Sometimes life seems to throw us things that overwhelm us, tear us apart or even cripples us from living the life that we wish to live. Other times we are so grateful and blessed for what we have in our lives. I try very hard to look at the positive things in life. Right now, for the most part life is great. Here's why and how.
I have been on this longish journey of heading out to serve God overseas. It is finally happening and it is just around the corner. I am in the final stretch of raising the last bit of support, and I'm at 91% that I know of. There is a couple of more people who have also committed to giving monthly, but I'm not sure how much, so cannot update that until I know.
However, what amazes me is who is supporting me. As missionaries we are trained to ask everyone we know. It feels silly to me to ask people I barely know to partner with me, but often times those are the people who do partner. Then there are other who you know do not understand what it is that you are doing, nor why you have to raise the money to work overseas. After all you are working, you should be getting paid by those people you are working for. Well yes that makes sense in a world where profitable sales are what drives our economy and the fact that we are Canadians or Americans working within North America.
I have heard of a lot of missionaries who have gone out without their parents blessing, and sadly many of these missionaries parents are within the Church. I cannot understand this, because I've been very blessed by all three of my parents. My Mom knew before I did that I would become a missionary, she does not attend church. She does not necessarily understand what it is that I will be doing, nor how the support works, or why I need it. Yet, she is standing right behind me, encouraging me, loving me, supporting me (yes, even financially). Will she miss me, I'm sure she will especially since I'm her baby! I will miss her too. All of my parents have been great through all this process. Asking questions to make sure I'm taken care of (the missions organization is amazing about all this). I truly count this as a huge blessing, because it could have gone the other way. Then there would be tension and frustration let alone the stresses that would naturally come with that.
Who would my parents be if they tried to stop me from what I consider a call from God? Now granted, I'm single with no children, so perhaps that would change if my "family life, and martial status" were different. I do not know, but I hope and pray that it is not the case. Those whom I have heard of that do not receive their parents blessings, often has to do with their children. Grandparents do not want to see their grandchildren go. They consider that the parents are being selfish, and not caring about their children's wishes or opportunities. I can see where they get these thoughts. However, if God has asked them to go, they need to go. They need to obey God's call on their life, which in turn is God's call on their children's lives (to be missionary kids). God will still direct that child's path no matter where in the world he is.
So to end, Thank you Mom, Ed (step dad), and Dad! I am sooo blessed by you!
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