2 days...

One of the greatest things about going to Ghana on a missions trip is that I get to spend it with 8 of my youth group “kids”. It is an adventure that I get to not only experience myself but with them. I am proud of each of them. They are 16, 17, and 18-year-olds who are daring to step out in their faith to serve in a far away country. I feel blessed to be able to experience it with them. I feel blessed at having each one of them in my life. In eight very unique ways, they teach me about God and faith and what it means to be a Christian. They are not “just” high school students – they are reflections of Christ. I pray that this 10-day journey will solidify their faith.

This past Sunday our team was commissioned by Cedar Hill CRC, one of the three supporting churches of our youth group. It is overwhelming, but very comforting, to realize how many people are praying for us. The commissioning was powerful. As family members and youth leaders laid hands over us as Pastor Norm blessed us in prayer my legs were somewhat shaking – not out of nervousness but rather at being aware of the presence and power of God. He is not only going to be with us in Ghana, He is already with us and has been over the past several months as we prepared for the trip.

The other day I came across a translation of 1 Corinthians 13:13 from The Message that I really like – “Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.” It is my prayer that Ghana will not only solidify each of our faiths, but also teach us how to do just that – trust, hope, love.

11 march 2010

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7

My grandfather, better known to me and my family as Papa, died of cancer when I was just 7 years old. There isn’t a lot that I remember about him and much of what I remember is when he was already very sick. But what I do remember about him and what is the most important thing that I could ever carry with me is his faith. In a lot of ways it is not so much a memory but a part of him that still lives and will never die. I see it in the lives of my family – my grandmother (Mama), my parents, my aunts and uncles, my siblings. It lives in me. I often read this reminder from Paul and think about Papa. I recall Mama sharing with me in a card once that it was one of his favorite verses – it has become one of mine. While he was sick and even up until his death Papa lived his faith in word and in deed with a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline because of his confidence in Jesus Christ.

Today I have been challenged to think about my life. In some ways I hesitate to refer to it as being mine because I have been reminded especially today that my every breath comes from God. However, he gives us this opportunity to live and breathe. Life is an opportunity and a privilege and therefore we must use it for good, for something greater and bigger than ourselves. Do I live out my faith in word and in deed? I can do everything possible to be a great person and youth leader, to be there for my students and friends, to joke around with them. But if I am not openly sharing my faith with them then what is the point? I need to be expressing faith, hope, and love because nothing else matters. More importantly, I need to be expressing Christ’s love to each of them as much as possible. As important as it is to me that they know I love them, it is of far greater importance that each of them knows they are loved by God.

10 march 2010

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience…And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful…And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:12, 14-15, 17).

Denise
Dan
Eric
Jill
Frankie
Alyssa
Allison
Katelyn
Chelsea
Sara
Kelsey
Josh
Beth
Ryan

There are fourteen of us embarking on this journey together – 14 people, 14 personalities, 14 sets of strengths, 14 sets of weaknesses. God has chosen each one of us. While we are a group of fourteen individuals, we go there as one body united in Christ. We go to serve the people of Ghana but also to serve one another in love, to be the church. God calls us to love, because He is love. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). It is my prayer that even when we face challenges, when we are tired and irritable and long for the comforts and familiarities of home, that we would follow Christ’s perfect example of love – to love the people of Ghana, but also each other.

ghana 2010 - all things.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast“ (Psalm 139:7-9).

In the fall of 2002 I followed the example of my middle sister and did a semester abroad in Nairobi, Kenya. Before I left she gave me a book she had been working on for me. I took it with me and looked at it every day that I was there. The pages were filled with quotes, Bible verses, photos of family and friends, advice and suggestions of things to do in my time there, her own journal entries and thoughts, and other things. Kate included those verses from Psalm 139 in the book and whenever I come across that passage I cannot help but think of Kenya and the strength that the words provided me while I was away for those almost five months. Even though ten days in Ghana is short in comparison to a semester in Kenya, I still read the psalm and feel encouraged by David’s faith in God’s promises.

Ghana is becoming more and more a reality every day – 11 days. While I am physically unprepared for this trip and have lots of errands to run in the next two weeks, I am mentally ready. I feel that I have a slight advantage having travelled to an African country before, but I think that more importantly God has been preparing my heart and my mind for the trip. I am one of five adults that will be responsible for nine of our youth – I have to be ready. It is my prayer that each one of the students, but even each of us adults, will just be overwhelmed by God’s peace. I pray that whatever fear each person is struggling with will disappear and that God will fill that with the assurance that He is with us. He does not call His people to a task without also providing – physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. The Bible is full of examples of individuals who felt incapable of fulfilling the task that God called them to. Many of them had fears and doubts. Some even laughed at God or tried to escape. However, there isn’t even one example of someone that God chose and did not provide for completely – not one. Joshua had a huge task before him, but the Lord gave him these words of encouragement: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). It may not be easy and it may not always be comfortable, but it is always possible if we trust in the God who is capable of all things.

While in Kenya for the semester I had the opportunity to do a lot of traveling throughout the country, including a climb up Mt. Kenya. There were parts of that climb that were not easy or comfortable. I’m sure there were moments when each of us at some point wanted to stop and turn around because the elevation of the mountain above us seemed too big to overcome. A friend of mine, Amy, used a phrase to encourage us all – “All Things.” The apostle Paul knew what it meant to have faith in the midst of trials. While we often misuse his words to tell ourselves that God will show up to help us in the things that we want to do, Paul knew that God would provide the strength necessary to do His will, despite ourselves. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).