A century ago, a band of brave souls became known as one-way missionaries. They purchased single tickets to the mission field without the return half. And instead of suitcases, they packed their few earthly belongings into coffins. As they sailed out of port, they waved good-bye to everyone they loved, everything they knew. They knew they'd never return home.
A.W. Milne was one of those missionaries. He set sail for the New Hebrides in the South Pacific, knowing full well that the headhunters who lived there had martyred every missionary before him. Milne did not fear for his life because he had already died to himself. His coffin was packed. For thirty-five years, he lived among that tribe and loved them. When he died, tribe members buried him in the middle of their village and inscribed this epitaph on his tombstone.
When he came there was no light.
When he left there was no darkness.
When did we start believing that God wants to send us to safe places to do easy things?
That faithfulness is holding the fort and that playing it safe is safe?
Jesus didn't die to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous.
Faithfulness is not holding the fort. It's storming the gates of hell.
It's time to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.
Mark Batterson- All In
What an amazingly busy and extremely hard year this has been for us.
On December 1st we surprised our families by flying back to the States for Christmas. We have had a wonderful month, visiting family and friends, making new friends, and meeting new families.
Today Kimberly and I will be flying back to Guatemala. We don't know how long we will be there. We don't know what to expect when we arrive back. But we know that we went to Guatemala for a purpose in September, and we will finish the work that the Lord brought us their to complete. In others and in ourselves.
Our prayer is that we do not continue in the flesh what the Lord our God started in the spirit.
From our family to yours,
Happy New Beginnings in 2014.
Live Dangerously.
