Here am I

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord , saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!" He said, "Go, and tell this people..." Isaiah 6:8-9a

Almost five years ago I was sitting in a missions conference listening to those verses being preached. I knew of people that had gone on mission trips, but really didn't think that kind of thing was for me. Little did I know the calling that God would place on my heart in the next couple of months and all of the ways He would work to confirm it.

God did in fact call Chad and I to Havana, Cuba on a short term mission trip in September of 2004. It was an amazing week in my life and one that changed me forever. It's hard to describe the things that you experience while on a mission trip, but you see God's hand work in unbelievable ways. To be a part of sharing the gospel with someone, and seeing God work in their heart to draw them to Him in salvation is just incredible!

After that trip in September, Chad and I could not wait to return to Cuba. I had left a piece of my heart there. We longed to see the people we had established relationships with and help reach even more of the lost for Christ. God allowed us to go back to Havana in April of 2005. On that trip, we experienced more and more resistance (government issues) and it became clear to us that it was likely our last trip to Cuba. And, indeed it was.

We continued to pray about where God would have us go next, now that it seemed the door had been closed to Cuba. Brazil came up and God confirmed that over and over again. I must admit, I did not want to go to Brazil and pretty much resisted it for a while. But, I could not ignore all the ways that God had worked and shown Himself clear that it was the Brazil trip that we were supposed to go on.

So off to Brazil we went in March of 2006. Brazil was different in the language they spoke (Portuguese is sooo hard!), different in their culture, and even different in their religion, but our goal was the same - preach the gospel of Jesus and pray for souls to be saved. God worked in the hearts of many on that trip and we were able to see so many come to Christ! There really is nothing else like it!!

Three years have passed since the last mission trip we have been on. So much has gone on in in our lives during that time. We were trying to have a baby at that time and figured that it would be our last trip before having kids. I had no idea then that we would spend the next three years trying, waiting, praying for God to work. I had no idea that my life would be consumed with charting, temping, waiting, crying, praying, doctors appointments, more crying, more waiting, etc. And, that's what this desire has done at times...consumed me.

Mission trips would come and go and I would not really even entertain going. I would think "what if I'm pregnant by then?" or "we'll surely have a baby by then" or "we don't have the money to spend on a mission trip, we need to save that money for having a baby", etc. It was always some excuse, some selfish reason, that kept me from being willing to go.

When I look back, I know that I was disobedient to God's calling. I don't know exactly where He would have called me to, but I'm ashamed that I wasn't even willing to find out.

But not anymore! I'm tired of being consumed with myself and my desires. I'm ready to be obedient to go where He's leading me. I'm ready to trust Him with the timing and the details. I'm ready to GO!!

In June of this year, Chad has the opportunity to be a part of a visionary trip to the Amazon. He is PUMPED about this trip and I am excited for him to go. Then, in September of this year, we both have the opportunity to go on a trip to the Outback of Brazil. I still have some of my same hesitations about Brazil (the language, the long flight, the strenuous travel, etc.) but I'm surrendering all those thing to the Lord and trusting Him with it all.

One thing that is always a struggle for me to surrender is my worry over the money. When I think about trying to pay for three trips to Brazil this year, my head just hurts! I have stressed over this with every trip we have been on, and guess what...God has provided EVERY SINGLE TIME. Why do I doubt???

I know that these are TOUGH economic times for everyone. Trust me, with Chad's job in the building industry, we are feeling it big time. But, we are choosing to move forward in faith and believe that where God is guiding, He will provide.

I share all of this with you to ask if you will join us in praying for these mission trips. That God would go before us and prepare the hearts of those we will come into contact with. That many would come to know the love, forgiveness and salvation that can be found in Jesus alone. These are very important days we are living in, and I believe that God's tarrying is only because there are still people that need to hear about Him. We need to tell them! We need to go!! (Matt. 28:19-20)

Would you also pray that God would abundantly provide for every financial need that arises for this trip? I've seen Him do it before and I'm praying that He will do it again, even in this difficult economic climate. If you feel led to contribute to our trips, I've added a "donate" button to my sidebar where you can donate through pay*pal. I'm doing that because the Lord laid it on my heart, but please know that your prayers are the most important to us. I thank you in advance for interceding on our behalf!

I am so excited to see all the ways that God is going to work in our lives through this, but I'm more excited to see how He is going to move in the hearts of those we will see. Sisters, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. (Rom. 10:1)

Here am I, Lord. Send me!!!