Friday the thirteenth, January of 1989, I was born in Thornton, Colorado.
23 is an age I have always wanted to be. Maybe it’s because Jimmy Eat World sings a song about 23, or maybe because I would be married at 23, after graduating college and driving a green VW bug according to my fifth grade diary. Whatever the case may be, no one could have ever guessed that I would be in Tanzania on a mission trip for my 23rd birthday. And I cannot express how thankful I am.
I woke up at 6:47 for a run through the village around our house, and came back to a nice bucket shower over the squatty potty. My team had made me a Happy Birthday banner over the tents in the living room which I enjoyed with my tea, hardboiled egg, and bread slice. We left for town to meet up with two other WR teams (thank you Carly and Elizabeth for coordinating the crazy public transportation!) for some community time (and wifi…).
I skyped my parents, drank some hot cocoa and then headed back to our house to prepare for church that afternoon. I knew that Jesus asked me to preach, but every time I sat down to collect my thoughts and his words, nothing came forward. So I went to church with two versus and my own story ready for Jesus to show up when I stood in front of everyone.
After singing some classic A-Squad worship songs, and teaching the lyrics to the congregation, it was time for the message. I walked up to the podium with Celsus, our contact and pastor, there to translate… and I started my story. It is the only story I know as well as I do, and the one story that Father has given me to share.
I read Romans 12:1-2, A Living Sacrifice to preface my story and I began to share how renewed I have been since committing this year to the Lord.
– Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and please to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will. –
I shared how he has blessed me, changed my heart’s position to soften with love, opened my eyes to see others like he does, and pulled my away from almost all that I know to be comfortable to show me his Kingdom. I shared how I cut all of my hair, regardless of what my friends and family thought, because their words didn’t count when I knew what my father was telling me to do. Because I have offered my year and this life as a living sacrifice for Jesus, he is bringing me along on his pleasing and perfect journey… which is so much better than any plans I can try to make.
The energy that Jesus gives me while I get to share him with others is unreal and completely Godly.
Spending my 23rd birthday in Tanzania, sharing His love with these lovely and hospitable people, and knowing that the Creator of all things loves me UNCONDITIONALLY… that’s enough to make this my best birthday yet.
