Want to partner with me on this journey?
I've all but forgotten about this blog over the last year or so as time has escaped me and Abilene, Texas has become my new normal. It's amazing though how quick and easy it has been to feel acclimated and at home in this town. I even recently bought a house. I think my head would explode if I tried to plan exactly what God was doing to even get me to that type of position. 3 years ago, I barely knew Abilene existed as I was sitting in a tiny apartment in Japan contemplating my future.
I've all but forgotten about this blog over the last year or so as time has escaped me and Abilene, Texas has become my new normal. It's amazing though how quick and easy it has been to feel acclimated and at home in this town. I even recently bought a house. I think my head would explode if I tried to plan exactly what God was doing to even get me to that type of position. 3 years ago, I barely knew Abilene existed as I was sitting in a tiny apartment in Japan contemplating my future.
The greatest thing Abilene has afforded me is roots that I can truly grow and branch out from. For the longest time, I had this fear that I would feel like this tumble weed in the wind moving place to place never quite feeling connected and never establishing depth in relationships. However, I have reached a place for depth and am now ready to extend my branches to Kenya. (Ah yes that was the point of the post!)
It's been a weird intertwining testimony that has led me to Kenya. Let's see if I can make it short and sweet. Basically, I have a friend from college that have stayed in touch with who works for Oasis for Orphans in Kenya and I love a good adventure. I've always said I'd love to go. Most people say these kind of things: "I'd love to go to Europe!" "I'd love to see the Eiffel Tower!" "I'd love to go to the Sydney Opera House!" Usually that means it sounds good but I'm more focused on other things. For me, I've done all of those things and truly I can tell you none of them are that fulfilling in and of themselves. However, there is something that is far more fulfilling than seeing cool stuff. It's actively engaging in these places and making an impact. Hidden among the monuments and adventure are the lost and forgotten who are desperate to be reached, they are looking for someone to step in.
To further explain this, Isaiah 6 serves as my bread and butter. Put yourself in Isaiah's shoes for a second, you just saw God on a thrown and these majestic seraphim calling out. Rightly, you would be freaking out as Isaiah did at first exclaiming "woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips..." It's easy for any of us to feel unworthy to be in that presence. The key point here lies in his ensuing interaction with God in ISAIAH 6:8.
God says, "who will go for me?"
What do you say to the Creator of all things when he gives you something to do. If we truly search our hearts, it's not Isaiah's response. I've been in the twenty something to early thirty "Christian" world for a while now.
Our response usually is: "Clearly, he's asking someone else." "Maybe once I'm married, I'll have better perspective of what he's saying." "God you are great but I kinda want to do my own thing." "God I'd love to but I'm kinda busy with work, school, trying to figure out what I'm doing next...etc." "(silence)."
Then of course we have the second level: "I'd love to go...some other time" "Are you really asking me? I need to ask 12 friends and pray about it some more and get a clearer picture of what it is you are saying."
Then there's the questions: "How long will I be gone? Where am I going? What will it cost me? Can I afford it? What if I get sick? Is it dangerous? What if my family will miss me? Can I work it into my schedule? How will affect my current situation? What about the food?...I'm a gluten sensitive vegan. Will I get lonely? Who will be there? What do you want me to do when I get there?"
The list goes on and on. Hear me, I'm not saying discernment and prayer is bad! However, we really need to listen to the profound words of the man who was just given coal to kiss by a six-winged man bird. Isaiah ignored all the questions that had to be in his head prior to being touched by the coal. He simply says, "Here I am! Send me."
We may never have such a dramatic and clear visitation such as Isaiah but the principle still is true. If the Creator of all things looks for volunteers, believers should be lining around the block. If Tom Brady (insert your favorite celebrity here) wanted me to quit my job so I could mow his lawn, I might think about it. Yet why do we push back against the One who knew every hair on Brady's head, the one who created the world around his existence.
...My desire in going to Kenya is to simply follow in the path that has opened for me. I'm not really sure how it all will come together, yet I can see the vision of what has already been put in place.
Last Spring, I had a conversation with my friend about helping their ESL program at Oasis for Orphans and their two Orphanages. Through this conversation, I was able to direct them to GRAPESEED, which is the program that was piloted at the school I taught at in Japan. (Feel free to read the rest of my blog for more on that experience!) From here, it was put in my mind to visit sometime. Later in the summer, I found out there was some interest in my moving out that way some day. By October, I asked about the logistics of me visiting next summer. Within a couple days, a plan was set in place and a green light was lit for the next steps on this journey of simply saying, "Yes if you need me, I will go!"
I pray that this journey is one that will truly bless those that God puts in my life as I am prayerfully able to help and assist their English program in any way needed. I pray most of all that these children that have been lost and now find themselves at these places will truly experience the presence of God and know him more and more each day. I pray that there is a greater outpouring of compassion for these children. I pray that God instills their testimonies on the hearts of millions around the world to simply take a step in the direction of Him.
If you would like to partner with me in on my journey, it would be a true blessing. If you are unable to give, I would greatly appreciate if you could partner with me in prayer throughout this journey. Please take a second to check out my missionary page but also browse all the amazing things that God is doing with Oasis for Orphans.
To further explain this, Isaiah 6 serves as my bread and butter. Put yourself in Isaiah's shoes for a second, you just saw God on a thrown and these majestic seraphim calling out. Rightly, you would be freaking out as Isaiah did at first exclaiming "woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips..." It's easy for any of us to feel unworthy to be in that presence. The key point here lies in his ensuing interaction with God in ISAIAH 6:8.
God says, "who will go for me?"
What do you say to the Creator of all things when he gives you something to do. If we truly search our hearts, it's not Isaiah's response. I've been in the twenty something to early thirty "Christian" world for a while now.
Our response usually is: "Clearly, he's asking someone else." "Maybe once I'm married, I'll have better perspective of what he's saying." "God you are great but I kinda want to do my own thing." "God I'd love to but I'm kinda busy with work, school, trying to figure out what I'm doing next...etc." "(silence)."
Then of course we have the second level: "I'd love to go...some other time" "Are you really asking me? I need to ask 12 friends and pray about it some more and get a clearer picture of what it is you are saying."
Then there's the questions: "How long will I be gone? Where am I going? What will it cost me? Can I afford it? What if I get sick? Is it dangerous? What if my family will miss me? Can I work it into my schedule? How will affect my current situation? What about the food?...I'm a gluten sensitive vegan. Will I get lonely? Who will be there? What do you want me to do when I get there?"
The list goes on and on. Hear me, I'm not saying discernment and prayer is bad! However, we really need to listen to the profound words of the man who was just given coal to kiss by a six-winged man bird. Isaiah ignored all the questions that had to be in his head prior to being touched by the coal. He simply says, "Here I am! Send me."
We may never have such a dramatic and clear visitation such as Isaiah but the principle still is true. If the Creator of all things looks for volunteers, believers should be lining around the block. If Tom Brady (insert your favorite celebrity here) wanted me to quit my job so I could mow his lawn, I might think about it. Yet why do we push back against the One who knew every hair on Brady's head, the one who created the world around his existence.
...My desire in going to Kenya is to simply follow in the path that has opened for me. I'm not really sure how it all will come together, yet I can see the vision of what has already been put in place.
Last Spring, I had a conversation with my friend about helping their ESL program at Oasis for Orphans and their two Orphanages. Through this conversation, I was able to direct them to GRAPESEED, which is the program that was piloted at the school I taught at in Japan. (Feel free to read the rest of my blog for more on that experience!) From here, it was put in my mind to visit sometime. Later in the summer, I found out there was some interest in my moving out that way some day. By October, I asked about the logistics of me visiting next summer. Within a couple days, a plan was set in place and a green light was lit for the next steps on this journey of simply saying, "Yes if you need me, I will go!"
I pray that this journey is one that will truly bless those that God puts in my life as I am prayerfully able to help and assist their English program in any way needed. I pray most of all that these children that have been lost and now find themselves at these places will truly experience the presence of God and know him more and more each day. I pray that there is a greater outpouring of compassion for these children. I pray that God instills their testimonies on the hearts of millions around the world to simply take a step in the direction of Him.
If you would like to partner with me in on my journey, it would be a true blessing. If you are unable to give, I would greatly appreciate if you could partner with me in prayer throughout this journey. Please take a second to check out my missionary page but also browse all the amazing things that God is doing with Oasis for Orphans.
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