I really hope I have everything. In just a few days (4 to be exact) I depart with a team to serve in Ecuador. Shots done. Bags packed. Devotional started. Prayers continued. Anticipation/nerves high. The process of getting ready for international mission has been exciting and overwhelming, a lengthy checklist of things to do, that seems to only get longer each day.
For my husband, kids and parents (who are helping Jeff care for the kids) preparing means calendars, lists of where to go when, which kid to what, who will transport who. It's an Excel spreadsheet of epic proportions, highlighted in 8 colors. It's emailing teachers to tell them I'm going to be gone, and to forgive if clothes are a bit disheveled, hair a little mussed (Jeff has many talents. Taming a 7 year old girl's hair is not one.) It's making sure bills are paid, fridge is stocked and pantry is full. It's explaining for the 100th time to the kids that I'll be gone and hoping they will be alright. I know they will be. It's attempting to make sure my rock-star husband is set, and giving thanks to God that I've got a husband who shares a heart and passion for mission. It's thanking him for allowing me to go, knowing full well he wishes he could to. It's appreciating that his "mission" for this trip is being home. Jeff, thank you. Thank you and thank you again. I praise God daily for you.
For the ministry I serve, it's making sure everything is covered. It's making sure families know who to contact. It's checking and double checking that all the fundraising and events for summer missions are staffed and taken care of. It's assuring that Confirmation is arranged and putting final touches on curriculum. It's also lots of international calls to Jamaica, because we travel there for our Sr. High/College this summer and right now is (of course) when most of the plans need to be confirmed.
For this mission, preparing means continuing to share what I'll be doing on mission. It means sharing the message of the mission, telling everyone I'm going - not for my glory, but for God's. It's telling people about the community, what we'll be doing and why I'm called to serve. And why you are too. Preparing means being honest about my fears and anxieties, trusting that God has got it covered. It also means continuing to lift up every member of the team in prayer, as well as the community we serve. And it's also meant seeking support for this mission, of which so many have been so generous. I'm blown away by the generosity of people to support this mission. Thank you, so much, for answering my prayers for financial support. The gifts allow me to travel and allow Jeff and I to "pay it forward" to some remarkable young people who do mission.
As I've been reflecting this week, the words of Toby Mac's song "Steal My Show" keep playing.
If you want to steal my show, I'll sit back and watch you. If you've got something to say, to on and take it away. Need you to steal my show, can't wait to watch you go... So take it away."
The outro says this...in part:
"My life. My heart. My dreams. My fears. It's all yours God. Take it away."
My heart, my passion, my prayer is that God will work through me to help others see him on this mission. My desire is to surrender fully to his will, to be reminded that it's his show, his glory, his renown for whom I go. My prayer is that as I travel, I will be reminded - yet again of that outro. It's all his. My life. My heart. My dreams. My fears. Everything. All his. All for him. May he take it and make it for his name. Amen
If you would like to learn more about Casa De Fe and/or support this mission, click here.
visit: http://www.gofundme.com/apaulsoncasadefe
For my husband, kids and parents (who are helping Jeff care for the kids) preparing means calendars, lists of where to go when, which kid to what, who will transport who. It's an Excel spreadsheet of epic proportions, highlighted in 8 colors. It's emailing teachers to tell them I'm going to be gone, and to forgive if clothes are a bit disheveled, hair a little mussed (Jeff has many talents. Taming a 7 year old girl's hair is not one.) It's making sure bills are paid, fridge is stocked and pantry is full. It's explaining for the 100th time to the kids that I'll be gone and hoping they will be alright. I know they will be. It's attempting to make sure my rock-star husband is set, and giving thanks to God that I've got a husband who shares a heart and passion for mission. It's thanking him for allowing me to go, knowing full well he wishes he could to. It's appreciating that his "mission" for this trip is being home. Jeff, thank you. Thank you and thank you again. I praise God daily for you.
For the ministry I serve, it's making sure everything is covered. It's making sure families know who to contact. It's checking and double checking that all the fundraising and events for summer missions are staffed and taken care of. It's assuring that Confirmation is arranged and putting final touches on curriculum. It's also lots of international calls to Jamaica, because we travel there for our Sr. High/College this summer and right now is (of course) when most of the plans need to be confirmed.
For this mission, preparing means continuing to share what I'll be doing on mission. It means sharing the message of the mission, telling everyone I'm going - not for my glory, but for God's. It's telling people about the community, what we'll be doing and why I'm called to serve. And why you are too. Preparing means being honest about my fears and anxieties, trusting that God has got it covered. It also means continuing to lift up every member of the team in prayer, as well as the community we serve. And it's also meant seeking support for this mission, of which so many have been so generous. I'm blown away by the generosity of people to support this mission. Thank you, so much, for answering my prayers for financial support. The gifts allow me to travel and allow Jeff and I to "pay it forward" to some remarkable young people who do mission.
As I've been reflecting this week, the words of Toby Mac's song "Steal My Show" keep playing.
If you want to steal my show, I'll sit back and watch you. If you've got something to say, to on and take it away. Need you to steal my show, can't wait to watch you go... So take it away."
The outro says this...in part:
"My life. My heart. My dreams. My fears. It's all yours God. Take it away."
My heart, my passion, my prayer is that God will work through me to help others see him on this mission. My desire is to surrender fully to his will, to be reminded that it's his show, his glory, his renown for whom I go. My prayer is that as I travel, I will be reminded - yet again of that outro. It's all his. My life. My heart. My dreams. My fears. Everything. All his. All for him. May he take it and make it for his name. Amen
If you would like to learn more about Casa De Fe and/or support this mission, click here.
visit: http://www.gofundme.com/apaulsoncasadefe
