How am I feeling about leaving? I’m am absolutely, exceedly, fantastically, utterly, abundantly, enthusiastically, ecstatically, exhilaratingly, delightfully and utterly pumped about the World Race! PUMPED! P-U-M-P-E-D, PUMPED! 😀 If I get any more pumped, you will have to peel me off of the ceiling! This is a dream come true for me!
What do I hope Papa will do in my life during the Race? The last two years of my life have been filled with change. Since December 14, 2006, Papa has shown me a love and purpose for life that I never tought possible. He’s increased my wisdom of the Word, guided me into purposeful prayer and shown me how to love people. I’ve gained a love for the people of this world. Yet, through all of this, I have not pursued to the fullest the potential within me. I have so much potential lying within me, but it is not supposed to stay within me. Rather, it is designed to change this world for Jesus. That’s my hope for this trip. I want to be away from the American culture, away from the expectations of what we think is so important life…the extra hours at work, our shows on tv, our little gadgets and toys that we work so hard to gain, the status’ that we strive to obtain…it’s all worthless when compared with Jesus. I want to be away from all of that and into a lifestyle where I am having to cry out to God for every need. I want to live on only the items that I have with me and meet the needs of people as I pass them so that I can show them the love of Jesus. I want to learn to depend on Papa for absolutely every need in my life. I want to learn so much more than I know now about discerning Papa’s voice. I want to immerse myself into the Word every day, partnered with the experiences of this mission trip, to gain a wisdom even greater than now….so much greater than now. I want to have a better vision of what I need to do to accomplish His purposes for me with my life. I want to come back a man ready to lead. I want to come back a man absoluetly transformed beyond any recognition. Many people now tell me that I am a great man of God with tons of potential, but when I return I want people to be humbled by God’s wisdom and purpose when they see and speak to me…not for my glory, but so that my Jesus can receive praises greater than any one man can give. I may be a great man now….but I am not yet the best man I can be for Jesus and so I don’t wanna stop until I am.
What are my concerns? You know, maybe it’s because Papa has just given me a peaceful mind about this trip, or perhaps because I am just that crazy…but I don’t have any relative concerns for the trip itself! I’ve experienced mission trips in Mexico twice and Ukraine once and I lived in Iraq for a year, so I’m not worried about tryihng to make it in other cultures. And the hardships that are to come only mean that I wll learn how to better depend on Papa. And I know that Papa will be there every step of the way…He will not forget us. As far as preparation for the Race, I know that $16,000 is hard to raise, especially in a bad economy, but I know that my God can do all things as He chooses. No amount of money compares to the power of God. The entire universe is under His control…so why should I fear any obstacle?! I’ll just continue to seek the funds and trust that Papa will provide. I understand that “with my God I can scale any wall” (Psalm 18:29). So, call me crazy, but I don’t have any concerns.
