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Acts 16:1-15
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
Diane and I have had the privilege to travel on mission trips to Moscow, Russia, Hong Kong, mainland China, the Philippines, Kenya and Tanzania. We’ve made great friends in several of those places, and witnessed some amazing works of God in the lives of the peoples in those places.
Our most recent mission travels have taken us to Tanzania. There we have dedicated a school that is growing and blessing more and more children and families. We have also taught for PLI International, encouraging the church leaders there to focus their energies toward God’s mission, and not simply enjoying the privilege of their reputations as pastors.
Some of those trips have been arduous. Roads that were navigable only in four-wheel-drive vehicles taking us to out of the way villages where the only modern elements of life were TVs and satellite receivers. No hot and cold running water. No A/C. A fire in the middle of the house serving to heat the home and cook their meager meals.
In Ai Chow, China, a chicken walked through the middle of the living area. This was the time of the bird flu, and one of our group members would likely have jumped out the window had there been windows in that house. On another occasion, the road that we took was so rutted and muddy that we all had to get out of the bus as the driver conquered the hill. We were glad that he made it, and that we were not in the bus as he drove the bus that seemed close to tipping over.
Another time we had to get off the paved highway and travel along a bumpy, rutted, and treacherous parallel dirt road. The main highway was under repairs and large stones had been placed all along the road to prevent any traffic from using it. Our flights have taken anywhere from 26 hours to 48 hours of travel getting there and returning home. It pushes us to our limits. But we’re glad to go, thankful for the experiences, and hopeful that our teaching is bearing fruit.
Take all those challenges and magnify them exponentially, and you will begin to get a sense of what Paul and Timothy experienced. Luke lists the cities they visited on their next missionary journey. And they didn’t have jet airliners for their travels. It’s most likely they walked.
I’m not sure how they decided where to go next. But I am certain that God was guiding them. In this case through closed doors and a vision of the man from Macedonia. And I’m certain their travels were more arduous than any of ours. But I’m also certain that God was with them the whole way.
Next time you take a trip, and you get stuck in traffic, experience a flight delay, or have car trouble, let those moments remind you of how God brought the message of Jesus to people throughout the ages. Thank God for his faithful love, and for those who have endured challenges of many kinds over the years so that the word of God would be spread also to us.
This is a record of a vitally important mission trip – not just a travelog.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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