Short-Term Trip, Long-Term Impact - Joel and Loriann
Loriann (Hodgdon) MatchakMissionary in Irpen, Ukraine with her husband JoelWhen I went on my first short-term mission trip to Romania in 2005 I had no idea what a huge impact it would have on my life and my future. I had always been interested in missions and had a heart for reaching children and young people with the Gospel of Jesus, but I was terrified at just the thought of actually going! So, when the opportunity came to go to Romania for three weeks with Global Encounters, I can’t say that I “jumped” at the chance. I hesitantly said “Yes” to the Lord and went.Wow! It was one of the most amazing three weeks of my life! The Lord used those intense weeks of ministry to stretch me, test my faith, convict me of my selfishness, and open my eyes to the needs of the people around me and the ways in which God could use me to help meet those needs. I was so humbled that God would call me to share His love with others, not just in a foreign country, but also at home or anywhere else God wanted to take me.The Lord allowed me to go again to Romania a year later as well as Mexico, Russia (twice), and Ecuador. Looking back on my experiences with short-term missions as a single person, I can see how the Lord used those times to prepare me for long-term missions. I am now married and my husband and I are serving the Lord full-time in Ukraine. We serve an awesome God and I cannot thank Him enough for allowing me the opportunity to go on that first short-term mission trip that had such an impact on my life and gave me direction for where I am today.Joel's Perspective:
Short-term mission trips have a way of forcing you to depend on Jehovah Jireh. We don’t know about others, but this has always been the case with us. While we were both single, it was, “Lord, if you want me to go on this mission trip, you need to provide for my ticket, room and board, ministry supplies, etc.” We found it was either the Lord provided the funding or we didn’t go! What great “field” training those trips were for where God has us now, as we serve together here in Ukraine. Our prayer is still the same, “Lord, if you want us to continue ministering here in Ukraine, you need to provide for ______.” And just as we found God faithful in our single years, faithful to provide for us to serve on four different continents, and in seven different countries on eighteen different trips, so we have found Him faithful as we serve here in Ukraine. He has met EVERY need. Jehovah Jireh is forever faithful!Send an email to Joel and Loriann at joelandloriannmatchak@gmail.com to subscribe to their newsletter and stay up-to-date on what they are doing.Click here for all the stories from the May, 2010 newsletter.