I have been on one
mission trip in my life. I was a junior in high school and we flew to Arizona
to help on a Native American reservation for a couple days then we explored
Arizona for the rest of spring week. It was a valuable experience but it didn’t
“cost” me very much. The couple who led the trip paid for pretty much
everything so I didn’t have to raise support. Our service project was great. I
remember helping to build a sidewalk and visiting with a few people. I remember
eating a meal with some of the Native Americans – real authentic food they
prepared themselves. That trip gave me a love for Arizona and exposed me to
people who were different than me.
Fast forward about 20
years and I am sitting at Loafin’ Joes with Carissa Potter discussing children’s
ministry for the 2014-15 school year. She was sharing about her adventures and
world travels with her job as the Director of Weave (www.weavefamily.org). She is one of those
people that is so passionate about what she does that you can help but “get
some of it on you” when she talks. So I seized the moment and asked if she
would ever consider taking me with her on one of her international adventures.
She quickly answered yes and seemed excited about my interest. I also mentioned
how I thought my big kids, Jeremiah and Maiesha, would want to go too. She was
excited about that too.
Rewind to my third
grade year of elementary school. I remember missionaries from our church
sharing about their lives and ministry in the Ivory Coast (western Africa). I
sat in the back of our Alliance church sanctuary and wrote down as many notes
as my little hand could write. We still did show and tell at school so I took
all my new found knowledge to school and shared it with my class. I think I
even made a map. I was fascinated. Africa was this place that I had touched
through someone else’s life and stories. Ever since then Africa has been on my
heart. There has been a growing desire to encounter the people and cultures of
Africa.
Fast forward to
September 2014, Carissa and I are having lunch again to talk children’s
ministry and get more details about her trip to Ethiopia and Kenya (east
Africa) in the spring of 2015. She had a shell of a plan and some specific ways
that I could be a part of her team. She had also thought about how Jeremiah and
Maiesha could play a role and serve – not just tag along. Tyrone and I had
already talked through it and I gave him the new details. He was a bit nervous,
but was onboard with it. I remember driving to pick up Lydia and Chloe from
preschool after lunch that day and praying, “God is this really something you
want us to do? Is this really my dream coming true?” I just started crying and
the only word that would come out of my mouth was “Yes!”
Since that day we
have purchased passports and lots of stamps. We have mailed letters and made
contact with more than 125 families in at least 6 states to ask for their
financial support. It will cost about $6600 for us to make this journey. The
plane tickets were purchased. The living arrangements have been made. The
service projects are being ironed out. The training material is being written
that our team will teach. The daily devotions have been written and I have
chosen which ones I will use to lead in my small groups. We have scheduled our
first of 4 meetings as a family with Carissa to prepare our hearts and minds for
all that we will experience in this foreign land. The plan is coming together. I am so excited I
can’t stop telling everyone I meet about it. As each piece is put in place, the
reality of what we are doing is actually setting in. This is just the beginning
of a life of following God for Jeremiah and Maiesha. It is a dream come true
for me. This is all the “easy” part. Saying yes to this was the easiest part.
The greatest test, the biggest stretch, the hardest part has been trusting God
to provide this seemingly insurmountable amount of money.
You see we started
our Total Money Makeover one year ago on February 1. We don’t use credit cards.
We are working hard to eliminate all of our debit. We have a plan to finish
that (except for our mortgage) this year. How will we pay for this if the
support doesn’t come? Some days I am just scared, and that makes me grumpy and
short tempered. Some days I question whether I am really supposed to be doing
this now. “W.A.I.T. just one minute,” God says when I get stuck in those
hopeless thoughts. He says remember that day when you said yes. You said yes to
me and I don’t make mistakes. He says do you believe I am in control or not? Do
you believe that I listen and answer your prayers or not? He simply asks me to
trust Him even when it is hard and looks impossible.
God is faithful, and
he is providing. At our church we were challenged to read through the entire
Bible this year. I am using The One Year Bible Plan on the YouVersion app. The
very morning after I send out the first of our letters my daily reading spoke directly
to my fears and gave me instruction on how to pray.
Psalm 5:1-3 “O Lord,
hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my
King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. Listen to my voice in the
morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.”
It said wait
expectantly! Not fearfully. Not doubtful. Not disbelieving. EXPECTANTLY!
God has provided
encouraging words from friends and coworkers who have been through support raising
campaigns. Their words and stories bring new energy and peace to our journey. He
has provided friends who are excited about what we are doing and want to be
part of it through prayer and giving. He has provided financially for our
passports and stamps through our budgeting habits. And today I received the
first giving update, and after just 2 weeks, he has already provided some
generous givers. We have a long way to go, but looking at this through God’s lens
is the lesson I am learning yet again. I have so much joy when I rest in him. I
have so much peace when I praise him for what he has accomplished. I have no
worries when I stand on his promises. I can say, with confidence, bring it on because
I will follow God wherever he leads.
“Let the Waters Rise” by Mike’s Chair https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIkQ7YVys_A
