Keeping God central

Nine teams will travel to five different countries to start six months of cross-cultural mission, where there will assist BMS workers and partners in making a positive difference to people in need.

This year, there will be three in teams in Brazil, another three in India, with one each in Nepal, South Africa and Thailand.

They have each completed a month’s training before heading overseas and we’ve caught up with four Action Teamers to gauge how they are feeling as they prepare to go.

Rachel Morris, São Paulo 1
I’m really excited about seeing a different culture and building relationships with people. I’m terrified about making some huge error with the language but we’ll have training when we get there.

In Western society we have all this stuff around us; we don’t in theory need God. But people who live in slums, and literally have nothing, rely in God in everything – I want to bring some of that back and hopefully that will help me in the future.

Tom Fletcher – Delhi
A BMS rep come to my church and they dropped Action Teams in at the end of the presentation. It sparked something in the back of my mind and I really felt God pulling my heartstrings saying, ‘yeah, go out and do that’. It’s been amazing the amount of support and generosity I’ve had.

I’m looking forward to going to Delhi and experiencing new sights, sounds and tastes – even if there might be some adverse reactions to those! What we’re doing is really important and we have to keep God at the centre of all of it.

Lizzie Hare – Kolkata 1
A gap year is something I’ve always wanted to do even though I’ve never even been on a plane before! I’m really excited to see what God is going to do both in the lives of people around me and in the lives of me and my team. I can’t wait to see what he’s going to throw at us.

I really hope my faith will grow and I’ll have an attitude as Christ-like as I can throughout my time overseas and then bring it with me when I come back home.

Pete Morris – Thailand
I think it’s going to be really good to be out of my comfort zone. It’s going to be good to get to know the people on my team – and find a new family. Language is an anxiety, as is being away from home for quite a long period of time.

To be able to put God into everything I do as a whole would be great. I want us to pray into everything and to know what we’re doing is the right thing for him, wherever we are.