I’m surrounded by people going on missions this summer. Manuela just got back from nicaragua, Brian is leaving for Panama, Rachel just came from mexico, and our Livingwater teams are literally counting the days till they leave for their trips. I brought one of our teams flowers the other night, and I’m cooking for the other today. and I really want to be going, too. To be honest, I’m jealous of the comeraderie and bonding each of the teams is doing as they prep and as they travel. And it just sounds so exciting to say you’re leaving the country.
I’ve never actually been able to go on Livingwater missions. And the last time I went with anyone, it was to help my grandparents who were serving in Japan…a long time ago. And even though I didn’t feel God calling me to go with our teams this year, I still wish I could.
I have to remember…that Alameda is my mission. This is why I stayed here…not just stayed home from foreign missions this summer, but why I stayed in the Bay Area at all. These kids are my mission, and this is what I’ve been called to do right now. It may not be some far away land (at least its an island hehe), and I may not have had to send out dozens of support letters to raise money, but this is my mission field none the less.
I felt a little like my Near eastern studies major was wasted when I decided not to pursue a career there (in missions or otherwise). But it turns out, it is actually coming in handy, here, in MY mission field. One of my coworkers is Algerian, and we were able to talk about the middle east, about the difficulties of finding good Arabic teachers, and I was even able to invite her to send her daughter to Livingwater’s after school program in the fall. And she wants to! Knowing that its run by a church, even though she lives in Fremont and our program will be in Alameda!
God, thank you for reminding me that you have placed me here, with my odd collection of skills and experiences and a not-quite-finished degree, for a purpose. You opened a really cool door today, and as I start to watch the preparations for our new church fall into place, I am amazed and awed by the way things work. I’m so glad this mission is in your capable hands.
“26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” Matthew 19:26
