In keeping with the spirit of honesty, I have titled this blog exactly what it’s going to be about.
My goal is to be fully funded by January 31, 2018 and I only have about $1,500 left to go. That’s incredible! Thank you so much to all of my supporters, you are amazing!
I know this is a busy season for everyone, but I thought I’d throw it out there; it’s also Tax Write-Off season. So if you’re trying to think of ways to get that tax return, please prayerfully consider your friendly not-so-neighborhood missionary.
All joking aside though, it is the season of giving and God has blessed us each incredibly in our own way. One of the coolest things to realize before I left the States was that I am a part of the Body. I have the ability and the call to go, but many are called to the mission field in their backyard. We don’t all have the call or ability to go, but we all have the heart to love and serve.
Personally, I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas; I’m currently enjoying 85 degrees in my tank top as I write this, an overcast, but nice day in the city. Later we’re going to hand our Christmas service invitations to Indians we see in the mall. The day we celebrate the birth of Christ is four days away and if you asked me right now, I might tell you it’s July.
But I have been so blessed this season; it’s been so hard to experience this much growth, but I am growing. Hard to experience this much pain, but I’m learning. And even though it hurts, I’m so grateful to be in the hands of my Savior, someone I know I can trust, no matter what I’m feeling. So in light of everything, I know I can trust him for something as small as money.
A Mozambiquan pastor once told me, “money is just paper with a face and a number on it. God can make paper.” I love reminding myself of that because it’s funny and because it puts into perspective that God is big. Something that seems so complicated for us is really so simple for him and he loves to use his children to partner with him in his work.
Another thing I’ve been learning is that it’s a blessing to be a blessing. When I was a kid, or a younger kid, I would have told you my favorite part of Christmas was receiving gifts, getting all the stuff on my mile-long list. But these days, it’s more fun when I know the person, to figure out and hunt down the perfect gift for them, the real reward being the look on their face when they open it and I get to see how right I got it this year. Christmas is definitely going to look different this year for a lot of reasons, but God is still so good and he rejoices in the looks on our faces when we see just how perfect the gift he got us really is.
Gloria Dios.
Wow, this really was supposed to be a short post, and I guess by my standards it still is. Haha. But if you do feel the call to give this season, I hope you honor it. Whatever the call on your heart is, I hope you listen to it and what God is trying to tell you. I hope you take this time to heal broken relationships and love the person in front of you, even if they’re being unlovable. I hope you take the time to see each and every person, not for who they present themselves to be, but as the creature in Christ who they are.
I hope you take time to love.
Merry Christmas y’all.
TL
