Often we hear of people going to places like Africa, Costa Rica, and other third world countries. I myself am one of those people. During my freshman year of high school, I went on a mission trip to Belize, my sophomore year I spent two weeks in Kenya, and the summer after my senior year I spent two weeks in Kenya again. My heart has such a large portion dedicated to the people and the culture in Nakuru, Kenya, and the communities within it.

To put it as eloquently as I can, there is nothing wrong with that. There is nothing wrong with leaving your heart in a third world country and being willing to give up everything to go back. There is nothing wrong with wanting to go serve in these countries. However, where there becomes a problem is when these third world countries are the only place you are making it known that you serve God.

Serving God starts at home, in your very own community, the one where you live, where you go to school, and where you go to church. Reach out to the community. Have movie nights at your church that are free for anyone to come enjoy. Go to a homeless shelter and serve dinner, play board games, and get to know the people who are struggling in your own community. Then, reach out, go out of your comfort zone and go to a struggling community somewhere else in the United States, or your own country, and serve God there. Jesus started in Jerusalem, then headed into Judea, and then went to make disciples of ALL nations. Start where you are, then move outwards.

For me, I left my heart in Kenya, and when I get home I cannot wait to get back. I love missions, I love travel, and I can’t wait to do just that once I am done with school. However, for many people of faith, they are not called to missions. Does this mean you can’t do them? No, of course not. What that does mean, however, is that you may not be as comfortable leaving the country, or even going on a mission trip to begin with. I do believe that every person who calls themselves a Christian should experience a mission trip, even one in their own community, at least once in their lifetime because Jesus called us to share his word with other people through love and fellowship.

Missions are important wherever you are and wherever you feel called to serve because we are simply supposed to show love to everyone and show people what it’s like to be encompassed by an all-powerful God who loves and provides. So whether you strike up a conversation with a stranger in line for coffee and ask them how their day has been, start a trend of paying it forward at a drive-thru window, or go on a mission trip to another country, just remember that you are doing it all in the likeness of God.

You don’t have to get dirty, risk your health, or fly 9,000 miles to share the love of God with someone else. Not everyone is called into the mission field, but we are all called to make disciples of other people and to simply love people.