Still Processing

This past week, my family was part of a team serving in Arizona on the Apache reservation. This is a family tradition of serving that my wife and I have passed down to our daughters and hope has become part of their spiritual DNA. Each trip carries its own challenges and rewards and this week was no different. We had to overcome physical obstacles including tiredness, high elevation, and illness while also juggling the inherent challenges of sharing a small living space with 17 people for a week.

I can look back over our trip with fondness, but I still haven't completely thought through all we experienced. Each trip is packed with so many emotions and memories and it takes some time to meditate carefully on what has happened and what I want to take away from it. This is a process I want to walk through slowly while trying to understand more clearly what we experienced and how I want to use that to help me grow. I don't know yet how all of this meditation will play out, but I feel it's an important personal part of the journey we take through life. To make sure we don't miss out on a vital portion of the trip, we need to carve out time to meditate on our experiences and cling to the pieces we don't want to forget.

Finding Keepsakes

Many people will go on a vacation and take an empty suitcase or bag with them to hold their souvenirs. This way they have plenty of space for the things they want to bring home as part of the memory of their experience.

I encourage our mission teams to do the same thing from a mental and spiritual perspective. We come into these trips with varying expectations and levels of experience. Even though we travel together and see many of the same things, we also perceive those events very differently. Practicing the meditative thought of carrying an empty duffel bag with us gives each person the freedom to pack the piece of our shared memories they wish to keep. It can be the first sight of life on the reservation, a sweet interaction with a child, an opportunity to pray over someone, or even just a new glimpse of a piece of creation.

I can't determine what each person will pack in their bag of keepsakes. I can only encourage them to hang onto a part that has had genuine impact and to let it be a reminder of a special experience when we return to the normal pace of life.

Pause

One of the things I've been looking forward to in Arizona was running in the morning. As much as running has now become part of who I am, I love the experience of running in new places. Even though the territory out here is familiar, it isn't the same neighborhoods and routes I am accustomed to traveling.

I enjoy the scenery when I run, but I am also focused on keeping my training goals in mind and making good time. I use a running app to track my speed and have it set to let me know my mile intervals so I can adjust my pace. When I was running yesterday, I was hitting a good stride (especially for being at 6500 feet above sea level) and crested a hill to see the sun peeking over the trees. Normally, I don't do anything to break my rhythm, but I decided I needed to stop and take a picture to capture a moment that would be gone very quickly as the sun continued to rise. I paused my running app and quickly snapped a photo before continuing on my way. It was worth the momentary stop to capture a moment.

I probably need to practice that concept more often. In the hectic pace of trying to keep moving forward and keeping up with the flow of life around me, I forget to stop and capture the simple beauty of what is happening around me. Life isn't just made up of forward progress and productivity, but it's also in the moments you stop and enjoy along the way.

Indirect Benefit

Life is filled with potentially powerful opportunities if we take advantage of them. Short-term mission trips are one of those unique moments. The entire process of putting a group together is a tremendous process. Each team has been a combination of diverse personalities with interesting stories of how they chose to go on the trip. The preparation and fundraising phase is always gratifying as we see needs met and an outpouring of generosity. On the mission field, the collective efforts of a team are fairly amazing to observe as projects come together and people are ministered to. 

The greatest moment on the mission trip might be somewhat selfish in its focus, however. I've found the longest lasting impact is in what I discover about myself. Choosing to serve others provides a mirror in which we see ourselves more clearly. Consciously putting mental and physical efforts into thinking about the needs of others removes barriers of selfishness that normally prevent us from recognizing certain truths about who we are. In the vulnerability of working to help people, we open up our souls to truths that help us grow and show the possibility of who we could become. 

Attention Getter

A few years ago, our mission team was headed to Arizona to work on the Apache reservation. We had arrived at the Atlanta airport and our group was waiting for me to give them some check-in instructions once I talked with the airline. Once I knew our plan, I walked over to our team and said (somewhat loudly), “If everyone would gather over here, I’ll tell you what we need to do next.” Thankfully, our team responded well and moved in closer to hear me. The unexpected result of my announcement was that another ten travelers moved closer to our group as well even though they had no idea who I was. Apparently my voice was enough to get their attention and pull them in to our conversation.

This had me thinking about what it takes to get our attention. What conditions have to be right for us to notice a change in our surroundings? How focused do we need to be on what’s happening around us to detect something new? Does it take great tragedy to get our attention? Is there a need within us to hear something different? Much like the people in the airport, we can be moved by a voice which commands our attention. The question is what voice we let speak to us in a way that pulls us away from our current path.

Worth Much More Than 1000 (Part 2)

In yesterday's blog I posted a picture (the one above) and left the interpretation up to each individual reader with a promise to reveal more details today. There are specifics which can't be determined without some background information and even then there are observations which vary from person to person. I think it validates the idea of the power of our own perception.

I took this picture several years ago on one of our mission trips to Arizona. This particular photo is on the White Mountain Apache Reservation at a mission we partner with called Apache Youth Ministries (AYM). They have a facility named "The Kennel" which is used to minister to youth in the Apache tribe after schools and provide assistance. They work to develop leadership skills, help with academics, show them new paths of hope, and lead them closer to Christ.

This fence surrounds their building and whether it serves to help keep people in or out depends on how you view it. I think it serves as a line of demarcation that lets the Apache youth know this is a safe place to let down their guard without fear of ridicule or abuse. You can view the reservation through the fence because we don't want to shut out the world around them, but want to help them learn to live in it in a healthy, God-honoring way. The focus on the fence is crisp in contrast to the background. Sometimes it is difficult for these youth (and the faithful people that serve them) to stay zoned in on what matters most. They have entered in through this gate and will soon leave and step back into the reality of their personal world.

This picture is worth so much more than 1000 words to me because I know the underlying story and the people it represents. I see great potential, devastating disappointment, and life-giving joy all contained in this one simple photo. Keeping things like this in front of us can remind us of the moments we contribute to.

If you are interested in contributing to mission work with the Apache in Arizona, you can contact AYM directly at www.apacheyouth.com or contribute to our next mission trip through PayPal and my email address acportwood@gmail.com.

Conquered It

A year ago today my wife and I climbed Camelback Mountain in Arizona. We had "attempted" to climb it several years ago and didn't get very far before giving up. When we realized we would have the opportunity to challenge the peak again we took advantage of it. We packed our water and snacks, put our sunblock on, dressed appropriately, and headed up. A few hours later we stood victoriously at the top of a mountain which had previously defeated us. I attribute our success on this attempt to better preparation and improved physical fitness.

Climbing the mountain was a highlight of our year and a testament to our stubborn desire to succeed. I feel confident in saying we'll never forget that physical milestone and will always celebrate the completion of our goal. It's a reminder to me of what is possible if we are willing to be better prepared and to keep pushing onward even though the trail is difficult.

Arizona Missions

 The Apache reservation in Arizona has been an important part of my life since 2004 when I led my first mission trip to Show Low. Since then I have been part of 15 different teams and will now have my entire family out there this spring. It's a life changing event for each team that goes out west and we still share stories of what happened.

The best benefit is in the lives that we get to impact while there. I believe in the power of short term mission trips especially when you make a consistent effort in one area. The relationships we have built with the long term missionaries is an encouragement to them as they work faithfully each day in a tough area. We are also able to see the benefits of building trust with the Apache people as we 

continue to make an investment.

I'm excited about the group we have assembled this year and know that the total experience will have elements of newness mixed in with our familiarity with the area. Now comes the hard work of preparing for us to go.

My wife & I have prepared for years by asking for a simple donation of $5. We have been able to take care of our trips (even with expanding family members) each year through this simple plea. Anyone who would like to help with a $5 donation can do so through Paypal by clicking the link below. Thanks in advance for any help you can give as we prepare to head west.

Donate through Paypal using email address: acportwood@gmail.com

As Fast As It Goes

On the elementary school playground of my childhood a huge chunk of our time was spent at the merry-go-round. The objective was to see how fast we could get it to turn while people hung on for dear life. Once it was moving at top speed the daredevils of the group would try to jump onto the moving target. It didn't count if you waited for it to slow down to a safe speed, but it had to be attempted when it was spinning at maximum velocity. Needless to say, it didn't always end well.

That's very similar to the feeling of returning to "normal life" after being away for a week. Even though our trip to Arizona was partially business it still didn't flow at the same pace as life back home. It's always an adjustment to jump back on the spinning merry-go-round of real life and there isn't always a way to wait for things to gradually pick up the pace. You've got to pick your moment and jump back into the game even if you feel out of sorts for a bit as you get used to the action. Much like jumping on playground equipment in motion, we are the ones that have to make the necessary adjustments so we can stick the landing. 

The merry-go-round slows down for no one.

Home Sweet Home

My wife and I have a deep love for Arizona. We have served out there on mission trips for over ten years and have developed friendships that mean a great deal to us. We also have a great passion for that area of the country and the vacation times we have been able to share. There is always an eager sense of longing as we get closer to our next trip and a feeling of sorrow when we leave. Each trip is different and special in its own way and is a part of our family history.

As much as we enjoy the west however, it isn't home. While we miss Arizona we are also excited to be back where God has called us. We are honored to be part of a thriving church and community while sharing it with our beautiful family. Arizona is part of who we are, but we are delighted to be planted where we are. It's a wonderful blessing to have a place we love to visit and yet this place we get call home. I consider myself a fortunate man to be able to share two wonderful places.

Reflections: Pray Anyway

One of the most unexpectedly powerful moments from our trip to Arizona happened on the last day. We were working with Apache Youth Ministries and going out to spots on the reservation for prayer. Our first location was a local liquor store that was stuck off a side road. The place looked pitiful as we pulled up. It was a tacky, old building sitting in the middle of beautiful scenery. We got out of our van and talked about the power of alcoholism on the reservation. Just as we were about to pray a man started walking over to our group and motioned for me to come closer. When I approached him I could immediately tell that he hadn't been sober in a long time. His state of inebriation was deeply embedded in him and yet he was asking for prayer. I listened to him for several minutes as the rest of our group gathered around us. We all ended up laying hands on him, praying for him and his companion, and inviting them to the local church. He thanked us all with hugs and handshakes and then proceeded into the liquor store to make his purchase.

I wasn't surprised that he continued to his intended destination. I don't doubt the power of prayer, but I do understand the strong grip of habits and addiction. Our group could have ignored him or brushed off his request, but our responsibility is to be faithful when the opportunity arises. We can't guarantee success or even the authenticity of his desire. We simply choose whether we will do what is right.

Reflections: Hopeless

It's difficult to comprehend the level of hopelessness that we see on the reservation. Even with our years of experience working out there, we are still unable to completely grasp the severity of their existence. My wife and I grew up very differently and I am more familiar with living in poverty, but there is still a level of despair that I don't entirely associate with. I always knew that there were other possibilities for me and sadly that same level of vision doesn't exist for many on the reservation. It's why we see absurdly high alcoholism rates, rampant gang involvement, and heartbreaking suicide numbers. They are a people nation defined by the lack of hope.

When you see a people facing that depth of despondency you wonder what impact you can have on a short term trip. I'm not entirely sure how strong our influence is to be honest. I do know that the only way you can rescue those that are trapped in hopelessness is to show them that hope does exist. It isn't an easy process and we are fighting years of tradition and oppression. Abandoning them to a dark fate isn't an option as far as I'm concerned. We are either part of their solution or part of their problem. They may feel that they don't have choices, but we certainly do.

Reflections: Consistency

I have friends in ministry who have been on many more mission trips than I have. They have traveled throughout the world and can tell fantastic stories about their adventures. Their passports are well worn from use and multiple destinations. I applaud my friends who serve in this fashion and I am grateful for their willingness to travel to so many places and serve different people. My personal mission philosophy is a bit different, however.

I decided early in my ministry career that I wanted to focus my energies in one place. I am a creature of routine in many ways and wanted to invest my resources on one mission field. It doesn't meant that one area is better than another, but that I wanted to have the maximum impact over a long period of time. By continuing to visit one people group I have earned the right to say certain things and have consistently been part of the goals of one organization. I have had a part in the transformation of mission groups and have established friendships that last longer than the week we are on the mission field. My prayer focus has changed as my family (and many friends) have established bonds of trust and concern that don't diminish with distance. I view it as a life-long commitment to one place that will hopefully bear fruit in the lives of the people we serve as well as benefiting us.

We each have to decide the approach that works best for us and then be active in transforming the world. Inaction isn't an option for a true Christ follower.

Reflections: Family Tradition

I have been serving in Arizona for the past eleven years and my wife has been part of it for nine. For most of our children's lives we have headed out west each spring while they spent a week with their grandmother in Tennessee. They knew it was a special time for them, but they also came to appreciate the work that we were doing as we shared stories and pictures with them. I think that they have always understood how important this trip is to us and how much we care for the people we get to serve alongside.

The sharing of our trip has changed over the past two years as we have started to bring our daughters out with us. It has always been a rite of passage to observe as they had to wait until they were in high school before they could come with us. Our oldest daughter made her second trip this year as our middle daughter joined her (our youngest will make her first journey next year.) It's a place that we have been eager to share with our girls and we couldn't be happier about the impact it has had on them.

It is the fulfillment of my own personal dream to have our family serve together and to do it in a place that means so much to us is especially valuable. It's a part of raising our girls that shows them the contribution they can make to people around them and the great value in consistently serving those in need. I can't guarantee the results, but I feel confident in the lifelong lessons we are teaching them and hope that they maintain that passion as adults.

Reflections: Encouragement

We always accomplish a great number of things on our mission trips to Arizona. In some years that has included large projects such as building decks, completely demolishing trailers, graveling entire roads, and resurfacing gym floors. In recent years, one of the most powerful things that our team has been able to do is to encourage our long-term missionary friends.

We are able to come into their territory with fresh energy and perspective and see the impact they are having on a daily basis. Part of our great joy is to make sure they know how much they appreciate them and what they are doing to change lives. It can be lonely on the mission field as you endure tough circumstances, unexpected loss, and seemingly hopeless situations. Our goal is to remind our friends that they are not alone and that what seems mundane and routine is making a substantial difference. We might be separated by miles, but we are all in this together. I am grateful for the chance to lift the spirits of good friends, but even more grateful for their obedient sacrifice and commitment to serving others.

Reflections: Mission Minded

I am still processing all that I experienced on this year's trip to Arizona and will need a little more rest and think-time before I am ready to take action. While I still need to sort through everything there are two over-arching areas of thought that hit me most:

1. What can I do to help in Arizona on a continual basis between trips? 

2. What did our experiences teach us that we can put to use here in Milledgeville?

Those two questions form the framework for positive mission work in my humble, but accurate opinion. It's a powerful thing to be affected by a mission experience, but the greatest impression is felt when it lasts longer than the trip itself. If we truly intend to be committed Christ followers we need to dedicate ourselves to supporting the distant and the local mission field on a consistent basis. I don't have the complete picture of what that looks like, but with passionate team members and God's guidance I am certain we'll find a way to move forward.

Perfectly Suited

Each year that we have traveled to Arizona is unique in our experiences and the team we take with us. There are certain things that groups have been able to accomplish that would have been impossible for another team to finish. This experience has taught me to never question the group that chooses to go, but to instead look forward to what God will do in and through this particular team. I have found that each year we are able to accomplish exactly what we were brought together to do. Each interaction, act of encouragement, work project, and prayer is fulfilled by the people that needed to be there to make it happen. It's proof that when we open ourselves to what God is willing to do through our individual personality's and gifts we will never be disappointed at what we accomplish.

This is the reason that I confidently say that each special group is perfectly suited for what we needed to do. I am grateful for our team this year and their willingness to be the perfect solution God asked us to be.

Going West

We are traveling out west today to Show Low, Arizona with our mission team from Northridge. This is my 11th year of travel and my 16th different trip to intentionally minister to the Apache and Navajo peoples. I remember each team and trip with fondness-both the very good parts of each trip and the difficult portions as well. There are certain shared experiences and traditions that we observe, but I am always struck by the uniqueness of each trip. The blend of personalities always changes, but God also shows me new things about myself out there. While there is great comfort in the familiarity of the environment and the relationships we have built there is a great challenge in the newness we encounter. It wouldn't be fair to rate one year as better than the others, but it certainly seems that each experience builds on those of the past. I'm confident that this year will be another great year of impact and growth challenges.

Sights of Arizona

My Second Home

I have just returned from another trip to the American Indian Christian Mission in Show Low, Arizona. This time was entirely new as our team of 23 included 20 people who had never been there before and 20 of them who had never been on a mission trip before as well. It was a week of learning, coaching, hard physical labor and hopefully life change for all of us.

I am in love with this place and have been for a long time. Including summer trips and other ventures out there, this was my 12th trip to Show Low. I never get tired of it and the beauty of God's handiwork in the canyons and mountains is always fresh & new. We have made very dear friends with many of the staff & have watched several of the children grow up over the years as well. It is a place that captures & also breaks your heart and I already can't wait to go back.

My wife commented as we left this past week that it was more difficult to leave this time than in year's past. With all of the turmoil of the past year and leaving Florida, AICM and our family there certainly feels like a second home. I am thankful that God has provided a place for us to serve in the mission field and I am grateful for the friends that we have in Show Low that continue to work the front lines each day for the Native Americans. Even as I am glad to be back in Georgia and doing God's great work, I am counting the days until I can go back again.