A Beauty Unparalleled
It was the last day of Bible camp, and one camper remained unheard.
I recently served with a mission team from my school a Bible camp in Alaska. As a camp counselor, I helped facilitate activities, chapel, and cabin-mate relationships. As we studied in Ruth that week, a message on shame and the love of God left one of my campers, Jade*, burdened and quiet.
Spending all week building a fragile trust, I did not want to push too hard, so I let her come to me. On the very last night I shared with my campers, Jade approached me at the bonfire. She immediately poured out her heart about her parent's divorce. This wound opened the door for her to be deeply hurt by someone she knew and trusted. Left with no closure and a burning guilt, Jade never spoke to the person again and was left scarred because she could never undo what happened to her.
She continues to face the challenge of shame in her village from her parents’ divorce and absence. She had no one to turn to. However, she shared that camp this week changed her heart.
The message of Ruth is one of redeeming love. At camp, one of the counselors shared her story that was similar to Jade’s. She shared how she once felt God was distant to her because of what happened, but now, she sees Him right beside her, leading and healing her.
That night, Jade and I sat in tears on the beach, torn between the reality of shame and the presence of the King. Nonetheless, God showed us His reassurance and sovereignty through glory and beauty unparalleled with sun-struck clouds, royal blue mountains, and a vast, abundant ocean.
Even in her heartache, the Lord sees greater beauty in Jade than He put on display with our view that night. He hurts as Jade and other girls like her hurt with the pain of sin and victimage. Still, He sees her only as His Daughter: chosen, clean, and priceless. Join us in praying for these victims, that they hide in God’s unchanging love and comfort in the midst of their darkness.
*not her real name.
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Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
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