Isn’t amazing how fast time flies? When I ventured over to Africa this past June, I had no idea how fast 6 months would quickly go by. It was my father’s advice, nearly 10 months ago to pray about “going for six months and then re-evaluating”…and now I have been seeking the Lord as I’ve been at the re-evaluating stage. It was always my sense before coming that Jesus would either teach me something in the few months I was here (which he has most certainly done!)…or that a door would open, allowing me to return in the new year for another strategic season. To be honest, I have known for quite awhile in my spirit that the later would be the case…partly because giving up a job, house, ministry, and packing up my life, while leaving friends and family…was such a big step…and now the idea of trying to re-establish my former life, does not seem what Jesus has for me quite yet.
The ‘open door’ from the Lord has looked different than I expected. I think I kept hoping a job, ministry or role would pop up…and that my spirit would respond, “oh this is why I am here”…but the Lord hasn’t done it that way. I have in no way been able to define my significance by what I do…for my days are spontaneous, the things I do differ…and so do the people I interact with. What he has done is establish around me an amazing community (!)...a church community, a friendship community…and a community where I constantly feel I am ministering to others just by being myself. This has been a foundational purpose of this trip and one of the reasons why I feel Jesus is asking me to come back. I know I still have a full month ahead of me…and to be honest who knows what that will hold…but if its anything like the past four months I have a lot to look forward to.
Any big decision comes with doubts…how will I pay for a ticket, how will I raise funds, how will I define what I’m ‘doing’, how will I get a car, how will my family and friends respond, etc. After a few calls to my parents and sisters and a friend who knows me well, I couldn’t deny the truth that Jesus was asking me to return…despite the many unknowns! (Hey, faith steps are my life…my past…and most likely my future…better start getting used to them!)
Well, miracle one happened just under a week ago, I was given enough air miles by someone to cover my return flight to Cape Town next year! It happened so fast and so unexpectantly! It was an instant reminder from the Lord that He will continue to provide all I need in his timing.
So the details are as follows:
- Leave Cape Town on November 30th…then stop in Dubai to be with friends for a few days, then have a week in London more friends…returning to Tacoma, December 16th.
- Then home for 6 weeks!!!…enjoying Christmas, spending everyday possible with my nephew and nieces, catching up with dear friends, hanging out with family, church friends, my students at New Song School, my former neighborhood kids, maybe organizing some of your homes, and driving my automatic car!
-Then I’ll leave January 26th to return to Cape Town…Coming back to Tacoma June 8th …just in time for a family vacation and my 30th birthday!!!!
Thank you for being a part of this journey!
No comments:
Post a Comment