Ahhh the days are approaching!! Two weeks until training camp and a little over two months until I launch! The closer the days get and the more REI packages I get, the more excited I am to embark on this journey. But before I leave, I would like to answer a question you might have, which is “Why?” Why would you take a year off from school? Why would you leave the comfort of your family and friends? Why would you choose to do missions for nine months at the age of 18? Well, the answer is simple. This is what God called me to do and this is my purpose. Not only that, but I GET to do missions for nine months as my sole intent and responsibility. Something I never thought I would get to do, or even be able to do. A dream is what it is. Now I know I might not be saying that come month seven when all I want is my family and a quesadilla from Qudoba. But boy, do I pray I still call it dream when homesickness has overcome me and I’m worn.
In Matthew 28:19 it says “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” And in Matthew 22:36-39 it says, “Teacher what is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The order of Matthew 22:36-39 was explained to me by a very wise friend. “You are called to love God first with all of your heart. From your innermost being you are called to love Him. Second, with your soul. The greek word for soul means ‘breath’ which is a reference to the breath God breathed into Adam to give him life. So when Jesus said this he meant love God with your life, literally every breath that you take, honor and love God. Lastly, with your mind. The more intimately you know the God who loves you so much, the deeper and richer you love for Him becomes.” This is how I want to pursue and share God’s love on the Race.
So what would it look like to love the least of these better than ourselves? The only way is by allowing ourselves to be filled with the love from our Heavenly Father in order to pour out to others. This way it is the beautiful, selfless love of God rather than the subpar, human love we pour out to others. Now, as we pour out God’s love we are also called to be sharing the gospel. What better way can you love someone than by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ? There is no better way to share God’s love than through the truth of how God showed his love to us first. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” Romans 5:8. When I was caught in the deepest, darkest parts of my sin, Christ died for me. No questions asked, no punishment was required first, and I could never achieve it on my own. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so no one can boast.” While I was still a sinner Christ gave me the free gift of salvation and poured His love out to me?! That is a statement that rings true in my life and that I now get to share in three countries?! COUNT ME IN!!
I had read a devo book last summer and at the end it gave suggestions for life mottos. The one that stuck out to me the most was this, “My life devotion is to the Greatest Commandment and the Great Commission.” That is why I am doing the Race. God has opened a door for me to go and make disciples and love the people of Costa Rica, Cambodia, and Swaziland while loving Him and accepting his love for me. This is what I have been called to and this is my purpose. This is not something I have the power to do, not even a little bit. But my God is big, strong, loving, caring, selfless, and living in me. Whom shall I fear?
