Field Notes

For years, Josh kept showing up.He served on Mission Discovery trips, poured into ministry, and believed with his whole heart that one day he would step into a full-time role with the organization he loved so much. He built his life around that calling—trusting that God would open the door at the right time.But the journey wasn’t simple.In this episode, Michael and Hailey sit down with Josh to talk about the seasons of disappointment, waiting, and wrestling with God’s timing. From the deep hurt of his parents’ divorce to a season where he felt like he had almost given up on God entirely, Josh shares how the Lord met him in the middle of heartbreak and slowly rebuilt his faith.After decades of serving and hoping, it finally seemed like the dream was within reach—until COVID hit, plans fell apart, and everything he thought was certain came crashing down.What do you do when the thing you believed God called you to doesn’t happen the way you expected?Josh’s story is one of faithfulness, surrender, and learning to trust God even when the answer feels like silence. If you’ve ever felt forgotten, delayed, or disappointed by God’s timing, this conversation will remind you that “not yet” does not mean “no.”Our website: https://www.missiondiscovery.org/

In 1991, Maury Buchanan said yes to a God-sized dream: starting a short-term missions organization called Mission Discovery. But that “yes” didn’t come without doubt.In this episode, Michael and Hailey sit down with Maury to unpack how Mission Discovery began—and the unexpected story that almost stopped it before it started.Maury shares about a mission trip that went so poorly, he left convinced he never wanted to do another one again. Frustration, disappointment, and unmet expectations shaped what could have been the end of the story.But God had other plans.What followed was a shift in perspective that didn’t just change Maury’s heart—it helped shape the DNA of Mission Discovery into what it is today.If you’ve ever questioned your calling, struggled through a difficult experience, or wondered how God can use something that feels like failure… this conversation is for you.Our Website: Missiondiscovery.org

Pastor Phil Long has spent years serving alongside Mission Discovery teams on the mission field, and through those experiences, he’s learned something many of us are still struggling to grasp: how to truly listen.In this episode, Phil unpacks the practice of restorative listening and why it matters now more than ever. In a culture quick to debate, defend, and divide, he challenges us to step out of the noise and into something deeper—listening not to respond, but to understand.Phil also shares about the idea of “sacred places” on the mission field, moments where God is already at work in people’s lives, if we’re willing to slow down enough to notice. These aren’t just places we go to serve, but spaces where we are invited to encounter others with humility, presence, and compassion.Whether you’re on a mission trip or simply navigating everyday conversations, this episode is a powerful reminder: people aren’t projects to fix or arguments to win. They’re stories to be heard. And when we choose to listen well, we begin to see others the way God sees them.Mission Discovery Home Page: https://www.missiondiscovery.org/The Anxious Generation Book: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book

Short-term missions can be a controversial topic. Some question the impact of short term missions while others love them. In this episode, Hailey and Michael talk about the history of how short-term mission trips began and how we can do missions in a way that is intentional and truly impactful for God's kingdom. Hailey and Michael also talk about when a well-known author questioned the practices of Mission Discovery mission trips and respond to his critiques.