T minus One Day

Anticipation. It is a strange emotion. On the one hand, there exists the worrisome details of what to put in the suitcase so it doesn't exceed the airline weight allowance; last minute details to arrange for someone to house sit; contacting banks; leaving emergency phone numbers; remembering to begin taking Malaria medication; etc. On the other hand, there is the expectancy of seeing new places and meeting new people; building team esprit de corps; eating airline food (ha!); experiencing a different culture; doing something in Christ's name that seems significant and life changing.... From one moment to the next my mind wanders from one detail to another and from one edge of that anxiety to the other. "Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Easier said than done Last night at church, our team was commissioned. As part of that service we were asked if "we promised to serve the Lord with imagination, intelligence and lnove?" With confidence, I averred that I did. Yet after 25 plus hours of plane travel, a short night of sightseeing in Dubai, and the accumulated effects of preparation, will I (will we) be able to do that? We also answered that we would seek God's justice and peace, and represent Christ in everything we will do. Yes, I hope so; I pray that I will. know that on my own strength I will. God has uniquely blessed the team and this trip already. One of the great blessings is that right here in Enumclaw, there is a man who was born and raised in Kabanana - the very district of Lusaka Zambia where we will be working the first week of our mission. Albert and his wife Josephine have promised to make our team a traditional Zambian meal of corn meal (nsima) and boiled cabbage. They will, in addition to providing us lunch, help us prayerfully acculturate to Zambian culture and conditions. I have been deeply moved as I have talked to Albert and sensed his deep love and passion for the people from his home. His gratitude have humbled me. His passion has inspired me. Thank you Lord for giving us Albert to help show us the way. Our prayer as a team has been that the Lord would give us divine appointments. That is to say, that God would put in our experience the people, the places, the needs, the experiences the Lord would have for us. We don't know what those are but past experience has shown us that the Lord goes before us to choreograph the moments of this trip so that in everything we do, we will do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Tomorrow, (Monday) we leave. SeaTac airport at 5:30 pm. After nearly a year of prayer, planning, fundraising, and anticipation the moment of departure is now so close it is hard to believe. a young man named William Bordon committed his life to Christ earlier in the 20th century and set out for Mission work in China. While studying language in Egypt on his way, he contracted spinal meningitis and died. In the cover of his Bible were written, "No regrets, no reserves, no retreat." Lord, may that be my heart's desire and commitment.