90% of the time, I am so excited about this mission’s opportunity that it is all I can think about, and I am sure my roommates are sick of hearing me talk about it! So, for the most part, I am usually thinking about the amazing things that I am inevitably going to encounter – seeing the world, serving God’s people, working with my amazing teammates, and experiencing the opportunity of a lifetime.
Then, there comes that dreaded other 10% of the time. On these days, which I now lovingly refer to as my, “Anxiety Days,” I think about the other side of this opportunity. There are going to be challenges. I have never been away from my friends and family for this long of a time – and I am very close with them. Homesickness is going to be a big battle for me. However, I am sure that there will be things to distract me from this – living in a new country every month, experiencing poverty, moving far away from the comforts of America, and simply the challenge of forming a community amongst 59 strangers.
During one of my rotten, “Anxiety Days,” I got one of those silly forwards at work. It was advertising that if I passed along the email to 43 people in less than 5 minutes then my Prince Charming would show up in 27 minutes. (By the way – totally false – what in the world would a prince be doing in my office?) ANYWAY – at the bottom of this lovely email was a quote. The Will of God will never lead you to where the Grace of God will not protect you. While I didn’t get my prince charming out of this email experience, I did get my new motto. (“What’s a motto?” “Nothing, what’s a motto with you?!”) (Side note – if you know that movie, you’re automatically awesome in my book.)
I know I am going to be challenged, but I also know that this is where I want to be, and, more importantly, that this is where God wants me to be. He wouldn’t steer me wrong. I can’t wait to embark on this journey, to meet my team, and to see what God has in store for us.
To my future team – I am praying for you! May your “Anxiety Days” be few and far between!
