I was walking past the group of campers, who are the
equivalent to our boy/girl scouts here in New Zealand. There was a man who
looked like he had just come from a safari. He was dressed in hiking boots,
tall socks to his knees, khaki colored shorts hiked up past his waist and a
safari helmet. He seemed a bit out of place since his rugged style clothing did
not seem to fit with his surroundings or his physique. I heard only a brief
part of what he was saying to the campers, but it peaked my interest. From across the field I heard him say,
“Rivers can be very dangerous. I need to give you some vital safety information.
If at any point you are in the river and you feel you may be drowning, I have
one very important instruction: STAND UP!�
His statement first brought back memories of whitewater
rafting with my mom in West Virginia, but we don’t need to get into that
embarrassing story now. Secondly, it
made me examine my life. In a way my life could be compared to a “dangerous�
river filled with times of fun, excitement and peaceful enjoyment of the cool
flowing water, but also brief moments of terror and fear of drowning.
Deciding to follow God’s lead to go on the World Race this
year has been a leap into the river.
There was a big part of me that really wanted to go back to RVA in
Kenya, Africa. I was doing God’s work there and saw the impact I was having on
an upcoming generation of missionaries and world changing Christians. I LOVE
those kids! The word LOVE can’t even describe the heart I have for them. I can
only imagine it is similar to how a parent feels for their child. Leaving that
ministry for this time of my life has been one of the hardest things I have had
to do. I have done it out of
obedience to God’s direction. God has asked me to LEAP from the edge into the
unknown and possibly uncomfortable. You see, if you merely step out you will be
bruised and scraped by the rocks and brush. Only by taking a giant leap, trusting that you will make it,
will you avoid the jagged rocks. I have made my leap in faith and God has been
faithful.
Right now I would say I am flowing through a grade 3 rapid.
I am thrilled to be experiencing communal life in New Zealand while growing in
my faith and excited to explore a new turn in the river ahead. I am not scared
of what’s to come, because I know that if I do fall out of the boat, God will
be there to help me STAND UP.
Genesis 26:24 reminds us, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you..�
In Mark 5:36 Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.�
So I am living in trust of God’s promise in Hebrews 13:5
& 6 “…God has said ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So
we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can
man do to me?’�
I have no need to fear the rushing waters, with God on my
side I merely need to stand and walk in HIS WILL and all will be okay. Or as they say here in New Zealand, “She’ll
be right.�
