Our team is leaving tomorrow for Ethiopia...well first we will fly to D.C. then we will be leaving Friday afternoon for Ethiopia. Nonetheless, I have been reflecting on how I have seen God.
I have always wanted to go on a "mission trip." I finally felt like I was in a "good" spot in my life to go on a trip. Whatever that means right? That was my thought before preparing for this trip. Now I see that it was really God's will for me, it had nothing to do with me and my choice.
We have a super team of 11 people going on our trip. I look forward to seeing how God will use each of us. One thing that led me to going to Ethiopia, was a sweet friend that I work with...Nicci or aka "Feathers." She had gone twice last year and was "on fire!" for Ethiopia. Her passion got me wondering all about it. So here I am today packing for my trip reflecting on how I have already seen God move in me.
We haven't even left yet and God has already used me and has changed my heart. My outlook on life has shifted greatly...I am more able to see this world through the lens of faith and I am just here to serve God for this short life. As a "first time missionary" I believe a huge part of this journey is what God does to prepare you for the trip. One of the greatest things I have seen is how He places certain people in your life just in the right timing, just when you need them, just when they need you, and it can only be explained as a "God thing."
People keep asking questions like "Are you excited?" "Are you nervous?"
To answer those, YES I AM SO EXCITED! No I am not afraid or nervous.
The best way to explain this experience in going in to this is I feel like a child going to Kindergarten for the first time. I know it is going to be a good thing, I know I am going to be learning something, I know I will be working, I know I will have friends with me, and I know my heavenly father- my "daddy" has instructed me to do this.
But, I do not know what to expect, I don't know that it will look like, I do not know what will happen, and I do not understand in full capacity what is to come. The ONLY thing I know to do is rely on Christ. I feel like a child....John 1:12 says, "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed His name, He gave the right to become children of God." I finally understand this verse.
One of the verses that we have talked about in preparing for this trip is Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
Just thinking about this verse brings peace to my soul and joy to my heart for the coming days.
I am not one of many words, but what I can say is that it is hard to truly enjoy the life that you have been blessed with until you can fully see God's purpose for you in this life and attempt to live it. I am growing in my spiritual journey each day and I can't say I have it all figured out and I know I never will but I can rely on Christ's unfailing love and forgiveness for my sinful self.
So for prayers in the next coming days....could you please pray for safety for our team, unity for our team, and that God's Will be done for us and the people we encounter on this journey?
If you would like to follow us on our trip, Candice and I will be blogging....
Check this website for updates....
See you later...