I have put off writing a new blog, just as I have put off starting fundraising for the trip. Mostly, I was trying to put as much as I could into one thing at a time. I have been the Missions Director for the better half of this past year at my church. It has been a really incredible time of growth and has allowed me to understand a different side of missions. I have also benefitted from the incredible leadership and shepherding of my Pastor. He has taught me a lot about leading a team and preparing them for the field. I can’t express how grateful I am for all I have learned through this process. But this blog marks the beginning and the end. All the planning and preparation and effort that went into making the trip to Honduras as great as it was for me and my team is now over and now the planning and preparation and effort turns to the grandest of all adventures my little life has yet to experience…the World Race.
This past week, I have been talking about this trip more than I have since I was accepted in July. It seems every person I encounter has questions and wants to know about where I’ll be going, what, and why. The best questions I have gotten so far were, “What are you hoping to get out of the trip” and “Do you think you can really have an impact in a place if you are there for only a short time?” As they asked these questions, I immediately wanted to say, “The impact will no doubt be made on me!” I plan to completely immerse myself in each place and commit to utter abandonment in order to adapt to my self in that place and how God is at work there. But, they weren’t asking about me, they were asking about the ministry and wondering what it’s limits were. My response came simply, “It is wrong to assume I am going to go to a place and change it and that people are going to change because of me. When we are sent to a place, God prepares the hearts and we enter into a ministry that He has already started. God is the one who changes hearts and draws them to Himself, my only job is to love those people and give them a glimpse at the love He is longing to show them Himself.”
I was surprised at how quickly the response came and how convicted I felt as I was saying it. I hope that as I continue to prepare for the trip and share this journey with others along the way, that they not think I am doing this in order to be viewed as a “good person” or some kind of “super Christian” who is willing to go to extremes for her faith. Well, actually the latter part of that sentence is true; I am willing. And that is all He asks of us. But I am not doing this to be viewed by anyone else as anything significant. I am cherished and adored by my Abba and His is the only opinion that carries any weight over me. It doesn’t take super faith or super strength to go on a journey like this one. It’s not easy, but He never promised anything would be easy. He did, however, promise that He would be with us through it. All of it. It is because of that assurance and that truth that I can continue to step forward in what He has called me to do.
My biggest prayer though, as it all begins, is that others’ lives are changed as well along the way. He will be glorified no matter what, but I pray the hearts He is preparing me to meet will get to see a glimpse of His love in my life. “In the fullness of time” He made a sacrifice for us. Not a minute too soon or too late. He is all-knowing and all-perfect. Nothing just occurs to Him. All of it-all of this-is His. And I can trust Him because He will take care of His own. Where I am and where I am going and who I will meet and what we will do…all of it is His. He’s got this.
“…even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, …in love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace with which He blessed us in the Beloved.” (Eph 1:3-6)
God uses all of us in different ways. Some are called to go and some are called to love and support the ones that go. And I need support in going my dear friends! I am not only going on this journey for me, but for all of you as well. I want you to go with me through each place and be with me as I encounter challenges and growth; laughter and tears; despair and hope. I anticipate that God will work through this adventure in incredible ways in all of your lives as well as you experience it through the filter of my heart.
BUT!! One of the biggest challenges I will face before I launch in July is raising the daunting $16,000 that it costs to go. Eek!! I ask that as I take this leap of faith, you would prayerfully consider joining me financially on this journey as we reach people together. I can’t do it without your love, prayers, and support. If just If just 100 people commit to $100, I’ll be over halfway there! There is a “support me” link on the right side of my page. Check it out. Be blessed and bless on!!
