I just saw Dumbo on Netflix for the first time in… decades.
That makes me feel old.
I assure you that the first time I saw it as a kid, I probably wasn’t relating it to my life. Though Dumbo isn’t my favorite Disney movie ever, especially since I watched Lion King on VHS in Honduras, Dumbo and I share some things in common.
I understand that watching Dumbo one time doesn’t make me a Dumbo expert, but hey, it’s what’s fresh in my mind.
1. I could be completely content with comfort.
Each time I come back home from being away, I stop and ask myself:
Am I looking to settle with what’s comfortable?
or
Am I looking for the best thing that God has for me?
While I understand that Dumbo was a baby elephant and I am a 26 year old man, my mom still had me sleep in the bed with her and dad when I came home. I did it. It was comfy, but not where I belong all the time. I assure you I felt like Dumbo in the picture above, at the same time, there’s a world out there that needs people to get out of mom’s bed.
2.Direction: After leaving the bed, I don’t always know where I’m going.
Sometimes we choose to leave comforts, and in Dumbo’s case, it was taken from him. He had no idea what to do, until a friend came in with a plan.
Today marks one year of finishing the World Race for me.
If I didn’t have the Lord to seek direction from, I’d be lost. After the Race and going to Project Searchlight, I knew the Lord was calling me to move to Georgia for the CGA program. I knew it was the Lord leading me, said yes, and packed up my bags for Georgia.
Once I got to Georgia, I said God, “I know you’ve led me here, I have no steps of my own to take, and you’re going to have to lead me to the next thing after this…”
And I find that as long as I stay close to the Lord, he’ll lead me to the next thing in my life when it’s time.
I just need to remind myself to trust that His ways are higher than my ways.
CGA led me to meet Kenny from Wipe Every Tear, who has a big heart for the Philippines.
"Wipe Every Tear is about changing the world and making a real and lasting impact to those who have no hope."
– Kenny Sacht – Founder, Executive Director
3.The Jump
Although Dumbo was a little scared to make the jump, I would think that he had to have some trust in Timothy’s plan.
Again, I know I have to trust that the Lord is calling me to a season in the Philippines. I knew after the Race that I had another season of life in Southeast Asia, never imagining that I’d be in the Philippines.
I trust that the Lord leads his children.
So, I’m willing to make the jump and trust that God has equipped me and filled me with His Spirit to do the things He calls me to do.
4.Dumbo needed some support.
There are things you can choose to do independently, but other times where a little support goes a long way.
(I mean, just look how much more fun the picture is with the birds by Dumbo’s side…)
Let’s fly together?
– Pray
Support me in prayer. Support the team in prayer. Pray for provision. Pray for safety. Pray for open doors. Pray for open hearts. Pray for miracles. Pray for obedience to the Lord’s leading.
There’s a lot to pray for and prayer matters.
– Give
Support me financially. Money is a necessary tool for lodging, food, visas, travel, and so much more.
I’m looking at almost $8800 to cover a six month commitment to the Philippines. I’ll also be spending a few weeks with the team in Guatemala to see what the discipleship base looks like there before we look to start one up in the Philippines.
Here’s the link.
Please mail your tax-deductible contribution to:
Adventures In Missions
P.O. Box 742570
Atlanta, GA 30374-2570
Be sure to indicate the purpose of your gift on the memo:
For Dan Matundan (Philippines LTM)
– Support
Other support is appreciated so much. There were many times while out on the field where even a simple FB wall post made my day, just to know that someone not only thought of me, but let me know. I love encouraging messages, funny pictures, and e-mails about what’s going in in your life. Honestly, I feel like an alien at times when I go back home because I can feel out of the loop when I’m out of the country. Share your stories with me too 🙂
So what exactly are you doing again?
Here’s the trip description:
– We are relentless in going to hell-holes and seeking out the poor of the poor, and bringing hope to the brokenhearted and those in chains.
– We are devoted to rescuing precious trafficked girls in the sex trade who are imprisoned in a life of hellish prostitution, and providing them a safe place of refuge, hope and grace.
– We are about changing the world and making a real and lasting impact, one girl at a time.
– We are about taking others along on this faith-filled journey to expose them to the injustices of this world, and assisting them back home in making wrong things right.
– We help others fulfill their dream in changing our world, living in reckless abandon, being devoted to the call, living passionately, and being faithful to walk in such a way as to be wholly devoted to God’s broken heart for the poor.
– We will make a difference. We will spend ourselves on behalf of the poor and oppressed. We will rescue girls trafficked in the sex trade. We will be a father to the fatherless, and we will change this world.
– We will do this through the love of Jesus.
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Thanks for your support and taking the time to read!
Look out for more updates to come!
Peace & Blessings,
-Dan²
