As I write this it is 1:45pm and storming in the Ivory Coast and I will be there in a week. I head to Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) tomorrow. I spent much of yesterday working on packing and will finish that job up today. It's crazy and suddenly so real.
The other day, at church, I shared with the congregation the mission I'm joining in the Ivory Coast this summer. In turn, they prayed over me. I don't know if you've ever experienced that, but it's incredible. When you're surrounded by this community... when the weight of these people is on you, yet they lift you up... when you hear them whispering prayer, words of care and support... I don't know how else to to explain it but to say that is the body of Christ. I hope you all experience that sometime. I'm getting on a plane to the Ivory Coast, but I couldn't make it without everyone else, I can't do it alone. After each service people would come to me, asking questions, granting encouragement, and most importantly, promising prayer. Most of these were people I'd known my entire life, but some know only my parents, and one was actually a visitor. I can't begin to say how much this all means to me, how loved and full I felt. Looking back, however, I feel a little conflicted. You see, I think this is how the body should always act, not just with people that are going overseas on a mission trip, but with everyone. We should always be listening, we should always be encouraging, we should always be praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Because wherever you follow God's call on your life will be full of temptation, and wherever you follow God's call will be dangerous. Wherever you follow God's call important, and good. So encourage your family of believers, pray for them. Remember that your call, be it school, or work, in the United States or Timbuktu, is vital to God's Kingdom. Be the body of Christ out there.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Countdown, Fear?
The countdown has begun. In 9 days I will be joining the other CMF interns and short term missionaries at Pre-Departure Orientation in Indianapolis, we will be there for 6 days before hopping on planes to our various destinations. So, in other words, 2 weeks from tomorrow I will be on a plane and arriving in the Ivory Coast. Wahoo!
As I talk to people about this mission, I'm often asked if I'm scared, or a comment will be made about how brave it is to go so far away. If I'm honest, I don't really know how to respond, I'm really not scared. (and if there is any fear, its solely in the area of fundraising. I'm scared to death of not raising enough money because asking for that money is so hard for me, I digress.) I understand where fear could come from, and why maybe I should be more intimidated, after all, I'm going to Africa-the other side of the world. We constantly hear in the news about fighting, kidnappings and all sorts of tragedy. I will be working with HIV patients, and others with who knows what kinds of disease and infection, I guess that should be a little scary. It's the unknown, a different culture, different language, different food.. but I'm excited for these, not scared.
For me, to travel across the world to serve people feels like I'm actually going home. For as long as I can remember I've dreamed of this. I think when you've felt God calling you someplace for your whole life, to finally follow isn't so scary as the thought of not going is. Maybe the fear is still lurking in my subconscious somewhere, or God knows the possibility of such fear, because everywhere I turn I seem to be reminded of a few truths.
1 Peter 5:7 reminds us to "cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you," in 1 John 4 we're told that perfect love casts out all fear. I could name verse after verse with these themes, in the book of Joshua God is constantly reminding him to "be strong and courageous" and not to fear. I've been told that we are told not to fear 365 times in the bible, I personally haven't counted but if that's true I think it's pretty cool, one time for every day of the year (except on leap years, I guess we just need to remember all the other days being told not to fear on that extra day).
I think there's more though. I mean, if I should be scared to go to the Ivory Coast (a pretty stable country in Africa right now) because I might get hurt or sick or kidnapped, or killed... well couldn't all those things happen if I stayed home? I mean, I live in Cincinnati. People here are hurt, sick, kidnapped, and killed too. I don't mean to take away the significance of this brokenness, or to say it doesn't matter, just that we live in a broken, sin filled world. I'm not afraid of what the world can do to me.
Recently I was reading in the book of John and something that Jesus said jumped out at me like it hadn't before. John 18:36 is often quoted, where Jesus says "My kingdom is not of this world" to Pilate. But just a chapter before Jesus is praying in the garden and he prays "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world" (John 17:15-18). The way I see it, we're here in this world of pain and sickness, of kidnapping and killing, but that's not the whole story. The story is that God saves and though I may not be safe in the Ivory Coast, I am saved in Him. As Mr Beaver says in the Chronicles of Narnia about Aslan, “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you."
So am I scared? My answer is no, I'm not scared. I'm not safe either. But I believe with all my heart that God is good and it is my prayer that no matter what happens, all I do will bring glory only to His name. I pray that if I do get hurt, sick, kidnapped, or killed, that in someway my injury would cause people to look to the Lord. This world isn't my home.
So in 9 days I will go to PDO, in 15 I will go to the Ivory Coast. You can pray for safety (my mom would like that), but more importantly pray that I would be the Lord's vessel, that I may be used by Him.
PS I do still need to raise about $500 by tomorrow. So if you're able please visit www.cmfi.org/supportintern click on my name and you'll be taken to a age to make a financial donation. Thanks again!
 |
| Q.Where is the Ivory Coast? A. Circled in red, my friend! |
For me, to travel across the world to serve people feels like I'm actually going home. For as long as I can remember I've dreamed of this. I think when you've felt God calling you someplace for your whole life, to finally follow isn't so scary as the thought of not going is. Maybe the fear is still lurking in my subconscious somewhere, or God knows the possibility of such fear, because everywhere I turn I seem to be reminded of a few truths.
1 Peter 5:7 reminds us to "cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you," in 1 John 4 we're told that perfect love casts out all fear. I could name verse after verse with these themes, in the book of Joshua God is constantly reminding him to "be strong and courageous" and not to fear. I've been told that we are told not to fear 365 times in the bible, I personally haven't counted but if that's true I think it's pretty cool, one time for every day of the year (except on leap years, I guess we just need to remember all the other days being told not to fear on that extra day).
I think there's more though. I mean, if I should be scared to go to the Ivory Coast (a pretty stable country in Africa right now) because I might get hurt or sick or kidnapped, or killed... well couldn't all those things happen if I stayed home? I mean, I live in Cincinnati. People here are hurt, sick, kidnapped, and killed too. I don't mean to take away the significance of this brokenness, or to say it doesn't matter, just that we live in a broken, sin filled world. I'm not afraid of what the world can do to me.
Recently I was reading in the book of John and something that Jesus said jumped out at me like it hadn't before. John 18:36 is often quoted, where Jesus says "My kingdom is not of this world" to Pilate. But just a chapter before Jesus is praying in the garden and he prays "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world" (John 17:15-18). The way I see it, we're here in this world of pain and sickness, of kidnapping and killing, but that's not the whole story. The story is that God saves and though I may not be safe in the Ivory Coast, I am saved in Him. As Mr Beaver says in the Chronicles of Narnia about Aslan, “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you."
So am I scared? My answer is no, I'm not scared. I'm not safe either. But I believe with all my heart that God is good and it is my prayer that no matter what happens, all I do will bring glory only to His name. I pray that if I do get hurt, sick, kidnapped, or killed, that in someway my injury would cause people to look to the Lord. This world isn't my home.
So in 9 days I will go to PDO, in 15 I will go to the Ivory Coast. You can pray for safety (my mom would like that), but more importantly pray that I would be the Lord's vessel, that I may be used by Him.
PS I do still need to raise about $500 by tomorrow. So if you're able please visit www.cmfi.org/supportintern click on my name and you'll be taken to a age to make a financial donation. Thanks again!
Monday, May 12, 2014
Announcements and diving in.
Hello there, friends!
I've been pretty busy these past couple weeks with wrapping up this semester of college and I'm pleased to announce that I am now a senior nursing student at Milligan College! This is so exciting and crazy for me, it appears that real adult life is right around the corner (or 362 days away.. but who's counting, right?). The overwhelming thought is not having any idea where in the world I'll be living a year from now, the exciting part is trusting God with that. I'm always up for a good adventure!
Speaking of adventure, I have a couple other pieces of exciting news. 1. My visa for the Ivory Coast has been received! 2. I have my plane tickets to and from the Ivory Coast! This is getting real, folks. I know now that I'm not only allowed in the country, but I also have a way of getting there (and my mom is pleased that I have tickets home ;) ).
Thank you all for your support, you rock! However, I still have about $1000 to raise, so if you were wondering whether I need your help, the answer is a resounding yes! It's been so awesome for me to see God working through his people to pave the path for me to serve in Africa, and I firmly believe that he will continue to do so.
I was reading in the book of John the other day and a particular part jumped out at me, I had to laugh a little bit at the mental image. In chapter 21 John shares this story of an interaction with the resurrected Christ. We have Peter, John, and a few other disciples that decided they'd like to go fishing (these guys had grown up fisherman so I get the sense that this was an incredibly calming and homey action for them). They fished through the night and didn't catch anything, which is kind of a bummer. Then, they hear this guy yelling at them from the shore, telling them to caste their nets on the other side, the disciples look at each other, shrug, say ok and do what they were told. Then John looks at Peter and says "isn't that the Lord?" and this is were is gets awesome. Peter grabs clothes (obviously he was the kind of guy to take his shirt off while fishin') jumps into the water and starts swimming to Jesus. At this point I imagine the other disciples looking at each other, mumbling something about Peter being crazy as they go about turning the boat to shore. I love how Peter was so excited to see Jesus that he couldn't wait another moment to get back to him. He dives right in, doesn't wait for the comfortable and safe boat to take him back, he just has to get there as fast as possible. The story continues with the boat arriving at shore and Peter jumping back in to help with the fish. I think this man was literally too excited to know what to do with himself and I bet he looked crazy.
I hope my life resembles Peter's in this way, so that my actions of love and desire to be with Christ appear a little insane.
I've been pretty busy these past couple weeks with wrapping up this semester of college and I'm pleased to announce that I am now a senior nursing student at Milligan College! This is so exciting and crazy for me, it appears that real adult life is right around the corner (or 362 days away.. but who's counting, right?). The overwhelming thought is not having any idea where in the world I'll be living a year from now, the exciting part is trusting God with that. I'm always up for a good adventure!
Speaking of adventure, I have a couple other pieces of exciting news. 1. My visa for the Ivory Coast has been received! 2. I have my plane tickets to and from the Ivory Coast! This is getting real, folks. I know now that I'm not only allowed in the country, but I also have a way of getting there (and my mom is pleased that I have tickets home ;) ).
Thank you all for your support, you rock! However, I still have about $1000 to raise, so if you were wondering whether I need your help, the answer is a resounding yes! It's been so awesome for me to see God working through his people to pave the path for me to serve in Africa, and I firmly believe that he will continue to do so.
I was reading in the book of John the other day and a particular part jumped out at me, I had to laugh a little bit at the mental image. In chapter 21 John shares this story of an interaction with the resurrected Christ. We have Peter, John, and a few other disciples that decided they'd like to go fishing (these guys had grown up fisherman so I get the sense that this was an incredibly calming and homey action for them). They fished through the night and didn't catch anything, which is kind of a bummer. Then, they hear this guy yelling at them from the shore, telling them to caste their nets on the other side, the disciples look at each other, shrug, say ok and do what they were told. Then John looks at Peter and says "isn't that the Lord?" and this is were is gets awesome. Peter grabs clothes (obviously he was the kind of guy to take his shirt off while fishin') jumps into the water and starts swimming to Jesus. At this point I imagine the other disciples looking at each other, mumbling something about Peter being crazy as they go about turning the boat to shore. I love how Peter was so excited to see Jesus that he couldn't wait another moment to get back to him. He dives right in, doesn't wait for the comfortable and safe boat to take him back, he just has to get there as fast as possible. The story continues with the boat arriving at shore and Peter jumping back in to help with the fish. I think this man was literally too excited to know what to do with himself and I bet he looked crazy.
I hope my life resembles Peter's in this way, so that my actions of love and desire to be with Christ appear a little insane.
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