Hello all! Hope your Monday was not too bad! This past weekend I read a blog that I have mentioned on here before but this weekend the story posted was truly humbling. I honestly have not been able to stop thinking about it since I read it. I am sure you remember Katie who I have talked about before. I do not even know her and she is miles and miles away but I am so blessed by this girl! I won't spill her story on here but I would encourage you to go to her blog. Basically, the post is about how she ended up in Uganda. It is so real and convicting.
A few summers ago I went to Panama City Beach, Florida for my very first Summer Beach Project. It was the most amazing, life-changing summer. I went with an organization called Campus Outreach. The Lord used that summer to show and teach me so much. As I think back, I remember struggling over something that was said at a session. A missionary and friend of our family spoke about living in Kazakhstan and one thing that she said was, "be prepared to go, but be willing to stay." That statement really hit me hard. I looked around after each speaker came up and those around me were all talking about how much they felt called to go overseas. I kept thinking to myself, "I really just do not feel that tug on my heart. I honestly have never felt called to go and live." I then began to feel like I was selfish. I have never been opposed to short-term trips overseas. I spent over two months in Belo Horizonte, Brazil this summer and it was such an amazing experience. I would not at all mind going back or going somewhere else.
The realization is that we are all called to go. Those famous words of the great commission tell us, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." -Matthew 28:18-20
No, God does not have each of us to go to another country and be a missionary for years and years. Those who are called to be doctors, accountants, teachers, coaches, and moms are just as important. As I sat and thought about how I did not feel called to live my life in another country I couldn't help but feel guilty. I have learned more and more that I am responsible to show the love of Christ everywhere I go and the gospel should be preached by the way I live my life. Don't get me wrong, I hope that if the Lord called me to go, that I would immediately be obedient and pack my bags. However, even if He doesn't call me to be uncomfortable overseas, I am still called to be uncomfortable.
As I read Katie's post about all that she gave up to live in Uganda I thought, "This is how it really is. This is how much of a struggle it would be to leave my friends, family, comfort, and plans." As I said, I have learned a lot. I don't know if God might have me to go and live somewhere else one day but all I can do is continue to live my life in obedience. I know that this requires me to continually spend time with my Savior and continue to know Him so that I might know His voice and hear Him when He calls.
This is just something that had been on my heart since I read Katie's blog. I would encourage you to continue to pray for Katie and others who are serving the Lord in other countries. I am sure that life is so rewarding but that there are so many struggles that we could never understand. Remember, "be prepared to go, but be willing to stay" and may we all strive to live uncomfortably.