Sometimes I am conflicted between my role as a Pastor and my role as a missionary. I may have to explain that ...
This morning Catherine and I and some friends took a two hour drive outside of the city into a tribal area deep in the mountains of Don Salvador. Our goal was to establish contact with some of the original inhabitants (actually descendants) of the island. These are a people that live isolated from other societies.
It took two hours of gravel, mud, and other assorted roads to reach a school house tucked away in the mountains. The school is actually smaller than my bedroom, and is used to educate the children of this isolated people group.
Next week we will be bringing a team of 16 youth from Okinawa, Japan to that schoolhouse to feed the children, install a toilet, paint, provide books and show the Love of Jesus to them.
It is the missionary work that takes us to these remote areas. It is the missionary work that allows us to share with those less fortunate (spiritually and physically) in the mountains, barangays, and other far-flung areas of this island. It is the missionary work that keeps us hopping!
Although tired from the days events of missionary life, we will shower, get dressed (but not dressed up) and proceed to the church for the Wednesday evening service where I will pastor.
Being a pastor is what causes me to prepare for the Sunday morning service, the Tuesday evening couples ministry, the Wednesday night service and the Thursday night seminary class.
Sometimes time is short and the missionary in me wants to go visit those tucked away in the mountains but the pastor in me says you have to prepare another message ...
Perhaps we should start another church in the mountains and I could pastor that one ... combining the desire of a missionary and a pastor ... now there is a thought!
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