“Aren’t you afraid!?”
“That’s a long time to be away from home!”
“You might miss out on…”
“I’m scared for you!”
“You’re crazy!”
“That’s really not safe”
These are all things I’ve heard out of great love and concern for my well-being upon telling my friends and family about the World Race, and all super important things to be aware of and thinking about—especially when committing the next year of your life to living in 11 different foreign countries.
I definitely could and most likely will get really sick while on the race at least once or twice,
I definitely will feel the weight of separation from my family and friends I know it will deeply sadden me at times,
I definitely will miss out on weddings, birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter with my family,
And don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely scared!
…but Christ is bigger and better and sweeter than anyone and anything I could have or experience in this lifetime! Hallelujah!!!
Let me tell you about a few incredible missionaries whose hearts’ YEARNED to see the love of Jesus spread to every tongue and every tribe:
- John Williams! John Williams was the very first Christian missionary to go to the New Hebrides Islands in hopes of spreading the Gospel. As soon as he arrived on the island, he was clubbed to death and then devoured at a cannibal feast. His labor for the Kingdom was NOT in vain. The news of his tragic death filled the London Mission Society, who sent him, with sorrow but also strong determination in Christ to not be defeated in their sorrows. Immediately 25 new workers volunteered to take his place and preach the love of God in New Hebrides. 50 years after John’s murder, the son of his murderer was laying the cornerstone of his memorial, while another son was actually preaching the Gospel for which John died!
- On January 8th, 1956, five missionaries landed on a beach on the Curary River in the jungles of Ecuador—Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Pete Flemming, Jim Elliot, and Roger Youderian. The first time these five missionaries encountered the Auca Indian tribe, they were weary and non-hostile. The second time, they were attacked and killed without warning. News of their deaths shocked the world and caused Christians to earnestly pray for this desperate and needy tribe and for other missionaries who now took up the task of loving and reaching this war-like tribe. Some of the widows of some of the men DID reach the Aucas. Gradually, the Aucas listened to the Gospel of God’s love and mercy. Most of the tribe has now turned to Christ including five of the murderers and two of them now PREACH the Gospel. One day they actually baptized two of Nate Saint’s children at the very place where the missionaries were slain 10 years before. God has a purpose in every single event, small or large.
- Mary Slessor! Born in Scotland, Mary’s mother was a devout Christian and her father was a violent alcoholic. Her brother had always had the desire to be a missionary, but died an early death—moved by his death, Mary felt a tireless conviction herself to be a missionary in the unreached areas of the world. She volunteered to go in his place. One day Mary heard another missionary describe Calabar, Nigeria as the worst place on Earth—“A mysterious, awful land ruled by witchcraft and secret cannibal societies. Human sacrifices, spells, and poisons. And the awful custom of murdering twin babies because they were considered bad luck. The land of disease, sickness, and death.” Mary felt a burning desire in her heart for these lost people. At 28, she left for Nigeria and spent 40 years in Calabar. She became known as the “White Queen of Calabar.” She personally raise many of the sets of twins that otherwise would’ve been killed. Most of all Mary preached by her life—“Ma Slessor didn’t stand up on a mountain top and preach to us. She came right down and lived with us, ate our food, slept in our huts, and lived out Jesus by example”— one of Mary’s Nigerian friends. Mary had a real burden for reaching people for Christ.
All of these missionaries had something so exceptionally beautiful in common—their love for people—the kind of love that simply has no boundaries and no borders. This is a love so deep and vast that these missionaries feared nothing—they solely lived to glorify God. They all felt the burden of sickness, death, poverty, and sadness for the people of whom they left their comforts and their lives to serve. This kind of love, fearless and unconditional, can only come from Christ—a burden and ache so powerful it can bring one to do super crazy things!!! This is the kind of love, and strength, and fearlessness that Jesus pours into us, and asks us to pour back out onto others!
I am human. I am weak. I am scared. All my strength and courage comes from Jesus. Thoughts of sickness and lack of safety have crossed my mind when I think about the 11 months I’ll be serving in Africa, Asia, and Central America. Though as soon as these thoughts seem to evade and overwhelm my soul, I draw my strength and excitement from Jesus, because he has placed a conviction in my heart for victims of sex trafficking, the sick, the weary, the homeless, the lost—“Therefore GO, and make disciples of ALL nations [Matthew 28:19].” Though I may, at times, become fearful for my safety and health, I fear complacency far more than anything. I fear staying where I am. I fear lack of intimacy with my Creator. I fear living comfortably while others are suffering. I fear choosing safety while women and children in Thailand are trapped amongst the darkness and solitude that is human trafficking. My sweet friend Val gave me the coolest reminder one day when we were sharing about the ways our hearts were breaking for others. It’s painful to watch others suffer and in fact I find it totally heartbreaking; truthfully sometimes I even wish I couldn’t identify with or feel the pain of others so easily! But God literally breaks our hearts for what breaks his—sickness, slavery, hunger. Val reminded me that He places these convictions in our hearts because they cause us to GO, and DO, and PRAY, and leave fear & pride BEHIND so that others might know the goodness and fullness of knowing Jesus intimately!!! Praise God.
We have been called higher and deeper than we could ever possibly understand, and Jesus will lead the way!
“If you live gladly to make others glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high, but your joy with be full.”
-John Piper
Thank you so much again to all who have financially, spiritually, and emotionally supported me thus far! XoXoXo It means so much and you are just as part of this journey as I am! I’m about 20% funded which is amazing! Praise God! If you would like to support me you can click on the “Support Me” tab on the side bar and you will be prompted on how to donate, either one-time or monthly. I’m also selling art (check the album on my facebook). Feel free to message me with any prayer requests you have, I’d love to pray for you! Love you all so so much!!!
