Tranquil Preparations

I’m headed to India on a missions trip in May. It is hard for me to not be intimidated by this trip because I’m a newby to international travel and I’m going without my husband. I am realizing how dependent I have become on his ability to lead me. I don’t worry about much, because he takes care of SO MUCH.

In truth, I don’t even have a lot to worry about in this adventure because this is a mission trip, I’m going with a bunch of other people and there is a list of everything we need to have ready and when we need to have it ready. I don’t have to make any major decisions, just follow directions, but some of you might be surprised at my ability to fall behind, become distracted and lose sight of the obvious. I’m a little scatterbrained in real life, Kris covers a lot of this for me. I’m not stupid…I married him because of his ability to do this.

I’ve always found myself able to pick up and become responsible when I need to, it’s just been a long time since I’ve needed to and this is a pretty big step for me. Kris is going on his own mission trip soon as well, so he’s still a big help to me as there are a lot of the same instructions for both of us. He even made sure I have a ride to the airport already. Before I knew I needed a ride to the airport, he found out that he wouldn’t be able to take me and asked someone else to do it. See. He’s Johnny on the spot he is.

But today I turned in my passport, required photos, identification papers (copies) and expect to hear that we’ll be getting together with the team to apply for visas soon. I did this on my own with three little boys tagging along. So, I feel pretty good about that.

The really cool thing is joining this team to be a part of something bigger than anything I’ve done before. It’s my first experience with any sort of outreach beyond my English speaking, western thinking, convenience laden world. I honestly don’t know yet how God wants to use me in this project, but I’m imagining all sorts of things. We will be facilitating a festival for a church who has an outreach to the children and families who are destitute and living in the slums of a large city in India. We will not be doing this on our own but assisting an already established church and mission with their own project. Busing in children for a day of fun and teaching at the church and then ministering to their entire families with a meal and a program to present the great hope of Christ dwelling in man and the glory of eternity with Him.

I don’t know what I have to offer in that environment, but I plan to use myself up, everyday I’m there. It will be hot, it will be dark at times, I will miss my husband and my kids a lot and I will be stretched in many ways, but one thing I’m so, so sure of. In the words of the old hymn: “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able, to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.” His life in me has no questions, His love for people I’ve never met has no qualms, no inhibitions and no fears. I am simply taking Jesus to India in one more willing vessel. I can’t wait to see what He produces in and through me. I plan to come home empty handed, having left behind every ounce of energy and creativity He gives me to share. I also plan to come home with my heart full, knowing that the Spirit will be producing new insights and vision that I cannot lose no matter how much I give away.

Please pray for me, not just as I fly away and work for a week and a half in May, but in the days leading to it, for my spirit, mind and body to be prepared for the heat, the emotions and the work that God has for our team to do. I want my focus to be a little less on my level of intimidation and a little more on the vision that God has for those beautiful children and their families in India.

A little glimpse into what God is showing me: “A tranquil heart is life to the body, But passion is rottenness to the bones.” Proverbs 14:30

I don’t need to be passionate (compelled by my emotions), I need to find that tranquility (free from disturbing emotions) that will bring life to my body and prepare me for the “whatever” ahead.

Love that.