Spiritually:
The time has come! We are FINALLY coming together as a team in Atlanta, and I could not be more excited and nervous. I will be honest when I say that Satan has been attacking our team with doubts and fears, but my God has filled me with a hope for this trip that cannot be overcome.
This week the Lord showed me one section of scripture that has really challenged and encouraged me. In Luke 9: 57-52, conveniently titled “The Cost of Following Jesus”, Jesus says “follow me.” Presented with this incredible opportunity, the men say that they are willing to follow, but not before they say goodbye to their families and get some other things done. Jesus responds that “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
When I first read this, my heart ached because I was sad for them. But after some contemplation, I realized that my heart was really aching because I am just like them. The seemingly simple and caring task of going to say goodbye and get their lives together is actually a stumbling block. They were planning on doing “good” things, but they were putting these “good” things before following Christ. I ask myself, how much will Jesus go on to do without them while they are back at home? Of course, Jesus always offers us a way back to Him, but that doesn’t mean that He stops working and waits for us to get on board.
There are so many times in my life when I decide to put my busy life and figuring out all of my problems before Jesus. I believe that all of us do this at times or in certain situations, but over the next two months I pray that I will decide to follow Christ every day, every hour, and every minute, because I KNOW He will be working on this trip, and I don’t want to miss out on that!
Physically:
While spiritually preparing for this trip was definitely a challenge, physically packing for this trip was virtually impossible! But don’t worry. After countless trips to REI and Walmart, a miracle happened and everything fits AND my bag is under the weight limit(praise the Lord).
“Trust completely in God, and when He brings you to a new opportunity
of adventure, offering it to you, see that you take it.”
-Oswald Chambers
One thing I have become highly aware of is the fact that being a missionary, even for a relatively short amount of time is SO expensive. Everyone on my trip had to raise 5500 dollars for our transportation, food, and a place to sleep for two months, so we all came up with that money in one way or another. What people don’t realize is that we also had to get gear, vaccinations, medications, transportation to Atlanta, travel insurance, and a whole lot of other stuff! Even if people borrow things and get discounts or whatever, these things cost at least 1000 extra dollars! Not cheap, people!
Anyway, the reason I am saying this is to thank all of you who have supported us financially and challenge others to PLEASE give to sending people to spread the gospel. God came through in a BIG way for me on this trip, and I am headed to Africa fully funded and with a full, new, backpack, but there are countless missionaries out there who would probably scream for joy if you even sent them a 25 dollar check, so DO IT. Let’s be real, the majority of Americans are rich compared to the rest of the world, so other countries shouldn’t be sending more missionaries than us…that’s just embarrassing. And for those of you who do support us, seriously, you have no idea how how much your contribution means and how much it will be used for!
Again, THANK YOU for supporting me financially and prayerfully! I miss you all already and can’t wait to come back with stories of what God did with me and my team in Africa!
