The Last 24hours - North Carolina

Sunday morning there was a silent hush over the entire second floor dorm. We had all finished with our initial interviews and had all our lives basically turned upside down. We all discovered new things about ourselves. Areas where we need to grow, heal, and areas that we're doing well in. We were given lists of country that needed a hand. We were given dates and time frames and short terms were maybe now long termers and back and forth. Perhaps one piece of the puzzle matched what we were originally thinking and pretty much everything else changed.

As we all were processing it and praying about it the air was quiet. Some went for walks. Some talked with their mentors on the phone, others napped, some watched tv, some looked at flickr photos. We talked about the areas of our lives that we need to work on. The destinations that were presented to one of us. The lst of stuff we have to do to prepare. The prayer and divine guidance that will need to take place.

Sunday morning we met for a chapel service. And shame on me for passing judgement upon my journey here. Two of our regional directors Willy from Sweden, and Angela from England spoke. They were two angels as far as I was concerned. We started off with a worship time. Some songs I knew, others I didn't. But everyone sang gloriously. The room transformed itself into a worship setting as the powerpoint glowed with images of Paraguay. I thought to myself is this home for 2008?

Angela came up and spoke her life story to us. How God was in the business of working with her heart. That it was obedience and surrender all along. That even though the plans and desires are correct, it first needs surrender. That all these things first need surrender. She said that she grew frustrated at times because the destinations and career that she hoped for were constantly being presented to her at the same time something else that was just "work" but could be done by her too. For example, she was given the opportunity to move to a furnished paid for apt in Paris for work but at the same time was asked to help out a small missions org in England with no perks. And when she prayed about it, she stayed in England. And it wasn't until one day when she sat in a park bench in England that she let go. She was already a christian and had relinquished to God much several times in her life. But she said she actually say there and relinquished it all to Him. Her whole life once again. Not for any benefit. Not for the fear of maybe going to hell. Not for anything else, but to just know He's the best to trust. In trust she relinquished it all. Even the christian hopes of the mission field. And within weeks/months it all came to her. But God wanted her heart and her faith and her obedience and her trust. Ahhhhh.

Then her husband began to speak. He spoke about the four people who brought the paralyzed one in from the roof. He compare that to our lives as a missionary. That we will do things that are at times not considered normal or helpful or even be cumbersome to those around us, but certain things have to get done. That man wouldn't have found aide w/out these four people helping. To consider it all. Even the plan to how to do it. How did they know it would take 4? Three wouldn't have been good? 4? Who would take the front? Who would hold the back? How did they climb up the stairs? How did they poke the hole? Isn't it funny that Jesus all knowing probably knew what was happening before they even climbed up on the roof and yet He let them do this. He watched and responded because of their faith and trust in Him. So even sometimes when there doesn't seem to be a way, or the way is rough and troublesome, Christ knows. He knows our faith. Ahhhhh

We all sat there at the end and didn't want to get up. I've had the opportunity in my life to sit and listen to amazing men and women of God. I consider it a privilege and a great gift to do so. And this was another one of those moments.

We soon took a break and had lunch. And a wonderful woman named Pat approached me and asked if she would like to have a final interview with me. She handed me a beautiful blue sheet of paper stating that I've been accepted as a missionary. As a photographer. As an ambassador to the mission field in Christ's name. And I've been invited back to SIMCO in October to discuss the details of the next journey of my life.

I started to walk back to the dorms. Many were already packed and ready to go to the airport. Others sat in the common room waiting for the next ride, etc. We all asked one another if we got our blue sheets. And all figured out that we'd be returning in October together. At least most of us will be.

Half left yesterday and half left today. My two South American buddies left yesterday and we're excited to hang out with one another again. Especially with a chance of seeing one another in South America too.

So I spent the night alone. My room mate was gone and I had a chance to be by myself. To think. To pray. To wonder. To dance. And fall asleep peacefully.

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