Leaving on a jet plane...

Well as some of you may already know this is it I’m leaving on a jet plane and I don’t know when I’ll be back again….

 

So let me back up and give some background information. Since the age of 15 Daddy God made me aware of my heart for missions and since then I’ve had so many opportunities to travel the world and experience short term mission work and see God’s hand move in the lives of His people. And now here I am 26 years old, with an incredible job teaching first graders who show me everyday how precious love is, I live in my half wide right next door to my crazy, loving family and my life should feel complete and yet a huge part of me is still calling out. I’ve tried to quiet it and it has been muffled for sometime but the Lord has really put an amp to my heart and I know it’s time. It’s now or never I’m not getting any younger and He’s asked me to lay down my loves and pursue His dream and purpose for me. Scary? Heck yes ….I’d call this whole process (which I am smack dab in the middle of) a beautiful disaster.

 

Disaster #1: I’m leaving my family who I’ve never been too far from and who I can’t live without to go to Mozambique and live on an orphanage in the bush

 Beauty of it: Matthew 19:29- “…but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life”

 

Disaster #2: Leaving wonderful job that supports me financially and feeds my passion for teaching and my love of children; and I’m surrounded by a supportive staff and encouraging administrative team.

 Beauty of it: I can take what I’ve learned here: patience, strength, and understanding, learning about their needs, working with others, etc. and use it to create an atmosphere of love as I teach those babies in Africa. So I’m not leaving what I love, I’m just changing my location.

 

Disaster #3: I won’t have a job! As much as I love my job, we all know we don’t go to college and get a degree to be a volunteer…

Beauty of it: Learning to trust Him for everything—Psalm 37:25 “…not once have I seen an abandoned believer, or his kids out roaming the streets. Every day he’s out giving and lending, his children making him proud”—He is Jehovah Jireh, my provider.

 

Disaster #4: I am leaving a wonderful and supportive church family who have nurtured me in my spiritual walk and made me who I am through guidance and support. I have stepped into the role of worship leader and surprisingly I feel like I fit…it fulfills me in the midst of my restless spirit yelling, “GO!” I know worship is apart of me just as much as missions and children.

Beauty of it: Worship is a part of me. It’s not something I do it’s who I am! I am worship I live, breathe and sleep it. So I don’t leave it behind, I can’t...that’s impossible.  –Proverbs 18:16 “A man’s gift makes room for him….”

 

Disaster #5: I’m leaving behind all that is familiar to me. My friends who understand me and deal with me, Sisters and brothers (from other mothers) who keep me in check. Spiritual mothers and fathers and my own precious parents who pray for me, and handle me with force when I’m being stubborn and who fully support this call.

Beauty of it: Skype and knowing that every conversation was a seed planted in my heart being pruned so it could grow and my heart is a deep well full of wisdom from great men and women, young and old who have directed me with God’s love and I can take what I know and what I’m still learning and apply it and teach it to those who haven’t met Daddy God—Proverbs 22:6 “Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost”

 

Disaster #6: I’m not leaving until October so there are many more beautiful disasters to come!

Beauty of it: Each one is preparing me. Each hardship, “loss”, every fear is bringing me one step closer to Him. Now is my time to learn, grow, cry, laugh, be fearful, be courageous, be nervous, be confident, gain trust and faith, grow in understanding and wisdom—Romans 8 “This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike, ‘What’s next Papa?’ God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to use—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!”