Mission POSSIBLE!

Getting prepared for a mission trip takes a lot of time. As many times as I've been to Nicaragua, you'd think I'd have it down to a science but I don't. Between the flashlights, rainboots, bugspray, tent, camping supplies, shower light, fan, batteries, etc., that I have to take....there is the fact that I'm supposed to be packing light at the same time!? Somehow, by the grace of God...(and a few mission friends carrying some of my stuff in their bags), I haven't gotten charged an overweight fee yet!

But as much preparation as it takes on the physical side, that's nothing compared to the preparation it takes, spiritually. I knew, especially this year, since I was going to be sharing the gospel with teenage girls 4 services a day, I needed to be FILLED and on my game! I spent more time in prayer, in the word, and just enjoyed being in God's presence more. I prayed for the girls who I hadn't met yet, that the Holy Spirit would start preparing them in advance. I prayed for God to use me in a mighty way in spite of my shortcomings. I prayed Ephesians 3:20 fervently--"NOW GLORY BE TO GOD! BY HIS MIGHTY POWER AT WORK WITHIN US, HE IS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH INFINITELY MORE THAN WE WOULD EVER DARE TO ASK OR HOPE."(NLT)

I love that verse, and I believe it with all my heart. I know my God is ABLE...I know with my God, NOTHING is impossible...but when I got a front row seat to watch Him in action...wow, there were no words to describe it. Somehow God took my stumbling words and He spoke to their hearts. God showed me it's not the words you say, but the TRUTH behind them....it's not eloquent speaking, but the Holy Spirit moving....it's not me...IT'S ALL HIM!!

God allowed me the privilige of leading 37 girls into a relationship with Him. Although it's not about the numbers, that is definitely more than I dared to ask or hope for...I was blown away! He didn't NEED me to do any of this, but ALLOWED me be a part of it to show me something bigger. He is "accomplishing infinitely more" within my own heart...He is showing me that my experience didn't happen just to make a good mission trip story or journal entry or blog post. That kind of thing doesn't just happen in Nicaragua. That was just God's way of getting my attention and showing me that I need to stay focused on Him and willing to be used by Him in the mission field of my everyday life.
~Why not prepare my heart DAILY like I did before that trip?
~What if I looked for opportunities to share the love of Christ
even during my mundane day to day activities?
~What if I focused more on Jesus than MYSELF??
I guess that's what Jesus meant when He said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me"(Luke 9:23-NIV).

What God showed me most, was how to be more intentional in my witness and in my relationship with Him...every day.I just had to go to Nicaragua to figure out how to be a missionary in my own back yard...funny how God works.