As many of you may know, I will be headed to Zimbabwe Africa in just over a month. Although the trip itself is interesting and obviously will be something I blog about when I return, I want to share with you how the Lord has brought me to this point of even going.
The journey of the trip really begins many years ago in a church in Pagosa Springs Colorado with a much younger me. Growing up in church, we hear and learn about all sorts of missionaries - through Sunday School, Girls in Action, AWANA, sermons, mission offerings, etc. I was no different - I probably could have told you by the age of 5 what a missionary was and maybe could have even named a country or two where I knew there were missionaries.
However - knowing ABOUT missionaries and missions is MUCH different than actually knowing a missionary personally. About the time I was 12 years old, a family from our church was called to be missionaries to a place called Kenya Africa. You must understand that our church was small and everyone knew everyone else VERY well. My family was close friends with the family of Bay and Peg Forrest who were going to Africa. I remember all to well MANY fundraisers for them (I still have a cookbook which was one of the fundraisers!) I remember hearing their story about being called and I remember Bay coming by our house the morning they were leaving to pick up some last minute supplies. This is when mission work and missionaries became a reality for me. Now, not only did I know about missionaries I KNEW missionaries! Bay and Peg and their three kids were real live people that I could identify with.
Knowing the Forrest family and hearing about their time as missionaries in Kenya provided me with a lot of knowledge and information about not only the life of a missionary but also about Africa. I will not say that I had a specific call to go to the continent of Africa in particular, but I knew that someday I wanted to be a part in missions and perhaps one day go on a missions trip somewhere overseas. However, it wouldn't be until the age of 17 that I would completely and totally commit myself to serving the Lord no matter where He called - that is another story but just noteworthy here.
After meeting and marrying my amazing husband (he paid me to say that!) and entering the life of ministry God revealed and opened up to me a whole new realm of missions that has ultimately changed my life forever. In the spring of 1997, God ordained it to where my path would once again cross with Bay and Peg Forrest. By this time, they had returned from Africa back to Pagosa and were Directors of a youth ministry called the Power House. Joel and I were in Idalou Texas where he was going to school at Wayland Baptist University and was youth pastor at FBC Idalou. We were expecting our first child and life was really pretty good for us. One night, in a phone conversation with my mom she asked me to be praying for Bay and Peg and the Power House because they were in desperate need of a Jr. High Director at the Power House. Let me emphasize - there was NO mention of US taking the position. It truly was a prayer request - however once I passed it on to Joel things changed. The Holy Spirit would not allow Joel to let go of the possibility of us going to be on staff at the Power House. There are lots of things that took place but suffice it to say, by July 1997 we were moving with our new baby girl to Pagosa. The Power House was under Focus Ministries which was a support based ministry and yes, you guessed it, we had to RAISE our support - just like overseas missionaries. It was about 3 or 4 months into it when it really hit me - I WAS A MISSIONARY! No, not somewhere far off and exotic like Africa or China or India but right in my hometown of Pagosa Springs Colorado. There is nothing liking raising support for your family that can teach you about faith and miracles!
Well, obviously we aren't at the Power House any more, ironically neither are Bay and Peg although they are still Focus Ministries and they do raise their support, but our relationship with them is still strong and they truly are our mentors in every aspect of our life from marriage, parenting, ministry, etc. All this brings me to the point of telling you, that although not specifically called to be a missionary in Africa (although we are always open to where God leads) Africa holds a special place in our hearts due to our connection with Bay and Peg.
Back to the mission trip though - remember I said that I knew SOMEDAY I would go on a missions trip? Well, I have had that opportunity to go on many missions trips within the US and also one to Juarez Mexico. However - God has never opened the door to go overseas until now. A little over a year ago, a trip to Zimbabwe was in the making and was mentioned to our church. Immediately I thought "I want to go!" However, at the time the only other person going from our church was our Pastor and I just didn't see that being a reality. Yet, it did not leave my mind that perhaps I COULD go soon!
Fast forward to April 2010 and a dinner with our VERY close friends Dani and Tony Vaughn. Dani had mentioned previous to the dinner that she and one of our youth were going to Zimbabwe in Sept. While at dinner, in a totally joking manner, I told Joel "Hey, I am going to let you take the kids and I am going to Zim with Dani and Tab!" We all laughed and went on with dinner. On the way home, not joking, Joel said something to the effect that he thought I should go. I told him it was a JOKE and he said "No, really you should go." So, I prayed about it that night, called Dani the next day I think and told her I wanted to go. Just when you think you have it all figured out - God has to throw a curve ball! I remember laying in bed one night and praying to God about the trip. I wanted to make sure that it wasn't just some whim decision or some "fun" idea that I had and I remember God saying "Go to Africa" and I made this comittment to go - "God, I will go to Africa EVEN if Dani doesn't go or Tab can't go as long as there is a way to go." Careful what you commit to - the next day I meet with Dani at the park and she tells me that she isn't sure she is going to go. After a month or so, she tells me that no she isn't going but she will help us prepare - God knew what we didn't and that was that she would be pregnant with their fourth child at the time of the trip. So - here I am, going to Africa with Tab (one of our youth) and a team of about 9 others from the state of Colorado.
I am excited and yet VERY nervous about the trip. The preparation hasn't been smooth, it has been very different being on the side of just a member on the team versus the planner, I don't know any of the other adults that well, I have to leave my 4 kids for 15 days, and most of all my best friend and partner in ministry (Joel) is not going with me. However - despite all this - God continues to assure me and encourage me that this is HIS will and He has something in store for me!
So, why Africa? Simply because God said, "Go". I asked MANY people their thoughts and opinions about whether or not I should go and I received a 100% yes (I think I was secretly hoping SOMEONE would have a red flag).
Please pray for me as I am now one month away from flying out on Sept 12. Pray for peace about leaving my husband and kids, pray for my physical health - this is HUGE to me, pray for my spiritual health, and pray for the people of Zimbabwe Africa that I will be meeting and sharing the Gospel with. I have taken all the "precautions" that have been recommended to ensure a healthy trip but even with those there is a risk of getting sick - I believe that God is in the business of protection and I believe that through the prayers of His people - I can and will remain 100% healthy before, during, and after the trip.
Tomorrow will be another post about an challengin calling God has placed on my heart....
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