The Reality of Missions

Today has been a difficult day, a day filled with lots of emotions.  We knew in our head when we surrendered to international missions there were lots of possibilities of things to happen to family and friends while we were across the ocean, but head knowledge is very different than heart knowledge.  Today during chapel we, along with the entire SEND International staff, learned that a tragedy had occurred in Charlotte, North Carolina this morning. 

This family serves in Taiwan.  One of their adult daughters (mid 20's) lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and works as a school teacher.  She was involved in a head on car collision this morning and is now on life support.  The parents were three hours from the nearest airport in Taiwan.  The siblings were in a variety of other locations around the world.  The airline was telling the parents there were no seats available for them. 

The reality of this journey hit home.  We too will be leaving a son here in the states as we cross the ocean.  Eventually we will send our daughter here too.  Our parents will be here.  Dear friends will be here.  There was a moment there when I had to step back and ask was I really ready to lay it all down at Christ's feet and say He could have it all for the sake of someone learning of Him.  The answer is I am scared to death.  The answer is I don't know.  But in God's perfect providence, at the beginning of the 1st session after chapel we saw a short video clip from China.  We listened as a beautiful young lady from a remote village in China shared how no one in her village knew of Jesus and how in her pursuit to leave the village and live a better life she met a missionary who introduced her to Jesus.  Even though every ounce of her will was to never return to the village, she knew she had to return so that her family could know of Jesus. 

There are still many who have never heard of Jesus or who have no idea that this Jesus we talk of is waiting on a personal relationship with them.  Can I turn away from that?  No.  Do I have what it takes to trust God with everything - including my family?  I don't know.  But as I type I cry out to God to hold my hand and my heart very close to Him and to lead me one step at a time. 

Pray for this family for God is the only one who can comfort in such a time as this.  Pray for the many details required for the family to get here from Taiwan.  Pray for all the missionaries on the field as they know that this is a potential reality for each one of them.

Tomorrow is our final personnel interview.  At 9:30 we will be interviewed by a team of 10 - 12 personnel team committee members.  Around 4:00 tomorrow we will learn if we have been appointed.  Pray that we keep our eyes on God and His calling on our lives!  Pray for the kids tomorrow as they transition from home back to grandparents.  (They are doing great - thank you to everyone who is helping out!)