On Mission

In last week’s column I shared about obeying God; going where, and when, He nudges us. We shouldn’t let anything stop us; not others, not the fear of the unknown, and not even a lack of funds. Whoever God calls, He also equips.

This biblical principle has proven to be true many times in my life; whenever I’ve felt nudged to do something out of my comfort zone. And He has never nudged me out of my comfort zone more than now. In a few weeks I will be leaving for a mission’s trip to Kenya, Africa. (First time out of the country, first time on a mission’s trip.) I have been completely amazed at how everything has come together. For starters, the same month that I committed to going on the trip was the same month that my husband lost his job. Needless to say, the funds were a huge leap of faith, but God has come through.

This tugging to go to Africa first began three years ago. For a while I kept quiet and prayed…a lot, sharing it with no one. Then finally I shared the desire with my husband. I have to confess, neither one of us immediately embraced the idea. But as we continued praying and watching how God responded, we both came to the realization that I had to go.

Those three years were a time of preparation. God was instilling in me a burden and a love for all people (inmates and Africans); the lost and hurting among us. Then a year ago, when the tugging was at its peak, my husband and I prayerfully decided to sponsor a child from an orphanage in Kenya. We decided that the next child that became available would be the one, male or female, older or younger, we didn’t care. The next child was Fiona. When we saw her picture we immediately fell in love with her. But when we discovered she was 14, at the top of her class, loved to write, and her favorite subject was...English, the intense pull to encourage her in person began. Quite honestly, I could think of nothing else but getting to her and the other children, and sharing the love (and hope) of Christ with them.

Last fall we traveled out of state to meet the director of the mission’s team for this orphanage, and other missionaries. The highlight of the evening, though, was meeting Fiona, via Skype, and hearing her tell us she “luuuved” us, in her rich, South African accent. She told us that she prays for us every day and thanks God for us. To say she was appreciative of being sponsored would be an understatement. Before tearfully saying our goodbyes, she asked me to come visit her soon.

That night I knew, I was going to Kenya – I had to go. It was time to put my piddly insecurities aside, stop whining about giving up the comforts of home, and step out in faith and trust.

What about you? Are you sensing a call to serve outside of your comfort zone? Pray, obey…and trust God to lead the way.

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21).

In His Service,
Connie