That may be the most intimidating title I’ve ever written. Doesn’t seem so scary to you? Well, maybe not for you, but for me this represents probably the largest step of faith I’ve taken in about 15 years.
It all began in April, shortly after my 40th birthday party. I awoke the next morning, after what should have been one of the happiest nights of my life: my family had all come to share that special evening with me, my back yard was filled with friends, and my husband was an amazing host all evening long. But I felt empty inside. Ashamed. Disgusted with my self-centeredness. The very next day at church, our drama team presented an amazing re-creation of the video “Give Me Your Eyes” by Brandon Heath. I was struck for the first time with the impact and message of those words…God, let me see the world through Your eyes. Let me see the hurting, let me listen to them, let me help heal their hurts.
And I realized that once again I’ve inoculated myself against the world, against those outside the church. I could sense God nudging me to go outside my walls, to go beyond my “self”, to do more to reach out to others. Shortly thereafter, I read in our church bulletin and newsletter about an upcoming mission trip to Uganda, to minister in an orphanage there. At that moment, I knew God was calling me to go.
I took the first step in early summer, to contact our pastor of missional life and indicate my interest. His response was to welcome me aboard, but then to get started on the process of getting my passport renewed and the necessary shots started. All of this was quite intimidating to me, and with all the other activities going on this summer, they were easily delegated to the bottom of the “to do” list.
I attended the initial meeting in August, where we were given our list of required immunizations and trip applications. Again, with the start of school, and the craziness of my schedule these past few weeks, I didn’t do much with this information…until now.
Yesterday, I went to the clinic where a doctor friend has agreed to do the immunizations for a reduced cost to all members of the Uganda mission team. I am now successfully inoculated against typhoid, meningitis, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and partially immunized against Hepatitis A and B.
And today, I turned in my passport, application, and initial trip deposit.
The next two months are going to be challenging as I prepare to leave the country – and my family – for 11 days, but I am totally at peace knowing this is exactly what God wants me to do. Please pray with me for health and safety…for me to utilize my time effectively…for quality time with my husband and children in the midst of the chaos…for financial provision of the full cost of the trip…and most of all, that God will work in and through me to reach these precious children for His name, that I might truly be the gospel of life and hope to them.