In June my squad and I set on a journey around the world. We aren’t going with much physically. In fact, our room, our bed and our closet will all fit on our backs. We only have room for limited clothing and accessories.
Our bathroom will be a hole in the ground. Our showers will be cold and very limited. Our food will be typical basics from the countries. Laundry will be rare and wearing the same clothes will be common. Sickness will happen and so will conflict. We will spend many hours on planes, buses and local taxis and we will often be tired physically and emotionally. We will have limited access to internet and phone calls. And keeping in touch with friends and family will be difficult.
Now you may be thinking to yourselves “Why in the world do this?”
That is a very good question, let me explain:
Everyone on this trip is a normal person. In fact we struggle a lot with doubt and fear. We are broken people that have come from broken homes. We are all sinners and there is nothing good in ourselves.
Now that you know about who we are and where we come from let me tell you about something that we all have in common, the reason we are going on this trip.
We have all come from different backgrounds but there is one thing that is we share in common; We have all experienced Christ.
What does that mean?
Well we have all experienced healing in our lives. We are all broken people being made new because of Christ. All of us have tasted something much sweeter than ourselves and want more. We are people who aren’t satisfied with the American dream or what this society has to offer us. We know there is more to life than that and something much greater than our lives lived for ourselves. That life is called love. And that is why we go because we have tasted the most beautiful love from our heavenly Father and we desire to share that love with everyone. We go to love the broken, love the sinners and love the unlovable. We go in humility and yet with great power. Humbled at our calling and bold because of the power God the will follow us.
And so the goal of this trip is not comfort, it is to love. We are willing to sacrifice the comforts of this life in order to love and reach those who are in desperate need of love and of redemption. It isn’t for pleasure (though serving often comes with great joy), it is in obedience to God’s commend in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The more I get to know my squad the more I am encouraged and amazed at how God brought everyone here for a reason and it is beautiful to see the grace of God displayed in so many different lives. God chooses to display His power and love through His people. That is so humbling. You do not know how excited I am to serve God with every one of them. The amazing thing is, that because God saved us we know that He can save anyone.
And yes there will be days we will fail, feel discouraged and will want to quit. But what gives us comfort and peace is to know that the God of the universe is always with us, walking by our side every step of the way. We do not go with our own power or in our own name but in the name of the One is worthy.
We may fail but He won’t.
And so in June we set out. We go because of what He has done in our lives.
Will you join and pray for us while we prepare and go? And will you help get us there financially? We need your partnership and we pray that you will decide to be a part of this amazing opportunity to see lives come to Christ.
Sincerely,
A child of God
