I go

It is so crazy to think that in two Sundays I will be IN AFRICA! It almost boggles my mind to think about, seriously! It’s amazing to think back months ago to when I was planning and buying my ticket…and now it’s almost here. WOW. This morning I was very blessed. FCC had a send-off for Emily, Justin and I. It is very encouraging to go knowing that I am backed by so much prayer and such a supportive family. 

Many people have asked me why I am going to Africa this summer. The “simple” and “obvious” reason is that I am going to Africa to work in a village, tutor students and love on/play with orphans. And yes, I am going for those reasons. I am incredibly blessed to have this opportunity and adventure set out before me. Yet as I sat in church today I realized that the reasons I am going are so much deeper than that. 

I am going to Africa because I have the amazing opportunity to serve my Lord through loving his people in Africa. James 1:27 says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” I want to do more than just read those words, I want to live them. Even though sometimes I’m slightly terrified at the thought, I am so incredibly blessed and overwhelmed that God has called me do this and given me this amazing opportunity. 

I feel like I do so many things for myself, for my own comfort and happiness. And quite honestly, I’m tired of it. I guess I see this as an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and do something for others and for God. I know that I can and should and will serve him right here, in Anchorage, AK. Yet, there’s this part of me that longs for more and feels like I can do more than what I’ve been doing. I go because I want to obey. I guess I also partly go out of selfish reasons. I go because I want to be changed. I want to be touched and blessed by these people. I go because I want to step deeper into the Abundant Life that God offers to us like we heard about in church today. I don’t want to live a shallow life. I don’t want to settle for a life wrapped up in my own comfort and happiness, which is so much easier said than done. I don’t want to simply read God’s word and go to church, hearing the Word and thinking “wow, that was touching and/or motivating” then walk away and not do anything about it (which sadly I feel Christians do so often…I know I do). I go because I want to LIVE the Word of God. I go because Jesus is my Savior, he is worthy and because of that He deserves my ALL and this is where I feel he is calling me. I go because this is my passion and my gift and I want to use it for the Lord. I want to see and experience faith in a way I’ve never experienced before. Even though there are times that the “American Dream” sure sounds nice (who wouldn’t want a big house, nice car, great job with benefits, etc…and I don’t necessarily think those things are wrong in and of themselves) but I want to be changed in a way that makes it impossible for me to ignore God’s commands, impossible to ignore God’s hurting children, and impossible to live a life solely for my own comforts. I know there’s more to life than that, and I want more. And so despite the insecurities and fears and unknowns, I go.