We were asked to write a blog about how we feel before leaving on this mission trip. Here is what I’m expecting….
As I anticipate this trip, I have so many thoughts and expectations. I am not really sure exactly where to begin. So here are a few:
- I am expecting to see some of the most naturally beautiful places on Earth and be amazed by God’s creation.
- I am expecting to absolutely love some of the ministries we participate in and not love other ministries quite as much.
- I am expecting for my eyes to be opened to the great injustices in our world; to see the horribe realities that I know exist, but don’t really like to think about.
- I am expecting to love the people we work with and to see lives changed.
- I am expecting salvation.
- I am expecting to see Jesus amongst the poorest of the poor.
- I am expecting to eat weird food that I won’t like, but I’ll eat it anyway.
- I am expecting to get sick– and I am expecting to find out that me being sick is not the end of the world.
- I am expecting to grow in my relationship with Christ, and come to a much deeper knowledge of His heart for me and His heart for the world.
- I am expecting to be uncomfortable, but I am expecting to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
- I am expecting to love my team and make life-long friends.
- I am expecting lots of laughter.
- I am expecting brokeness and tears.
- I am expecting to get homesick.
- I am expecting for my worldview to be drastically broadened.
- I am expecting to be broken of my materialism and to learn that I can live on a lot less than I thought I needed.
- I am expecting freedom.
- I am expecting to never be the same when I return.
- And most importantly- I am expecting the unexpected!
As I set out on this great adventure, the fact is, I am not sure exactly what to expect. Part of me likes that fact. Part of me hates that fact. I wish I knew exactly what was going to happen, so that I could prepare myself. I find myself getting scared when I start to list off all of the “what ifs” in my mind. However, while I could go on forever making a list of all the things that could happen, I find great comfort in the fact that God already knows. I love to think about the fact that the Lord is going before us and preparing the way. As it says in Isaiah:
“I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of the darkness, riches stored in the secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” -Isaiah 45:2-3
I think that is good enough for me!
