"Africa? God, are You seriously calling me to serve You in Africa?"
I have to admit I ask that question regularly.
When I seriously began pursuing missions several years ago, I never thought God would call me to Africa. I love SE Asia! I have family - both physical and spiritual - in Thailand, and "family" in Cambodia. I want these beautiful people to know and love the completely awesome Creator God! And, of course, I'd love to be there sharing the Good News with them. In fact, I started taking Cambodian language & culture classes in January in preparation for where God was leading me.
So why am I heading to Sierra Leone, Africa instead of Asia? It amuses me to say, "I was the answer to my prayer!" I had been asking God to send someone to minister with my friend Kathy in Sierra Leone. I knew she didn't want to go to start this new ministry by herself. I can't express how surprised - and then excited - I was when, in response to my request for direction for the year, God said, "What about Sierra Leone?"
I had actually hoped to serve in missions with Kathy in Thailand. But that wasn't what God had planned. After much prayer, wise counsel, and searching scripture I was confident that Sierra Leone was truly God's plan and not my own. And He has been faithful to confirm to me over and over and over that He has gone ahead of me to prepare my ministry in Sierra Leone. And I believe He has given me just a glimpse, an inkling, of what He wants to do there. I don't know details, but I know it is BIG. No wonder I love singing "God is Big" with the kids at church - God has been preparing me all along!
So, my target is to join Kathy (who leaves in less than a week) in Freetown at the end of August. I have committed to serve there for 2 years and then re-evaluate. I can't wait to see what God is going to do!
This may seem entirely off-topic, but stick with me... I love DVR. I get to skip commercials and opening credits, which makes watching television much more efficient. However, I've always watched the opening for Gilmore Girls because I love the theme song. "Where You Lead" is even my cell phone ringtone. So it wasn't a big stretch for me to answer God's question ("What about Sierra Leone?") with, "Where You lead I will follow. Anywhere. Even Sierra Leone."
2 comments:
God has a way of interrupting the plans we have made for Him with the plans He has for us, eh? What a tremendous gift the both of you will be to Sierra Leone. Our prayers are with you!
It is always encouraging to hear of people sensing the direction of the Lord leading them contrary to their own desires. I makes it much more likely that it is God, and not just our own "sanctified willfulness." Pastor Chuck used to say, "How come pastors never seem to be called by God to a smaller church and a smaller salary?"
But you are being led by the Lord in a new direction and that is special! You are living out these proverbs!
Proverbs 16:9
The heart of man plans his way,
but the LORD establishes his steps.
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
Proverbs 20:24
A man’s steps are from the LORD;
how then can man understand his way?
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