I’ve been meaning to write this for weeks but I’ve been finding every excuse in the book not to do it. Two things kept getting in the way: My pride, and my…pride. Okay, maybe that’s just one thing. But it’s a big thing, and it may be the biggest obstacle in my walk as a Christian.
Here’s the thing. A few months back I sent out a newsletter to all of my loved ones. Incidentally, if you didn’t get one, please email me and I’ll send you one right away. Anyway, this newsletter briefed a whole lot of people on my mission trip to 11-different Latin American countries in 11 months, a mission opportunity that God put on my heart to do.
After I sent out those newsletters, I had doubts that an all Latin America route wasn’t the one I was supposed to take. I felt like I was playing it safe, and even though I knew God wanted me to do mission work in Spanish-speaking countries, it seemed as if I was cheating on a huge part of my heart by staying in the western hemisphere. My heart of hearts wanted to go to Africa and Asia as well. But I had already told so many people that I was going to Latin America, and I didn’t want to have to say that plans had changed.
So, bringing us back into present day, I am overcoming my pride and writing a blog to tell you all that I have indeed changed course. I have omitted all of Central American countries from my route, and added four in Asia, along with three in Africa. And it feels amazing!! Not because I’m not going to Central America-I’ll go someday-but because I get to do what God wants me to do and follow my heart at the same time. I get to seize the day with this once in a lifetime mission opportunity and visit three different continents to help meet the needs of God’s people all over the world! From July 2104 – June 2015, I’ll be doing mission work in all of these countries: Puerto Rico, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Swaziland, Botswana, and South Africa.
My heart is with every nation, and I know that God is going to use me wherever I go. From reaching out to one of the 2 million people sold into prostitution in Thailand, cradling an AIDS orphan in Swaziland, or smiling with the indigenous girl in Peru, be ready to read of what God gives me the strength to do in His name all across the globe.
And I want to encourage you in something; If you have problems with pride, it’s a tactic the enemy uses to stunt our spiritual growth in Christ. God is bigger than it, and He will help you to overcome it! Throw it back down the enemies throat in victory and praise God in the process!
In Him,
Elizabeth
