Big gulps, eh?
This will be my last post before I head off to East Asia. Sunday will be spent running last minute errands and spending as much time as possible with my buddies so I won’t have much time to sit still.
It’s pretty surreal. I know a few of you may be thinking, “Geez, Nina, you’re only going to be gone for two weeks… heck, less than two weeks! Why so dramatic?” I have this really antsy feeling about all of this. The very fact that all the things fell into place for me to go on this mission trip is nuts. It started with a simple video at church and next thing you know I’m rolling and packing up my shirts, wondering how many times I can rewear clothes until my roommate notices.
Lots of people have commended me for my selflessness, my obedience, and I have to remind them this isn’t me. I’m a pretty selfish homebody that loves routine. There’s a big part of me that wants to jump ship. There’s lots of doubt in my head: I haven’t been on any kind of mission trip before, I’ve never really openly evangelized to strangers, I don’t think I’m as “up to par” spiritually as my teammates… This list really goes on and on.
But I can’t forget about grace. And grace enables. My Lord and Savior didn’t suffer and die on a cross so I can sit at home in fear, quietly typing on my blog about things that could’ve been. Jesus’s sacrifice and ultimately His resurrection spurred the disciples to be BOLD. Read Acts, these guys go crazy - the same guys that denied knowing Christ just a few days earlier, the same guys that never understood the parables, the same guys that started out as simple men with simple lives. My calling is no different than these guys - to be BOLD in His Name!
And so early Monday morning, four of us set out for our little adventure God has called us to. I really have no specific expectations, but I know huge things will happen. And as much as I wonder how my little life will affect the people I encounter, a friend pointed out something… At church, we had been talking about being the salt and light of the earth. How being the salt of the earth means breathing in spiritually and being transformed through Christ and His Word. As I was telling her about my fears and inadequacies, she said, “You know, this trip may be for you… to be salt.” And while I have just totally butchered what she actually said, I know what she meant. When I come back, things won’t be the same. I won’t be the same. I’m scared and excited, much like going up that first hill on the Texas Giant. (But, I promise I won’t cuss like a sailor through the trip!)
I do want to want to leave with words of thankfulness and gratitude. The Lord has shown me great love and has humbled me through His Words, my friends, and even strangers. I have been so encouraged these past few weeks when I have needed it the most. From such big things as huge financial support from my friends to little things like a bag of travel items from my new friends and clients wishing me a good and safe travel — I cannot do this alone, but the Lord equips us with just enough to get by. And He has definitely shown that.
So, on that note… “Big gulps, eh? Welp, see ya later!”
