10 days in another country...you can't believe it’s over when you leave there. 

Each mission trip is not unlike the mountain top experience that Peter, James and John experienced in Matthew 17.  The three disciples are allowed to glimpse a moment of God's glory.  Peter's first response is to erect shelters so that they can continue to live in this experience.  Unfortunately, like our Romanian trip, the disciple’s mountain top experience has a beginning and an end.  Jesus tells Peter, James and John not to tell anyone of their experience until the Son of Man rises from the dead.  Thankfully we serve a risen Savior and we can tell everyone about our mountain top experiences.   

I believe that no one can walk away from our experiences unchanged.   Everything that you did will be with you for the rest of your lives.  The challenge is to take these life changing events and use them to deepen your relationship with Christ.  I have seen lives changed greatly following a missions trip, I have see others revert back to the relative comfort and security of their previous existence and still others have even turned their back on almost all of their friends and church teachings.  This is a choice that each of us is faced with.  God has made the experience a reality - He has done His part.  It is now up to you to take the experience and allow it to change us to live as He has call each of us to live. Go after each day with the attitude and willingness to serve that you displayed each day of this trip. 

To our Romanian hosts (too numerous to name individually) thank you for everything you have done for us and shared with us. I know from past experience that each time we return we pick up just as we were before. That is a lasting relationship. We come under the premise of helping your country but we leave with so much more than we bring.  

To the Leominster Assemblies of God group you were fantastic. Each of you has left an indelible mark with our friends in Romania – it was a privilege to serve with a remarkable group of young people and youth leaders. You have adopted a group of youth leaders and friends from North Reading that will be there for you anytime.  

To the Trinity group this was the smoothest trip ever. You were flexible and fluid with just about anything that was asked of you. You raised the standard on the measure of serving on a mission trip.  

To the Trinity (college age) leaders you were the highlight of my mission experience.  You guys were the best, keeping everything level and moving even when we were running on empty. I believe that Trinity’s youth ministry potential has never looked better when I see the committed, talented young people willing to serve the youth of our church family. 

To Ryan and Wendy your servant leadership is taken directly from the Bible itself. I can’t thank you enough for the way you serve and lead by example. It is obvious that God has great things to accomplish through your ministry in the future. I can’t wait to see it!