Obedience in the Small Things

As the smell of Thai food fills the air I am being reminded of the simple things in life. Sharing a meal together, laughing, reading together, and talking about the great things God has done this summer. I began reading through the blogs from other teams around the world and have been encouraged by how God moving in each place. Even in the states, God does amazing things through simply spending time with Him and time encouraging each other.

Throughout the summer I have put a lot of pressure on myself to do things for God when all he calls us to do is to be obedient to Him. Whether that means building relationships with internationals, picking them up from the airport, going out on the streets, or just helping a family with things around the house so they can be more effective in ministry. All God wants is our hearts and our obedience. Missions are not about what we can do for God. Missions  is about letting God open our eyes to a need and letting Him change us and use us for his purposes so that He may be glorified, no matter what the task.


Eating Thai Food for lunch

As we’ve worked with the Tolars this summer, I have had the pleasure of watching a family do ministry; as well as just be a family. Daniel and Lacy have 7 children, 2 of which are from Thailand, living here temporarily.  Rescue1 is being run out of their home since its U.S. establishment in 2011. They earn their support by faith that God will provide financially for their family each month. Since they are faith-based, none of the money that is given for ministry is used for personal needs. It all goes back into the ministry of Rescue1.

It is amazing to see how God provides for the Tolars and watch how they live out their faith every day. Whether it is loving their children, going out on the streets to do outreach, or giving a trafficking 101 presentation, it has been a blessing to witness and work with such an amazing family this summer.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35

- Chelsea, from the Rescue1 Summer Interns

Not Beyond Hope

Traveling with the Rescue1 team to Alabama this weekend was nothing short of enjoyable.  Of course I could never complain about getting to stay in a gorgeous house with memory foam mattresses and a heated pool, but the true joy of the experience came from getting to see people from all walks of life showing enthusiasm to enter the anti-human trafficking movement.  Watching and simply getting to be a part of the growing movement to end slavery and to fulfill the biblical command to care for the oppressed was both heartening and humbling.  I do not think that it will ever be easy for me to hear the stories regarding the realities of the trafficking world or to see the statistics indicating how many are currently being exploited, but one thing that has been reiterated to me this summer, and again was reemphasized this weekend, is that the issue is not beyond hope.  And this hope comes only from Jesus. 
 

Some might think that this sounds trite, but there is simply no other credible source for the expectation of liberation and reconciliation than the One who gave His life to restore all of creation to its intended relationship and potential!  He is the Liberator and Reconciler—our loving Intercessor and the One who allows us to be empowered with the Spirit in order that we may accomplish the work of the Father.  If it were not for Him, all of us would be trapped in slavery to our own sin with no hope of freedom, and if it were not for Him, we would not be able to fully and confidently address the issue of abolition in our time.  He has called for us to pour ourselves into the downtrodden and to give ourselves to His will and has promised to be with us always—who are we to question this great calling or to think there could be anything better in this life?  In short, this weekend was yet another reminder of what I believe to be my calling as a Christian and of the great, hopeful passion that I am honored to be a part of.

- Ana, from the Rescue1 Summer Interns