Service: The power of people, language and culture.

Connections cannot take place without people. I was on a mission trip- my first US mission trip and it happened that it fell on the week of my birthday. I was skeptical going at first, due to the conflict as well as other socio-political factors I heard on the news about the location. My fellow Nigerians, you would agree with me that when you hear terrifying news about community clashes or incessant riots happening in a location, there is a high tendency to reduce footprints towards that location.

Conversely, my younger sibling was eagerly willing to travel to a known-via media, troubled zone in Nigeria and I had advised her (even from 8k miles away) yes-lol that she does not need to physically participate when there is both Zoom and YouTube viewing option. Sometimes, I feel humans- you and I (like wahala-complex or), find it more difficult to make a choice when there are several options. Human nature? Anyways, I have a solution for you all (here is it y'all); refer to history, recall your values/priorities + gut feeling, apply the use of elimination method to make it less complicated.

In this scenario, given the airport routes I took towards the mission trip, I observed beyond my wildest imagination, the plethora of people at the airport, families, individuals, different groups of friends matching onto their known destinations. However, pre-pandemic, was it not all routine, do the work, deliver tasks timely and just be by ourselves at leisure time with a glass of drink (regular, usual stuff) right?

I see this current global phase on the contrary, where there is a sense of heightened personal and public health awareness; taking time off, mental day off, social media content viewing (especially those hilarious clips) avoiding routine, or anything that affects one's state of being and having that sense of "living our lives". Whatever that means to you; learning a new language, skill, starting a vlog, YouTube channel or podcast, travelling locally or globally, journaling, making new friends or a purpose trip- like missions.

During the course of my mission trip, I experienced a number of obstacles, turned into learning moments. One of which was having to address concerns of an 8-yr old who argued or countered on the specific instructions from his parents to me the teacher about his food allergies. However, son of God (SoG)- real name withheld, countered at the mission, what his mum actually meant when she said what she said- lol. Children will be Children! Thanks to our initial mission orientation, we chatted warmly and I felt even more inclined to listen to him, so we both agreed I would get direct clarifications again from his mum, and in the interim, he should take what was offered him at the time, given his mum's notes. A second experience was listening on the message a mother was passing to her 9-yr old upon dropping him off on the trip. The instructions caught my attention because it was in a known language-Russian. An important learning curve there, is how our native tongue or language taught early on can pass across a vital message better, as well as helps reiterate one's culture compared to an official language.

The purpose of offering service to people; including children is an important opportunity for me to gain insights from their experience through the act of listening and being in their shoes in those moments. I understood where SoG was coming from, he wanted to have what his mates were having and he had a great argument to back it up. In my response, I listened first, accepted his point of view and we reached a horse trade.

In the art of listening especially when you arrive a new environment, we should endeavor to remain in high spirits, making the best of every moment-Be in the moment! This can only happen through endurance, and dealing with the majors giving the limited time. Looking out for others before self can be very exhausting when there is no balance. For example, when we had lunch during this trip, I ate with the children on the table. I exemplified service, sacrifice and leadership. I would eat after they had all started, I served portable water upon getting to our table, also indulged some children who would mix mustard and ketch-up or is it figuring out how tasty ranch goes with celery! Thanks to the wise, adventurous bunch! One observation on the table was some children being grateful and overtly excited about the meal of the day and others being selective. others understood their allergy limitations while others argued!

I noticed some of them who wanted to eat continuously and others who stopped when they had reached their threshold. In all, our role as leaders in service to children, should not be to condemn, but to provide guidance, inquire further and offer service to them, whilst minding our language, tone and manner of approach to questions or general areas of concerns.

Why are we here on earth? What do we do while we are here on earth and how do we continuously improve ourselves even as we are of service to others? These are the questions... I think we can find the answers in the above content and experience I shared from my trip.

I feel, the importance of genuinely connecting with people plays a powerful role in achieving one's goals and dreams. With helping humans, comes a fulfilling and an in-depth feeling of satisfaction and filling of a vacuum within or connecting with the child in you!

Appreciation goes to the team in the picture and mission's leadership of FBC!