Great post James'y. I feel the same as you, christians all over the world are suffering, being tortured to the point of death even for the name of Jesus, although we hear about this and sometimes have people visit church to highlight this, i do think a trip to one of these places would give us a greater understanding of just how much they go through and how they stand up. The news is full of stories of death, suffering etc all over the world, the subject in todays world has just become normal, you turn on the news and how often do you hear a positive story? Sometimes yes, but rarely (from my experience anyway). I for one feel a trip would open my eyes like never before, it's one thing to hear about what goes on, watch a few video's etc.. but to speak to people first hand about what they go through and how they trust in God in even the most challenging situations that most of us couldn't even imagine.. imagine it.

Whilst on the subject of suffering but on a far less scale, i've had a bad tooth-ache this week, had to go the dentist on monday expecting to have an injection which i hate, followed by a filling which i also dislike the thought of somebody drilling into my mouth. Point i'm making is that as i was getting ready to go, feeling nervous, worried etc (silly i know) it crossed my mind how Jesus must of felt when he entered Jerusalum for the final time. I think it was on psalm sunday but may be wrong. He knew as he rode in on that donkey that he was about to suffer in a matter of days HELL on EARTH for us. He knew he would be mocked, spat at, beaten, his back would be cut open like a farmer ploughs a field and to top it all off... nailed to a cross until he suffocated to death. He did no wrong, he knew what was about to happen to him yet he never opened his mouth. It made me realise that a trip to the dentist, or worrying about tommorow etc, however bad it can seem.. NOTHING can compare what he went through for us, the fact he knew what he was in for makes it even more incredible. We have it so easy, so Praise God for that, but a trip that would really open our eyes i feel would do us a lot of good and give us a real understanding about life's real "issue's".

Jb