For as long as I can remember I have been drawn to Asia. I am not totally sure why, but I do remember being a little girl and wanting to travel there. I remember actually telling people that I wanted 8 kids, 6 of my own and adopting from China and Mexico.....when I was 10 years old! I don't know where the idea came from but I have also always been interested in working in an orphanage in China. That thought seemed to take root into my heart and mind when I was very young and has remained there for 25 years(give or take:).
There have been several times in my young adulthood where I have actively researched missions trips to China, Thailand, etc. and there has always been an "issue" with my acting on the research. On some level that disappointed me because I know that there is a light in my heart for that region, but on another level I just felt it wasn't the right time. It's funny how God can give us a desire for something that takes decades to come to fruition....but only He knows why that is.
This adventure begins about 9 years ago, the first January I attended RiverPark Community Church. "Our" missionary comes to speak at RP once a year and January 2004 was the first time I heard her. Dr.J spoke of her daily life and mission work in Burma, Thailand, and Laos - which intrigued me. Most of what she told us was a bit frightening to me but I felt that light in me burn to do something. In the past few years Dr.J's work has changed dramatically by the work of the Holy Spirit, yet when she comes to speak to us I consistently feel the burn to do something, to make a difference in this world for God.
About 2 months ago a friend of mine sent an e-mail to a bunch of people about a precious little girl in an orphanage in China who was just matched with their family for adoption. Little Grace is an orphan in one of the Foster Homes in China. The story of Grace being matched with the Sprengels is God orchestrated and encouraging. Anyways, from that e-mail I clicked on the link to the website for All God's Children International(the organization the adoption is going through) and was just looking around the website. I clicked on the Missions page, just for fun, and noticed that there was an Individual trip scheduled for September of 2013. Immediately I thought, "That is a great time, I could do that". The cost would be about $3000 which is pretty standard for Asia trips, and I didn't freak out about trying to raise money. The dates are perfect for both work and Youth Group starting, so I am not worried about that. As I was thinking about it, it SEEMS to be perfect timing. So I read all the information on the website and said a prayer. A few days later I mentioned it to 2 people (Jeri being one of them) and then I just waited. I wanted to make sure this wasn't just a knee jerk reaction and that God really wanted me to do it.
Jeri asked me why shouldn't I do it....I couldn't think of any reason not to, yet I wanted to give God time to either draw me in or make it clear this is not what He wants. Well about a month later I am still thinking about it and have a desire to go. I keep thinking about all the times God mentions the widows and orphans in the bible and how He basically tells us that part of our job is to take care of them and minister to them....so why not?
I am still praying about it, but am 90% sure that I am going to apply to join the trip in September! I want to get my application in by early Feb. if I am going to go to give myself adequate time to prepare and raise funds.
I am really excited about the possibility of it and feel God leading me to do this. I feel His peace over the finances and timing. Who knows, God may even have me join not only the AGCI trip in September, but also a trip with Dr. J next June:) I am looking forward to what this year will bring for me through these trips and by spiritually relying on God's direction. I may have a stamp in my passport by the end of the year!
I sense the adventure with God is just beginning.
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