I recently made a decision to not go on a mission trip to Kenya that
was scheduled for November. Several people from my family and church expressed
great concern due to the recent attack on Americans and Christians by terrorists
in a mall in Nairobi. I understood their fears and concern, and with mixed emotion,
allowed their concerns to influence me. However, I now find myself regretting
that decision. I’ve been to Haiti several times and Kenya in July and have
never really felt afraid. Maybe that is naiveté. But, just maybe, it is the
calming and reassurance of the Holy Spirit.
Joshua 1:9 says, “Be strong and
courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will
be with you wherever you go." I trust His Word and His promises. I would
rather live with abandon, and trust that God will protect me when I travel to reach
out to his people in faraway places, than live with regret. I do not believe
that I am here on this earth to just enjoy my life and prosperity. My faith is
not just about going to church, studying the Bible, attending social events
with other believers, and avoiding the worst sins. I believe God expects more.
In Richard Stearns book, "The Hole in
the Gospel", he tells the story of how he was pursued by World Vision to
be their CEO. He was making alot of money as the CEO of Lennox china, living the
dream life, absorbed in his own existence. He ultimately made the choice to
give up that life and is now making a difference among the poorest of the poor.
Two of the questions he asked himself when trying to make his decision were, “What
if there are children that will suffer somehow because I failed to obey God?” And,”
What if my cowardice costs even one child somewhere in the world his or her
life?”. These questions haunt me as I think back to children who would have died
had a Mercy medical team not been there to intervene.
My life is changed as a result of being a member of those medical
teams. Had I let fear prevent me from applying to be on a team back in 2010, I wouldn't have had the blessing of caring for and loving the poorest and most
vulnerable among us.
I’ll close with a compelling quote from Saint Teresa of Avila:
“Christ has no body on earth but yours,
No hands but yours,
no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which
Christ’s compassion for the world is to
look out;
Yours are the feet with which He is to go
about doing good;
And yours are the hands with which He is
to bless us now.”
