Week 1

Orientation last week was so rich it’s difficult to put to words. I found myself encouraged and challenged at the people around me. It was amazing to be in one place with so many like-minded people. Conversations echoed of the Lord and His work. You’d sit down to a meal with someone you’d never met, ask what trip they were taking, talk about the work they would be doing, and talk about the Lord! Saying goodbye at the end of the week was like saying goodbye to friends. The body of Christ is so beautiful!

It was a stretching week for me personally. Through the teachings and team discussion time, the Lord taught me several things. I had a new revelation of the depths of my own sinfulness and utter inability to muster up any righteousness on my own. My righteousness is wholly dependent on Christ. It was as if the Lord was teaching me the gospel all over again before I left to take it to others.

The transit from orientation to the field was also a growing experience. Four young women travelling alone, switching airports in the UK, and going through the travel processes seemed to me a place of vulnerability. But I think it’s exactly where the Lord wanted me. Landing on the continent, going through customs, and collecting our bags, I prayed the whole time. We didn’t even know who was picking us up from the airport! It forced me to rely on the Lord in a completely new way. We found our contacts and even though we had just met, we trusted them. Being separated from my physical family has forced me to rely on my spiritual family, first on my Father and also on his children.

As I lay on my bed to go to sleep last night, my heart was filled with contentment. There was quiet peace and great thankfulness. I recalled two falls ago, wishing I could quit school to go on the field. Last fall I wrestled with where I would go. Last night, I was living the realization of those dreams! I felt remembered by the Lord. He had cherished the dreams of my heart and had not wasted any experiences to get here.

This morning we had an extended time of worship—all acapella—and read from the word and prayed. One of our friends shared about being the salt of the earth. I felt my view of God increase and me decrease.

Trusting the Lord is an adventure. And I have a feeling it’s one, that if lived fully, will never leave you with regret.