So here is something for those who aren’t sure what the world race is like
or for those who think the race is a vacation for those of us on it. I have
been told several times about how all these pictures of me on Facebook make
it look like I’m just having fun all the time. First off, I would like to
address the specific issue of me having fun all the time.
Why would I not be having fun all the time? I didn’t know I signed up to be
a Jesus slave!
I thought I was on this amazing adventure serving the LORD and experiencing
the amazing things God has placed on this earth aka His kingdom. Secondly,
I have not posted a single picture on Facebook since being on the race;
those pictures are all from other people. But nonetheless, I could show you
ten pictures of orphans and homeless people before you get bored. But in
our twisted culture pictures of the Nile, tigers and Angkor Wat keep your
attention better. Everyday on the race is a challenge if for no other
reason than simply because of community living. I have to censor every
thought, action and spoken word to make sure it all brings the most glory
to God. But that is the reason you see the pictures of the epic sh!t
because I can’t take a picture of a cerebral effort. Believe me, there are
pictures of orphans and sick people, but to an outside eye it looks like
any number of pictures of people standing around me. The only difference is
the race of the people.
I have been to 7 countries. India was a challenge but nonetheless great for
my relationship with God. Nepal has to be one of the most beautiful places
on the planet but the ministry wasn’t anything super amazing. Thailand was
really amazing…when we weren’t at ministry; I didn’t find busy work to be
an affective ministry and I never felt like we were needed there. Malaysia
was amazing in all aspects of the month except for the team changes which
took place at the beginning (team changes weren’t bad, they were just a
curve all). Cambodia was not a bad place as far as new team changes again,
ministry, location or people but was the worst month I have had because of
several psychologically taxing events. Vietnam was incredible! Ministry was
a little slim but the country is so ready for Christ to take over
(Reference blog title “I Don’t Know How”). Uganda is the second largest
Christian nation in the world and therefore I don’t feel needed here
either. But I can say all that and you will still never know what life here
is like because whether the ministry is fantastic or my relationship with
God is incredible, it has nothing to do with any of those things. Gods plan
is so much bigger.
People write blogs about home or write blogs about how much people talk
about home. Please don’t misunderstand what I am about to communicate to
you.
I don’t miss home. I don’t miss the people at home.
I love my family and my church and many thing in America and I pray I get
to see and experience them again. However, if I was more concerned about
being at home or being whoever I want to be, I wouldn’t be here. I don’t
miss home because my home doesn’t make me who I am nor does it make my
relationship with God what it is. I don’t miss home or allow my thoughts to
be set on things at home because if I did I could not pursue God to the
fullest because I would not be not focussed on what He has put in front of
me. I don’t miss home because if I fill my heart and my mind with home,
there is less room for Christ.
So I am sorry for how my missionary life is depicted by other peoples
pictures, but I am not worried about their pictures or your perception of
my life here because you could never understand the reality of it. I am on
the mission field because God Almighty called me here and in obedience I
went. I didn’t come here with an end goal of being home again, I came here
with a goal of serving God to the best of my ability. I didn’t come here so
I could come home after a year and show you pictures of orphans and
nonbelievers but I did ask for your support because those are the people
God asked me to bring life to. Thank you for believing in our mission
enough to support me, now I just need you to trust and have faith in the
work being done not by me, but through me.
Pictures aren’t words and words aren’t works. Please understand the amount
of this part of my life which I can actually communicate to you is so
fractional. I plead to you brothers and sister, don’t form opinions about
things you know little of.
As He leads me,
Jason
