Acts 20:23-24-â I consider my life worth nothing but to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.
 My time of service with team 4:35 has been a time when God turned my eyes from my prideful self to see my desperate need for Him. He taught me to love Him more and love others as myself.
 7 hours of evangelism on the streets of Los Angeles and 4 hours of leading a vacation Bible school at Salvation Armyâs headquarters everyday for 6 days.
An invaluable lesson. When forced to be outside of my comfort zone and live out my faith, I learn I am nothing apart from God. I learned to constantly behold Him to become more like Him. Physically it was exhausting but spiritually I have never been so alive, a joy to share the message I canât keep silent about.
Overwhelmed. I have seen a glimpse of Godâs glory and power that cannot be unseen. To be a part of Godâs grand plan to propel Godâs kingdom on earth though God does not need me is insane! To have been persecuted and rejected for the sake of the Gospel, I considered myself blessed (Matt 5:10).Â
The biggest highlight of my 6-days trip is my team! SO blessed to have been surrounded by people who are SO sold out for the Gospel! I canât help but catch their fire to seek God all the more! They showed me what it looks like to be consumed by Christâs love and to live so grounded in the Word. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ in this pic have the biggest hearts to share Godâs love. I am so thankful to be friends with people who are so humble, genuine, loving, joyful, and utterly dependent on God.
From talking to people with grubby appearances who have lived on the streets for years to talking to people who have it all, God taught me to love without an exceptional clause. He increased my capacity to love people who are so different than meâto truly love them for their souls and as image-bearers of God. It was easy to be prideful as I do this, I needed to remind myself I am sharing this from one beggar, who has been saved by grace, to another.Â
Aside from teaching me to love better, God also purified me from other idols that has trapped my heart from running to Him.Â
When He called me to give my shoes away for a homeless lady, my hesitation showed how much worth I had put on material things above God. When I had to sit at Starbucks with a lady who had been on the streets for years, I struggled when people stared disconcertinglyâexcessively caring how they see me. When I left conversations feeling discouraged and guilty of not doing enough, my distrust in the work of the Holy Spirit revealed how I pride in my own strength.Â
 God called me to care not to cure.
God is the savior. I am to love.
 Showing love is being vulnerable, but it is better than never building bridges. Kindness is a radical virtue, it may be rejected, rebuffed, but it is startling and haunting ..never to be forgotten. It leads to repentance, and it did led to my own repentance as I lean to the risky way of kindness to break barrier of stereotypes and loving without seeing differences.
 If I love Jesus, how can I not share? I saw so much hunger for the truth. As Godâs messenger for the good news, I should share The Truth that sets us free.Â
There were days my exhaustion hindered me from loving people well. I realized I had put so much emphasis on my own needs in food, sleep, appearance, and comfort above doing the will of God. Idols of mineâbasing my worth on materials and approval of othersâwere brought to light by God. Out of this mission trip, God taught me how to live by this verse in Acts 20:23, âI consider my life worth nothing but to do the will of the Father.â Stripped off from finding my worth and value in people, things and all the doings I learn to surrender all to Christâs feet and accept the work He has finished on the cross. I give up my right to live for myself, but my food is to do the will of the Father, which is to love Him with everything I have, love others as myself, and testify of the good news of His grace.
After much processing, these are my take away from Biolaâs SMU local mission trip:
1.Faithfulness over fruitfulness- I will never know the impact of my faithfulness in the hands of a faithful God who rewards those who are faithful. Regardless of seeing the fruit of our labor or not, I have to be content. I learned to believe God will work APART of me anyway.
2.In line, interested, and intercede
To be in line with Godâs spirit everyday, be sensitive to His leading.
To show love to people by being interested to know their stories and struggles.
To intercede on their behalf through prayers where I start the winning blows.
Encouraging my Christian friends to go out your comfort zone too!Â
Yay to a life changing trip that served as a launching pad for a lifestyle of evangelism! God has transformed my heart. Started from the bottom (afraid to proclaim) and now WE HERE! (to such a joy to invite people to His kingdom)Â