Many of you will remember Lester from last year’s mission trip. He was the neighbor who asked if we could build him a set of steps because he had been climbing in and out of his home using milk crates and old tires. Although he was skeptical of Christians and didn’t hesitate to let us know it, our team chose to love him anyway. We purchased the materials ourselves, built the steps, and, more importantly, spent time listening to him, talking with him, and sharing the love of Christ.

This year, as we drove through the neighborhood, many of us hoped to stop and see Lester again. Unfortunately, he wasn’t home, and it appeared that his house had suffered significant damage. We asked if anyone knew where he was, but no one had an answer.

At first, that felt disappointing. Our team had hoped to see how he was doing and hear the next chapter of his story. But as we reflected together, we were reminded of an important truth: God never asked us to guarantee the outcome. He simply called us to be faithful.

Last year we had the privilege of planting a seed. We showed kindness to someone who expected rejection. We loved someone who wasn’t easy to love. Whether someone else has watered that seed—or how God continues His work in Lester’s life—we may never know this side of heaven. But we trust that no act of love done in the name of Christ is ever wasted.

Sometimes missions means seeing the harvest. Sometimes it simply means planting the seed and trusting God with the rest.

As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” That is our prayer for Lester—that God continues the work He began long after our team has gone home.

Jerry Fox
Team Leader & Church Elder