I recently returned from a mission trip to Guyana, South America. The area is similar to areas along the Amazon River. It is hot, sweaty, and sticky. Most travel is by plane, boat, or by foot. Disease is rampant, the food is different, and the animals (and some people) will eat you. Everything exists outside of your comfort zone.
Once you arrive, there is no time to get in shape. You must be prepared. If you are not, it will show – quickly. Spiritual effort, the constant physical activity, and the mental attentiveness exerted in dealing with large groups of needy people are all exhausting. Each moment is full speed ahead – day in and day out – usually with little sleep. One cannot maintain this without sufficient physical stamina. Our Pastor believes that resting is best reserved for the plane ride home.
The following is an example of one of our day trips to a remote native church. It will give you a feel for what occurs in remote missions. We rise early, pray, have a light breakfast, and take taxis to the river, where we cram into a couple small boats for a 2 1/2-hour boat ride up the river. When the boats can go no further, we get out and walk the remaining mile or so up to a little church. There, the people are already seated and waiting for us, dressed in their Sunday best. We have no time to stop, take a breath, and recuperate. I sit in a pool of sweat. It is embarrassing. Part of the issue was my clothing. I chose materials that could be hand washed and hung out to dry, but those materials don’t breathe very well.
After the meeting, we hike back to the boats and go to another location. There, we minister for a couple of hours. After the service, we eat a meal and back to the boats for the ride home. By now, it’s getting dark, and soon it’s absolutely pitch black. For the next two hours, I sit in the front of the boat holding up a flashlight so we can see where to go. Back at our residence, we are exhausted, but now we must wash ourselves, wash our clothes, and prepare for the following day. Only then can we sleep. What a beautiful day. It just doesn’t get any better than this!
There is a place in the Gospels where Jesus was so tired that His disciples actually carried Him asleep into a boat. He woke up only later when the terrified disciples needed Him to calm the storm. Sometimes, there is just no rest for the weary. This is real life missions, and you must be fit for the task.
