“To enter into international mission is not just accepting but also embracing the newness that inherently comes with ‘going out.’ As missioners, we choose to dive headfirst into a new culture, a new place, a new language, and a new community,” says Josh.

A mountain of caramelized onions and ground chorizo sit in the open air on a flat-top grill as I walk up the main street in Planes de Renderos. It’s not the first time I’ve passed this little taqueria with its kitchen right on the sidewalk and a tiny, narrow eating area behind and thought: That looks good. On my way back, I’ll stop and get some tacos.

When I do eventually head back from whatever chore has brought me that way, however, I always end up walking right past. The excuses in my head often go something like this: Well, now I’m already on my way home. I might as well keep going and make myself some lunch or I just got takeout for dinner the other night or simply next time.

There is some truth to these excuses, to be sure, but they’re not the real reasons. The real reason is that as silly as it sounds, I’m trying to avoid an uncomfortable interaction. First of all, there’s hardly ever anyone eating there, at least when I’m around, and even in the U.S. I’d feel a bit awkward walking into an empty restaurant to eat by myself. The lack of other people means there’s no example to follow on how to order in this unusual setup and the workers there might be more likely to want to chat and I’m not good at small talk in Spanish. It’s just easier to go home and make myself a PB&J.

In my experience, mission is full of invitations and new opportunities to which I should respond with a yes, but I often find myself saying no instead. The instinct to regress to the familiar and comfortable is a strong pull.

There’s a cost, though, to saying no and staying with what’s easy. For one thing, like any habit, the more you say no, the harder it becomes to say yes. Saying no also often means missing out on great opportunities and new experiences. But most importantly, that pull to comfort goes against the very heart of mission.

In his message for World Mission Day in 2024, Pope Francis called mission “a tireless going out.” To “go out” is to leave the comforts of home and engage with everyone.

“That is at the heart of mission—saying yes to the new and the uncomfortable—letting ourselves be vulnerable, scared, lonely, and helpless and then seeking for and finding the love of God in that space.” That space might be a taqueria.

To enter into international mission is not just accepting but also embracing the newness that inherently comes with “going out.” As missioners, we choose to dive headfirst into a new culture, a new place, a new language, and a new community. We do so knowing that significant and totally unanticipated challenges will be strewn throughout and yet we search for, hope for, pray for, and almost always find great joy and peace.

A quick internet search of “bible quotes about comfort” brings up the following links: 50 bible verses that bring peace and comfort, 43 most comforting bible verses, 15 comforting bible verses, 19 bible verses to bring comfort, etc.

So, if comfort is so biblical, then why is chasing it so contrary to following Christ’s missionary path?

The original Greek word most often used in the New Testament for “comfort” is parakaleo, which directly translates as “to call to one’s side.” When the Bible talks of comfort, it is talking about the human need for God to come to us and be our comforter, helper, and guide. If we chase comfort in our worldly decisions and avoid any newness that may bring challenges, we will never put ourselves in a position to call out to God for His comfort. We will never know what that love feels like and in missing it, will never reach our potential to be good comforters to others.

That is at the heart of mission—saying yes to the new and the uncomfortable—letting ourselves be vulnerable, scared, lonely, and helpless and then seeking for and finding the love of God in that space. As we continue in that continuous process, we hope to learn more about God and humbly share that love and understanding with others.

It’s not an easy process. It can be lonely and at times it isn’t enjoyable either, but so far, for me, the rewards have far outweighed the costs.

Still, that pull for comfort persists and once again, on the way home, I walked past the taqueria.

And then, half a block past the restaurant, I checked myself. I decided I had said no too many times. I didn’t want to keep building that habit, and darn it, I wanted some tacos.

So, I turned around and walked back to the flat-top grill and the mound of caramelized onions. As usual, there was no one inside, and the thought of being the only person eating there felt lonely and almost made me leave.

But I didn’t.

I ordered some chorizo tacos.

And they were great.