July 10, 2006
-
Missions Withdrawal
I can’t tell you how many times I thought about being in another country today. I guess it’s because I went on three short term missions within two years — and all the time in between, I was telling and challenging people to go on missions and then also planning a missions program. So, of course, it’s really strange to me to have gone almost a whole year now without going somewhere. Last year at this time, I was sweating in sweet humidity in a foreign land with hard-packed soil – impossible to plant seeds – but we sure tried our darnedest to sow… and there is nothing more satisfying than knowing that you have poured yourself out completely for His Name’s sake.
Sometimes I look around me and think that I badly wished I could stay in America. I think about wanting to have the two-story house in suburbia with a rich green grass lawn in the front yard and a swing set in the backyard for the kids. I think about how nice it would be to have an income where we don’t have to depend on God (which can be so uncomfortable at times as it requires faith) but depend on ourselves and live comfortably and buy whatever we want. I think about it and I think I want it. But today I was reminded again how badly I don’t want it. It seriously seems kinda boring to me. That’s it? Stay here and build a family and grow old right here?? Boring.
I can’t wait. I can’t wait to go on a vision trip next year with Sam – to spy out the land that God has called us to. I can’t wait. I can’t wait to be ready to go for our first term. I can’t wait. I can’t wait to meet those people that He’s been preparing us for all these years, all our lives. I can’t wait. I can’t wait to learn this new language which seems like cacophony to us now. I can’t wait. I can’t wait to fall in love with them and then invite them in as Family. I can’t wait! I can’t wait to feel totally challenged, totally pressed, totally living every moment by faith all over again. On foreign soil. I simply cannot wait.
Comments (8)
my dear kindred spirit.
we felt the same exact way this weekend, running from bday party to the next in beautiful homes … we thought… we “could” just upgrade, settle down, rip out the yard and build a lawn, etc. etc..but that would just be so not the life we had hoped for.. in the end, we would feel that we deeply missed out on the life we were given and wasted the gifts and blessings and opportunities received. thanks for the post
Why do I get the sense that you are Anne, writing a letter to Diana?
hello!
I just wanted to let you know, I feel exactly the same way you do. I just came back from Guyana, South America on May 25th and want nothing more than to go back and live there. America does not have my heart, Guyana does. I absolutely fell in love with the people….
& I agree with you also when you say “raising a family and building a house and settling down” would indeed be boring. I know God has called us to greater things than that…and its exciting. I’m glad I found your xanga! I’m excited!!!
<3Rachel
love it
so are you leaving for the field next year?
just a vision trip – next year. but that’s what we’re hoping for — as the Lord leads. long-term will be in a few yrs.
oh how my heart longs the same way. growing up i knew i would not live in Georgia my whole life, but I had to live abroad. my first m-trip set my heart on fire. for the people, the land, and the government. a part of me is still there and i know i need to get back to finish what was started. HE has planted the love in my heart and I am also lucky to have found someone who has that same joy for the many lost nations.
” two-story house in suburbia with a rich green grass lawn in the front yard and a swing set in the backyard for the kids”
I think that’s rather challenging for me. I guess it all depends on your perspectives on things.