“Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two.”  

These are the words that begin our Gospel reading this Sunday—and expand our knowledge about the meaning of discipleship. Jesus instructs the Twelve to travel empty-handed: no food, money, or change of clothes.  

The disciples, like Jesus, are to rely on the compassion of those they serve. And so, with nothing but the clothes on their back and faith in Jesus, they set off to preach repentance and heal the sick.  

Discipleship is a great sacrifice. But the reward is even greater. CMMB’s skilled volunteers know this firsthand. They leave behind the comforts of home, take valuable time away from their careers, and part with their families to serve in unfamiliar and under-resourced contexts. They extend their service to strangers. And yet, they give everything they can—again and again. 

“I can’t save everyone, but I want to save those I can and those that are in front of me,” says Ashley, a CMMB nurse volunteer serving in South Sudan for six months.  

You can read more from Ashley and her reflections from the first month of service in a recent Q&A.