Chris Tomlin sings, "Where you go, I'll go. Where you stay, I'll stay. When you move, I'll move. I will follow you."
Well, God is definitely moving in my life. He is providing and paving ways that I can't turn back now. There's no turning back….I'm locked in. And it makes me nervous/scared/excited all at the same time. Nervous, by making me think "is this what I'm really suppose to be doing?" Scared by, "I'm actually doing this. In July, I will be leaving my comfort zone for new and different in 11 different countries." The things we don't think about and worry about in the U. S are things I'll have to face everyday. Parasites. Hunger. Clean Water. Illness. Conviences.
All for what? Why is God leading and sending me to this mess?
In Matthew 28: 16-20 Jesus says: All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, son and holy spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of age.
Because I was chosen and repeated the same thing Isaiah did in Chapter 6, verse 8: Here am I, send me! When I was 17 I declared and said the same thing and my heart has always been reserved for one thing: foreign missions. After telling my friend of my plans to go on the World Race she replied, "Wow, it takes a special person to do something like that."
I don't consider myself any more or less special than anyone else. I just found a love for the unloved, the forgotten, the neglected. They are hungry, so I want to give them food. They are thirsty, so I want to give them something to drink. Simple as that. It's really not that complicated. I know I can't satisfy all their needs, because only God can do that. But if I can help satisfy some of their needs, I know that is what Jesus would want. He can't do it all from Heaven. We have to do it as his children, and as his body, hands and feet.
Now that I have found this love and passion of mine, sometimes it's hard to view life the way I did beforehand. I feel like its not life if I'm not doing something for His glory. I mean isn't that why we're here for? Are we here to get college degrees, jobs, make lots of money, go on vacations, have a family, etc., etc? That's not what's most important. I feel like we are here for the relationships. Building relationships with the ones around you. That's what life is all about. So, then when it's our time to move on our loved ones will be there with us. I don't want to focus on the frustrations of today, but the promises of tomorrow. I have promised my Heavenly Father a lot of things. One being serving Him to His people who get overlooked on a daily basis. I want to be on the front line. (And I feel like I have had 4 years of experience being on the "front line" as an athletic trainer at sporting events).
So the next time you throw money in the offering to "help the people who lose everything" because you feel sorry for them, instead give one time to me who I'll be throwing out God's love everyday for 11 months. God has blessed me into a wonderful family in the United States. I think being born into this country is one of my top three blessings of my life. (One being having a loving creator and Father who sacrificed his one and perfect son so I can live thousands of years later, and two, my amazing family who loves and supports me). Since I have been given so much that others don't have, it is my responsibility to give back to the ones who are without. From my previous experiences in third world countries, they may not have as much as we do in the U. S, but they have so much more love. The simple things such as: a hug, attention, preparing lunch, painting walls in an orphanage, teaching English, etc. they are so appreciative! Now, I'm not saying EVERYBODY is like that, just the ones I have come across. And I'm not saying everybody in the U. S is like this, but if you think about it, a lot of us take so much of what we have (and who we have in our life) and do on a regular basis for granted. The people I have interacted with on my previous mission trips truly cherish the time I sacrificed to build friendships with them. Some of my best friendships are with the ones I met on my mission trips. I'm so grateful for that.
So, where will you be living for the next 11 months? In a house? In a church? In a hut? I really can't answer that question. But with the security I have in Christ makes me not to worry. Hebrews 11:9-10 says, "by faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country, he lived in tents as did Issac and Jacob, who were heirs with Him of the same promise. For the was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God."
So, If you don't have the money to give me, that's perfectly fine. I'm not asking. But I just want to leave you with an idea. Take a look in your garage, basement or storage unit for things your not using and haven't used in two years. Can any of that stuff be used to help me on my trip? (or what I like to call, my next job). A tent, sleeping bag or any kind of camping supply you might of purchased for that one camping trip in July of '97 and is now collecting dust in the corner of the garage, taking up space. Wouldn't it be awesome if that tent was used to house that stranger (me) who goes into foreign lands to bring the good news of Jesus Christ? Hebrews 13:2 says, "Don't forget to entertain strangers for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it."
Now, I'm not calling myself an angel by any stretch of the imagination, but to that one person in another country who needs my help, they will consider me their angel. All with a donation of a used tent. Just reflect on it for a minute. I find it absolutely amazing and awestruck at God's work. He is orchestrating this whole thing for ME and I can't wait to see the grand finale! I hope you're there to see it as well 🙂 It's going to be an amazing show you won't want to miss.
God Bless!
"Light unto the world, light unto my life, I will live for You alone. You're the one I seek knowing I will find all I need in You alone, in You alone. Where you go, I'll go. Where you stay, I'll stay. When you move, I'll move. I will follow You. Who you love, I'll love. How you serve, I'll serve. If this life I lose, I will follow you. I will follow you."
Items I will need for my trip:
– 2 person tent
– sleeping bag (preferably 20-35*)
– mosquito net
– stuff sacks
– travel Bible
– head lamp
– SD card reader
– mess kit
– flash drive
– sarong
– ENO hammock
– travel insurance
– rest of my vaccinations (I have had 3 already…..possibly 3 more to go)
– travel locks
– small first aid kit (Lord knows I will be the athletic trainer taking care of my teammates 😉 )
– earplugs
