As part of our team preparation we are praying together and doing a course by Simply Mobilizing. The four week course sets us with correct missions theology. This prevents s from approching the trip with varying agendas and perhaps avoiding common pitfalls of modern missions work such as:

• Savior syndrome (approaching another culture with a power distance: we are here to save you from underdeveloped ways and thinking)
• Colonization mindset (“You must practice Christianity through the lens of MY culture”, rather than meet Christ in your cultural setting)

In addition we are expanding our worldview to understand Gods mission is for a church from every nation tribe and tongue (Revelation 7:9). Our going is not at the expense of the local church, but to benefit one another.

In a practical sense we are learning the following:

• Hearing Gods voice: What does he want from us on this trip
• Respecting one another: Listening to eachothers hopes, expectations and concer
• Practical preparations that are required such as equipment
• Cultural dimensions: How to respect and embrace the culture we are entering into

So far we have fundraiser successfully for all tickets, however accomodation costs and living costs while over there have raised substantially. This has not been a worry for the team as we received a word a month ago ‘not to worry when you see no way forward’. As such we trust God for his provision.

Other prophetic words to the team include:

• We will meet a girl at or from a school. She has an issue with her eye and God wants us to pray for her. Let’s keep an ‘eye’ out for that.
• We will receive favour from a chief but initially it will not look so.
• God will make a way when there seems to be blockages and we should not be alarmed but trust him (possibly relating to the financial issues above).

I look forward to future journal entries, as we progress I am asking the question: God what are you doing in the Solomon Islands?

Matt