Lately I have been experiencing many discouraging conversations about spreading the Gospel overseas. Multiple times when I tell others about what I will be doing in 6 months I get the response of "why would you go overseas and not spread the gospel here, why not use that money to go there to help the poor here". This has really made me question what is the reason I want to be going, why do I feel I need to spread the gospel overseas. With this I have clung to the verse in Matthew 28:18-20 "Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
This verse shows me I should be spreading the gospel anywhere I have the opportunity to do so. This means right now my work, my home and city is my mission field and until I leave I will be sharing the gospel to the people around me for this time in my life. Also, I don't think that going overseas is taking the "easy way out" and only spreading the work to those who are desperate to hear. I believe America has plenty of opportunity to hear the word and I will do my best to make sure I am part of that spreading but we have so many churchs and ways for people to find God in the greatest places here. Going overseas is a sacrifice and this trip was not a decision taken lightly. Much prayer and thought went into me going on this trip or not. The easy way out for me would be to not go on this trip, stay where I am, get married, work for a church with a comfortable salary, have a home and start a family. That's not the life I am called to at this moment.
Yes I want to help the poor but the poor in America is no where close to the poor in 3rd world countries. There are so many ways the church helps these people especially around the holidays with food banks, angel tree etc but not a lot is done for 3rd world countries because a lot of us have the mindset of well that not my country and thats not my people so I need to take care of the people here. I feel all people are Gods people, all people need him and all people no matter the country need to hear about him. I believe the word is truth and the only way to have hope is to know this life isn't all there is. That is why I choose to travel, sacrifice comfort and spread God throughout the nation because I want everyone to have the same opportunity to have happiness, joy, peace and hope. God has enlarged my heart for other countries so much that I can't sit here and not grab ahold of the opportunity he has placed in front of me no matter the discouragment Satan tries to throw in my direction. I am so excited about this next chapter and this next journey in my life as I sit in this chair writing this blog excitment wells up inside me to know the God of the universe has sent me.
