A Life Long Commitment

When I came to Uganda the first time, God opened up my heart and mind in more ways than I can explain. The biggest lesson I learned was that God expects us to serve Him with all of our selves. No middle ground will do. It was this lesson that caused me to give myself completely to the will of God. I remember one afternoon sometime after I returned home, when I was struggling to find what I was suppose to do with my life. I laid my future down at His Throne, and I felt an overwhelming burden to go to the nations.... and well, there went my life!

When you meet missionaries here in Jinja, one of the first questions asked is, “how long are you here for?” When they hear that I have committed a year, most respond with, “Oh that is a long time!” This then transitions us into the conversation about me wanting to do long term missions. I am surprised at the amount of people who say, “Yeah. Sounds like it! A year is pretty long term.” When that happens, I just shake my head, and change the subject. Even people back home sounded like that before I left. I can only laugh, knowing God calls me to much, just as He does all His children. I was just called to another place.

God has been in the business of calling people away from their homes for thousands of years. The first example we see is Abraham. He says, “Come to the land which I am calling you.” that meant leaving the known, and embracing the adventure God had to offer. He called Moses away from the comforts of Midian to return to Egypt, and then proceed to lead God's people back to Israel (a land that none of them knew). Sure, they didn't actually make it, but that was their decision. God brought Ruth out of her homeland of Moab. She followed her mother-in-law to Israel. She is in the lineage of Christ. He called Nehemiah back to Jerusalem to restore the city. Due to the captivity, he never saw Jerusalem. It was only familiar in his heritage. God called him to an unknown land. The list goes on! Once Christ came, even more were called. Suddenly, everyone was leaving what they knew to follow Christ. The Gospel traveled through the known world like wildfire.

This is the calling that God has given me. I am no greater than any other. He calls everyone to His great work. Each person can bring His name glory in different ways, and that is how He intended it. The more His name is spread. God gave me a heart for culture. I mean, we all should have seen this coming when I was in the fifth grade, and my best friend was from Mexico and spoke not a word of English! He gave me the passion and strength to get my hands dirty (most days literally), and go to the poorest, and the dirtiest. These are things I love! I am willing to go to them. So, He sends me. After this year, I know God has an amazing plan. I am sure He will place me where I can bring His name the most glory. I pray it is East Africa, but I am willing to go wherever He sends me. I will give it all away to follow Him. That is His heart's desire, and I want to obey.

There is a song called “I Will Waist My Life” and it goes,

“I will waste my life I'll be tested and tried
With no regrets inside of me to find I'm at Your feet
I'll leave my father's house and I'll leave my mother
I'll leave all I have known and I'll have no other
I am in love with You There is no cost
I am in love with You There is no loss
I am in love with You I want to take Your name
I am in love with You I want to cling to You Jesus
Just let me cling to You Jesus
I'll say goodbye to my father my mother
I'll turn my back on every other love and
I'll press on yes I'll press on”

I give it all for God's glory. I want to rid myself of my desires. I want to be willing to go wherever God sends me. Only He knows, and I will follow wherever He sends.