…a year ago at this time I was arriving in Bangalaru (Bangalore), India for my first mission's trip. Even though we were only in India for ten days, it has forever changed me. Especially being able to reflect on it now, after this year has passed, I can really see even more how it impacted my life and my everyday perspective. Even though I've traveled a lot, I've never seen anything like I saw in India. For our first few days there we were at the Tarika Women's Centre where we interacted with and helped teach women as they learned skills like sewing, computers, and English. Without learning these skills many of the woman would be forced into prostitution. After spending time there, we traveled to a hospital in Dharmapuri where people who were HIV positive could come for nutrition packs and treatment. Some of the people we talked to and prayed with I will never forget. In one slum we visited a school where they had us hand out what was some of the children's only meal in a day or two, and it was one hard boiled egg, a cup of milk, and a roll. The living conditions we witnessed were very sad and unlike anything I've ever seen.
We did see a lot of sadness and poverty in India, but thankfully we also saw a lot of hope! Especially with the people that had become Christians, because they were so excited to be free from what Hinduism teaches about the caste system. We got to participate in a baptism in a Muslim slum, and talk to Dalits who now realize they have incredible worth even though it's taught in their society that they are worthless. One night we visited a church that was underground and incredibly hot and packed, but the people sang and danced like I've never seen before~ they were so full of hope and excitement because they were experiencing God's love and the joy and freedom it brings!
Since I returned from India I've had a desire to do another missions trip. Having no idea there was an organization called "Adventures in Missions", those are the words I typed into the Google search bar a few months ago. When it pulled up the AIM website, I saw the link to The World Race. Instantly I could feel God stirring my heart, but the fear and uncertainties were also there immediately. How could I get leave from work for a year? What would I do with my condo? Would I be able to handle a year going around the world with a backpack's worth of supplies & clothes~ and what about health insurance? Is this something I'm ready for spiritually? Would it be too long of a time away with not being able to come back at all to see family or friends? These were all questions that I started pondering, and even though I knew that it would be an amazing experience, I figured it's too 'big' of an idea and it's just not realistic. My life as a flight attendant allows me to travel all the time and I can continue to visit countries around the world… so it would make more sense if I just continue to travel for fun, and then do smaller mission's trips so I can keep my life similar to the way it is, because after all, my life is pretty wonderful. I felt some comfort from those thoughts, but also unrest and a lack of peace…
The very next day was Sunday. Oh yes, it was one of those sermons… the sermon that feels like it's written just for you. The message was basically about not being afraid to listen to God when He asks us to give up something good for something that could be great. Romans 15:13 says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." I sat there and cried as God told me pretty clearly that this World Race opportunity was not just an idea, but something I needed to have the faith and courage to pursue. My friend, Karrie, was sitting next to me. We were on the India team together last year, and after church I couldn't wait to go to lunch to tell her about what was going on. Her encouragement helped me start thinking that this might actually happen. It still felt a long way off, though. First up, I needed to write a letter to get leave from Frontier.
Long story short, I was not able to get leave approved for my job. This was the end of the story a couple months ago because no way would I give up my dream job, and a career that I've had for 10 years! Thankfully, though, God kept working on my heart. I don't say that flippantly~ He truly has changed my heart to come to this place where I have enough faith and courage to walk away from a lifestyle that I've been truly blessed with. The world is much bigger than my life here in Colorado, and God is much bigger than my fears of giving up my life as I know it. Visiting the country of India one year ago planted a seed of change inside me that I can't wait to see grow as I go with a team to do mission's work in 11 countries around the world! I'm excited to see what God will accomplish through us, as He continues to work in my own life. I'm excited to grow~ I know I'll be humbled & broken many times, but I can't wait to see and experience what God has in store! I want to be faithful to God's leading, and experience the true freedom that Paul talks about in his letter to the Galatians: "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." (Galatians 5:13)
Ready for this journey!
Jo Linda
