Missions Diary
Day 1 June 10,
2013
I think this mission’s diary really should start somewhere around
1969…when I saw and heard my first “live” missionary speak. I was in sixth grade, living in Cross City,
Florida. I don’t remember a lot about
that day but I do remember that as the missionary shared her story of her work
in Africa that I felt my heart race. I
remember telling my parents that evening, “I’d like to be a missionary someday. But I don’t want to go to Africa. That would be too scary.”
It should include the summer of 1979 that was spent “on the mission
field” of eastern Washington and Oregon as a summer missionary with the
SBC. It should include the summer of
1981 spent “on the mission field” of Long Island, New York. It was the best and worst summer of my
life…best because I learned to trust God completely…worst because I had to
learn that lesson (weak smile).
It should include the names of every adult that has had input into my
life. Dad and Mom gave me the
opportunity to learn about missions. GA
leaders in my early years helped me understand that missionaries around the
world needed prayer and support. Sunday
School and Vacation Bible School workers had input into my love for
missions. Visiting missionaries who took
time to share their stories had an impact on my life. Belonging to churches that loved and
supported missions helped to develop this passion. Pastors that cheered on the cause of telling
the world should get credit for this day.
Most of all, God’s Word has led me down this path. The exciting missionary stories of the early
church… the Great Commission…the instruction…the encouragement…it all worked
together to bring me to this day.
Today I made connection with the missionary-sending organization TEAM
and their representative Tom Sampley. I
explained how God had been working in my heart…and in Dan’s heart. I explained that we left a chunk of our heart
in South Africa and we felt compelled by God to go back to that beautiful
country and share God with the students at DBC.
Now we wait on the Lord. We wait
on His timing. We wait on His
leadership. We wait on His
providence.
I’ve never been very good in the waiting period. But it’s time to settle in because once the
waiting is over there will be big changes to come. I plan to spend as much time with my children
and grand-children during this waiting period, because I’ll be moving away from
them…far away…and I know I’ll long for their voices and giggles and charm. I plan to be in God’s Word…sinking myself in
it…covering myself with it…allowing it to challenge me to grow and be prepared
for serving in a foreign land.
There’s just no way to really tell how this day changes our lives. It won’t be just our lives that are
changed. I feel overwhelming emotion
bubbling up inside. I want to cry…I want
to rejoice…I want to cringe a little at the thought of leaving family behind…I
want to dance…I want to laugh. I want to
celebrate that obedience makes a world of difference in the life of a
Christian. No more running from what God
wants me to do. The mission trip starts
today.
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