Here it comes! It’s almost here! Is it New Year’s? Christmas? No, it’s my Return Date! The day that I reunite with American soil, traffic signs and potable water!
As excited as I am for the Return Date, it’s more than its name suggests. It’s a start date. More than a year ago the Lord called me to the nations. And again, He’s calling me to the nations.
I was in Panama when I doubted God’s Plan. I wasn’t sure that He’d provide for me and that I’d be sent home. The funny thing is that He didn’t tell me not to worry, He didn’t remind me of who He is as provider, He didn’t tell me what would happen. Instead, He dealt with my lack of trust for His Plans.
“Do you not believe that I chose you to go out among nations? That I still choose you to go out among nations, but a different nation. When I say “Who am I to send?” You would still call out “Here am I! Send me!” I have claimed the world as your ministry site. Your race is not to the end of 11 months or 11 countries. Your race is to me.”
I was more than a little convicted. Honestly, I w
as almost excited for the possibility of His Plan being something I hadn’t planned for. What He said next is what really hit me.
He also said, “Your world race was not for ministry, but for culture. You thought I brought you here to witness a culture of this world, but I chose you to be a part of a culture not of this world. I told you to be ready for anything… are you?”
We are called. We are set apart. We are to live like foreigners here on earth. I know what that means now. We should filter the water before we drink it. We should speak differently. We should not understand the language we hear. We should desire community. We should say yes and amen. We should be different.
When we choose citizenship over foreigner, we choose the world over the Kingdom. We choose convenience over Holy Spirit interruptions. We choose comfort over relationships. The Bible says that we make our plans, but God establishes our steps. If we can let go of our expectations then we can truly be ready for anything He plans.
Over a year ago, I was called to another culture. And in that time I have been called to another culture that is not Latin or American. It’s bigger, it’s higher and it’s deeper. I anticipate a beautiful Return Date. My parents, sisters, brothers, friends and of course my pets.
I anticipate stories and change and newness and love.
I also anticipate a difficult Start Date. I will speak a different language.I will know a different perspective. I will live like a foreigner…because I am. We all are.
And as we all should have expected, this new Start Date comes with a price as well. We arrive in Miami November 25! However, I need to get to WV. There is a plane cost, baggage cost and more than likely a bus and/or car rental cost. Please let me know if you would like to or if you feel led to getting me there. Thanks for reading!
