“Hey, lets catch up!” I heard one of my leaders say as he pointed to the backdoor. I followed him out the door, through the wet yard, and into the quaint casita where two others waited.
The past week, the Lord had really been doing a work in my life. He was bringing things to the surface that I had suppressed for years. He was highlighting my “blind spots”. He was doing an open-heart surgery for all to see… It was a vulnerable and hard place to be in.
When I pulled up a seat, I assumed this would be a talk to catch everyone up on where I was with the Lord—what he had been doing, what he was revealing, where he was taking me. It would be short. It would be quick. I could give them the information needed and go back to the hiding place I had been for days… years.
But the Lord and my leaders had a different plan for this conversation.
The small talk ended quickly. And my world changed just as fast.
“We want to invite you to go with us to the States and into the woods”.
Two of my leaders were planning on leaving the next day to go to GA to lead a wilderness trip. The trip sounded exciting, but it was not anything I wanted to do at the time.
What? Why? How? This doesn’t make any sense, I thought to myself.
They continued, “We want to invite you into a set apart time with the Lord where He can release some burdens and you can receive more freedom.”
The lies began to creep in…You have failed in Guatemala. You aren’t good enough. You have more problems than everyone else. You need help.
But just as quickly as they came in, the leaders spoke truth over me, “This is good. You haven’t failed. We love you. The Lord loves you. We are for you.”
With tears in my eyes and a millions questions running through my mind, I said yes.
I had no idea what was in store for me. I had no idea what to tell the team or people back home. I had no idea what to pack.
BUT I knew the Lord was calling me. I knew the Lord was ready for me to lay down the extra burdens I was carrying and pick up his light yoke.
“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30
Praying no one would see me or ask questions, I walked with my head down through the pouring rain, into the house, and upstairs to pack.
In the most unorganized manner (normally I would have made a list weeks ago and already been packed), I gathered things from around the house and threw them into my backpack.
At midnight I laid down, just to watch the minutes tick by on the clock.
At nine the next morning, I said good-bye to my teammates/ family, not knowing the next time I would see them.
…Part 2 will be coming soon….
