My Heart for Ministry

Why did I decide to do a nine month missions trip while there are so many other options that are not as difficult? Why would I put myself in difficult and maybe dangerous places everyday for people I do not know? Is pride the only thing that is keeping me on the field? I know that home is a safe, comforting, and loving environment with friends and family.

Yet, I choose to stay…

To stay on the field.

To stay for this current family.

To stay because of God’s calling.

You may or may not have read my “Why” for this missions trip and I can confidently say this was a calling. But, I was only thinking about myself and the benefits I would receive in return from doing this trip. I wanted my life to change not because of God but because my sinful past. I only wanted a better life but at the time and I didn’t know what that would’ve looked like.

And praise God that He opened my eyes and has changed me!

He has changed my whole perspective of His word, His love, His grace, and everything about His goodness. He has broken chains that I thought would never be broken and has learned how He uses broken people to fulfill His perfect will.

Where can you find this in the book of truth?

“God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one can boast in His presence. But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:28-31 (HCSB)

I know there are other verses that better illustrate how God uses broken people to complete His perfect will, but I just love this verse because of the first few words in this verse.

“God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world…”

For me that is such a good reminder of how God chose us. Even though we may not be the most influential or just not have very much money. Others may look at us as insignificant and despised in this world. 

But! God wants us to come home to Him in heaven because we are His sons and daughters through Jesus Christ’s death. 

(Galatians 4:4-7 which states the Spirit of Adoption).

Even though I have sinned and ran away from Him my whole life, He still calls me worthy of His love. Not just me, but every single person in this broken world. God wants His children to come home. But not everyone has heard of Jesus, and if they have, let us pray and fight for them as the Holy Spirit’s seed has been planted and is working in them.

This concept is a good reminder for me when the volume of the world drowns out the Father’s still small voice.

• The Lord is a restful place to sit in silence with Him.

• A place where they enemy can’t attack me mentally.

• A place where my cup can be refilled so I can be pouring out of others from overflow.

So why write all of this?

I wrote all of this is because this is my new “Why.” The reasoning of why I want to continue doing missions even after the Race. I have constantly asked the Lord why I’m doing this trip (Matthew 7:7). This is because even though traveling the world sounds really cool, it is not a vacation where I can do what I want. It’s about everyone else, it’s about humbling ourselves for others (Philippians 2:1-4) it’s about going out of our way to show the love of Christ to everyone.

I care so much for every single person on my team, on my squad, and for every person we meet on the street.

Because…

God has called them worthy and calls every person in this world a son and daughter.

I have no right to judge others because I am not God. I am a messenger of His good news which is the Gospel. I am here to plant seeds and not doing the transformation. Everything I do for ministry is for the uplifting of God’s Kingdom. 

I’m here fight for God’s Kingdom.

I love how during RVT (Racer Vision Trip) our host in “Hope Mountain” named Vicky talked to us one night and what she said will stick with me forever. This is what she said, 

“Let us fight for people through prayer because this is someone’s soul we are talking about.”

If that’s not a word from the Lord then I don’t know what is!

So, through a multitude of hours of just sitting with the Lord and asking why am I here, from multiple conversations with people, God continues answer my prayers and has changed my heart for Him and everyone who comes across my path. So, anytime I feel the storm hitting me hard, I’ll continue to push through because I know the Lord is with me. I know through every challenge I go through, it will be growing my faith with my Father in heaven.

There’s a verse that gets me through all of these hard challenges:

“And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.” – Romans 5:3-4 (HCSB)

There are similar verses in James 1:2-4 and Matthew 5:11-12 that prove how even if we are Christian, affliction, tribulation, and persecution will happen while you are in this broken world. So, I will continue to have joy in the Lord because I know through all hardships I will continue to grow.

Now a little appreciation for all of my supporters:

I am so thankful for all the prayers and donations I have received since I decided to start this journey with the Lord. I am so blessed to have such a supporting community backing me, and though I may not be the most consistent with blogs, I still want to show my appreciation to all of you. As some of you may have noticed, I have received a total $15,800 on January 22 and I know this could not of happened without the Lord. I have a few more weeks in the Dominican Republic before traveling to our last country, Nicaragua. I would like to continue to ask for prayer for protection of myself, my team, and my current family, my squad.

Thank you again,

Josiah Bustamante

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.” – John 15:5 (HCSB)