I had no idea (originally) that I was happily responding to a three year old thread!! Oi vey! No wonder I didn't recognize the member names (most of them)!!!

Nico--I didn't realize it was so old either. I felt like I was in a parallel universe for a few minutes!

Tayler--I love your story. I have felt for some time that our church, which includes our schools, academies, and colleges, has lost its focus on mission and service. WHen I was teaching, our school took a mission trip every year. I was not the sponsor of the trip, nor did I go along, but I encouraged my students and supported them in their fundraising and spaghetti dinners, etc. There was one girl who went every year from grade 8-12. She loved going, could pick up languages well, and really loved working with the children. Her mother approached me once, wringing her hands, and saying, Oh dear, I don't know what to do--I wish I could get her to stop going on these trips--I'm afraid she'll want to be a missionary. I said, cool! She said, don't you think that's something to worry about? I said, Isn't that the purpose of Adventist education? She said, No.

We taught at this school after having been in China, and we told our students lots of stories, but they also asked tons of questions--like this, from my B'Hai student--How do you know you're following God's leading? Several of our students went on to be student missionaries and at least one is foregoing college to be a missionary with her church (she's not SDA).

I had a banner on my wall--You can talk the talk but can you walk the walk? I challenged my students with this every year.

Adventist schools reflect the change in Adventist values. We used to value service and missions (Union College still does--witness their very public SM service with the golden cords)--now we value the almighty dollar. It shows in our schools.

There are great teachers out there, don't get me wrong. I have taught with and known many. But you can't just assume that because it's an Adventist school that it's automatically good. You have to ask questions, just as you would with any other private school.

M

Michelle, I appreciate your passion for missions, for the Lord and for our young people! We need more teachers like you! Yes, we are put on this earth, regardless of our "careers" to give this message to the world. IT is such a high calling and such a priviledge adn there is no greater joy than seeing others come to know the Savior! Keep up the good work!!

I posted this story under "What Our Kids Need" thread but thought I woudl post it here as well, incase you didn't see it there. I knew you would love this story.

Here is the story I said I would try to post about kids not being able to afford mission trips (or adults for that matter either.)

There was a trip I went on where I was one of organizers/chaperones etc. There was a young lady who came from a large family and blue collar workers for parents. Money for them could only go to the basic necesities and the only reason this girl was in school was because her church had sponsored her in a great measure to attend an SDA school.

The day before she was to let the group leader know that she would or would not be joining them on the mission trip (i.e. she had to have enough money raised by that date), she only had about $100. She had written to all her family and friends but most were just as "poor" as she was and could help her very little ($2.00 here, $5.00 there, $10.00 when she was lucky.) She was so discouraged and crying as she wanted to go on this trip so badly. I told her "If God wants you to go, you still have time. Mail comes in at noon and you don't have to know till 3 p.m. to let the group leader know. Maybe the rest will come in by then." She looked at me and said "I can't imagine that happening. I have heard from everyone I wrote to except my favorite uncle. Now he isn't rich either but I thought he would at leas send me something. But there is no chance of getting the rest of the money I need unless God works a miracle." She needed about $700 total if I remember correctly. We prayed about her situation.

The next day I was so busy that I hadn't noticed the racing of the clock. Oh, I had prayed for her that morning but then forgotten about it. As I walked accrossed campus I heard someone screaming my name. I turned around and this girl is racing down the side walk towards me crying, laughing, and talking so fast I had no idea what she was saying. She shoved a letter into my hand and just kept saying "read read read!!!!" I read it and then I was just as amazed and emotional as she was (well almost. lol). Her letter, to her favorite uncle had gone to another address, in another state, to someone by the same name (now if that isn't a God thing what is?). This man had never heard of this school or this young lady nor was he an Adventist. However, when he read her enthusiastic letter about how she was wanting to spend her spring break building a church, helping to run a kid's VBS program etc he was impressed. He said "I am not as religious as I should be and your letter inspired me. I want you to have this opportunity and I am sure you will be a huge blessing to the ones you meet on this trip. So I am enclosing a check for the full amount you need. Just drop me a letter when you get back and tell me how it went." Is God awsome or what?!!

God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or think, according to his riches........ God has No limits. If he calls, he will provide.

PS: Oh and get this, her best friend was short, just the amount of money that this girl had already received. God is the same God today as he was when he walked the dusty roads of our planet.

Oh, Taylor. That story is awe-inspiring! thank you, thank you for telling it.

We need to remember the psychological axiom, FEELINGS FOLLOW BEHAVIOR -- not vice versa. Acting in a loving way, and Working for a Cause, will result in Feeling loving, Feeling Good.

'Love is something you DO.'

and this applies also with our Christian experience.

You're a real blessing -- helping young people learn how to experience this.



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P.S. I hadn't even read your second story yet [about the miraculous money gift] when i posted this post ... That one should be published far and wide!
God is so good.

Thank you again for your ministry to our most precious asset -- our young people.