I am currently back at home working as well as serving however I can in my local church. God has provided so many opportunities already! This summer, I began a Wednesday night class called "Ranger Jay's summer nights" as we learn a different lesson each week through nature. Its a great time! I also had the opportunity just last week preach in our monthly service at the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission. I'm very grateful for that opportunity. And this week during our Vacation Bible School, I have had the opportunity of driving a mini-bus to bring in kids from our neighborhood. I have greatly enjoyed that opportunity!
But, the reason I am writing this blog does have to do with the title. First of all, a sense of URGENCY to get to the mission field has been increasing in me all throughout my final semester. Now, it is even greater since I have graduated! It seems like, more and more everday, my heart wants to be in Guatemala! But, it has been somewhat of a personal struggle for me. My mind is telling me, "You're done with school and ready to go. What's holding you back??" But many times I've talked to others and they encourage patience, saying something along the lines of, "You've got a lot of life ahead of ya! There's no need to rush." My pride makes me feel like the little boy in the Sunday School class who says, "I want to be a missionary when I grow up!" (I'm in the picture on the far right.)
All the while, with this sense of urgency, there is also UNCERTAINTY. Many things are not clear to me at the moment as far as when I will get to Guatemala and details along with that. But, I don't expect them to be clear. God will make things clear in His time. All I can do is trust Him with the details. I am "confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in me will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Phil. 1:6).
What I am doing now is moving forward as I prayerfully consider decisions and my future. Part of that is a two week planning trip to Guatemala. From July 18-Aug 2, I will be with Jimmy and Shelley Dinsmore as we do some team planning and as they help me with field preparation. I tend to think of this trip as a "pre-depuation" trip. Other matters that are on my plate at the moment are completing a mission agency application and planning for a ministry internship after I get back from Guatemala.
With all this being said, I realize that this is kind of like a simple equation. URGENCY + UNCERTAINTY = TRUST (in God). Not only that, I have a joyous expectation of what God will bring to pass in the future to come! Although at times I may feel like it's going to be ages before I get to Guatemala, I know that time will probably fly by as it has with recent events. I will be there before I know it! And I look forward to that very much!
