Serving at Any Age: It's Never too Late for Mission | 年长无碍服事： 宣教路上永不嫌晚

I had the pleasure of serving on the short-term mission trip to Honduras in July. I can't express the emotions that I experienced on this mission.

I am older than most of the people who go on these trips, and I have seen poverty in many areas of the world. I was amazed at how all members of the team came together to work in Christ for those less fortunate. This was my first mission trip, and I wasn't sure what to expect. It was great to see a team of total strangers come together to do God's work. By the end of the mission, we were working together like a well-trained team. Most of us knew how to set things up when we arrived.

I felt the spirit of the Lord moving in me several times while there. I wanted to help everyone I saw. The children made a large impression on me. The joy they got from simple things, and the joy they had when they were being taught songs, and learning about Jesus was very touching for me. They showed their gratitude in the most simple and honest of ways. I remember a little boy who I had not even interacted with, came up to me and hugged me. This told me that we were making a difference to these children. 

I was taken back when we visited the prison. All those young men live under terrible conditions. It was obvious that many of them were starved for the word of God. Most of them are just happy to have someone new to see. I was reminded of Matthew 25:36, "When I was in prison, you came to see me". Christ does not want these people forgotten, and I think it is an important part of this trip. It reminded me of how God has been active in my life. Had it not been for his blessings I could have ended up in a similar situation.

Praise the Lord!

我很荣幸在七月参加了前往洪都拉斯的短期宣教之旅。在这次宣教中，我许多的感受都是难以用言语表达。

我比大多数参加这类宣教的人年纪大，而且我也曾在世界上许多地方见过贫困的状况。但让我感到惊讶的是，团队中的每一位成员都齐心协力，在基督里一同服事那些不幸的人。这是我第一次参加宣教活动，一开始我并不知道会经历什么。然而，看到一群原本互不相识的人，能够聚在一起为神的工作而努力，实在令人感动。在宣教结束时，我们已经像一个训练有素的团队一样合作无间。大多数人一到达就知道该做什么、怎么做。

在那里，我几次深深感受到主的灵在我心中的动工。我看见短宣队的每一个人都想去帮助那里的民众，当地的孩子们给我留下了深刻的印象。他们从简单的事物中获得的喜乐，以及在学习歌曲和认识耶稣时所表现出的快乐，令我非常感动。他们用最简单、最真诚的方式表达感谢。我记得有一个我并未与之互动过的小男孩，主动跑过来抱了我一下。这个举动告诉我，我们确实在这些孩子身上带来了改变。

当我们参观监狱时，我感到十分震撼。那里面的年轻人生活在极其恶劣的环境下。很明显，他们中许多人极度渴望听到神的话语。对他们来说，有新的人来看望他们就是一件开心的事。我想起马太福音25章36节：“我在监里，你们来看我。”基督不希望这些人被遗忘，而我认为这也是此次宣教中非常重要的一部分。这让我想起了神在我生命中的作为。若不是祂的恩典，我也可能落入类似的境遇。

赞美主！