With just over 4 weeks until we leave the US and start our
journey to South Africa I thought it would be a good time to update everyone
with where we are. It has been just over 2 weeks since my little family moved
out of our house in Evans Ga and packed everything we own into 10 suite cases,
making things very real for all of us. I am not sure at what point Augusta GA
became our ‘home’ but it has become a very special place, a place of comfort, a
place that has seen us through many seasons of joy, sorrow, struggle and triumph
over the last almost 8 years. Leaving my
church family, so many close friends and my sister and her family was the
hardest thing I have ever done. I chose to leave everything I love outside of
my little family, I chose to give up everything we have worked towards: a
house, cars, and things. I chose to walk away from jobs we loved and I chose to
leave behind things that are comfortable and familiar.
Over the last year I have heard many different people’s opinions
on the journey Eddie and I are about to embark on. One common theme is the idea
that because God called us into missions everything will be easy and smooth
sailing as we prepare. Jesus never said
following Him would be easy and while I do agree that God will provide for us,
guide us and pave the road before us I am also aware that He never guaranteed
an easy road or that the process would not be painful and faith stretching.
I want to make sure to say that while God has called us to
South Africa and God has asked us to partner with Him on this project, it is
still our choice to go. Every day I get to choose weather I want to walk with
God or if I’d rather stay comfortable. We all get to make that choice, every day.
Comfort looks different to different people, in Luke 18:21-25 the man’s comfort
was money, a comfort he was unwilling to let go of to follow Jesus. For me my
comfort was Augusta GA where I had a solid network of friends, a great church,
the best job ever (yup the church youth group) great schools for my kids and a
constant steady income. The choice to
leave your comfort zone is not easy, no matter what you’re called to, following
Jesus requires sacrifice.
Choosing to go into ministry or missions is not easy. God
calls and you have to be willing to let go of everything and take up your cross
and follow Him. As far as I can tell when God calls missionaries He doesn’t supernaturally
change everything for them. He does give passion, and a love for the people
group and desire and hope and peace. But the human elements are still there,
the flesh still cries out to be heard. I know what I am giving up, and it’s
hard. Many missionaries don’t make it past the 1st or 2nd
year and I wonder if some of that is the church back homes lack of understanding
of just how hard it is to be a missionary. We sit in churches and think somehow
they are above all the heartache and struggles of life. That living a calling
from God means they don’t have storms and other than the constant fundraising there
is no hardship. We think ‘wow they must be special because I could never do
that’. And they are special but they are not that different from anyone else.
I know not everyone in church feels this way and maybe for
some who are called it really is 100% easy but from the missionaries I’ve
talked to, most have said that while they would not want to do anything else
and they have a joy that cannot be explained it is the hardest job they have
ever done.
What’s my point in all this? I want you to see that while I
am making a choice, a choice to follow my calling, that choice is not easy.
There is an amazing amount of grace, joy, and comfort from God and honestly
there is nothing I’d rather do then move back to South Africa and serve the
community there. But please also know this entire journey has been faith stretching
and full of ups and downs. I am so excited to see what God will do through my
little family and I am so thankful that He has called us on this journey.
I don’t know if there
is something God is asking you to do that seams hard but if there is just know stepping
out of your comfort zone is not easy. It is however worth it. I am not the same
person I was when we started this journey, my faith and closeness to God and my
family has grown. My understanding of what is important has been challenged and
my ability to find rest even in the storms of life is improving. So what will
you do today that gets you one step out of your comfort zone? What is God asking of you? How can I help? Please
feel free to contact us, we love praying with people especially as God moves
you out of your comfort zone and into your calling.
