, I didnt have anyone older there for me. i rarely had someone investing in me. And church did not feel like a family. I was more at home with the Cantonese congregation. I struggled during my high school years. I was walking alone, fought my own battles. Nobody could or tired to related to me. I often stray from my walk, done some stupid things, skipped church for water polo and swimming.

But God had another way, he blessed me with Shoshone and that has provided another place for me to grow. I have grown so much from this one mission trip. The elders invested in me when i was in high school and brought me up to be a leader in this mission trip.

Everyone that has been to Duckwater enters this family that is super unique. 30 people that doesnt usually talk to each other from different FEC churches living together for a week. We did not have enough food before because people ate all the food in the middle of the night. The was people burping into others peoples mouths and everyone fighting for two bathrooms. But the thing that makes us a family is that we care for each other and you are attached to the people up there and love them wholeheartedly. And the elders were able to pour a lot of their passion into my heart. So i am still invested in this mission trip not only for the shoshone people. But in hopes that this mission trip will bring up the next generation of leaders and people through the investment into the next generation’s life.

I have been these guys small group leader for 4 years now. I didnt want them to experience what i went through and can constantly have someone they can turn to. I have been blessed so i want to be able to give back to the younger generation.

So the church is like a family. It is a cycle, of investing in each other. I had Jenny Tan as my VBS teacher. Adam was my sunday school teacher. I had Charmaine as my VBS kid 8 years ago. And now i have the 9th graders as my sunday school kids! Invest in each other, give back!

My small group know this and they will tell you. I have tried to drill it into their head ever since 9th grade. Age is never a factor when serving. You can be younger and invest in older people. But i think it is the job for us that are older and wiser that has been blessed with a little more from God so far, to in turn pour it back out to the next generation. Family dont let family walk alone. Dont hoard the blessings you have been given to yourself.

This would have been my sharing tonight with my small group at Worship night at church if i just read it straight off my itouch at church. It was mean to be notes and i wrote it during my lunch at work. I was definitely blessed by my small group’s sharing. I am proud of them and how far they have come. Thanks God for all the blessings and may tonight be for your glory.