In 2005, Randy took a group from Life Fellowship to Swaziland, Africa. Randy had gone on quite a few mission's trips prior to this one. He had even gone to Africa before, so I really didn't think anything different about this trip. I dropped him off at the airport as usual, and went about my 10 days with Randy being gone. He called a couple of times, he spoke of the wonderful missionaries there, and he told me how beautiful the country was...but I didn't really become suspicious of anything. :) ....but then I picked him up from the airport..... I could see it in his eyes. As he spoke of the trip, of the things they had done, the people he had met, the missionaries, the Swazis, the culture, the need....it was becoming clear. At some point, I knew we would be going there for a more permanent stay. I didn't say anything about it. It certainly didn't make sense for us to go. We had planted this church just 3 years before. We planted it with being there forever in mind. We loved our people, we loved our community, we loved what we were doing. Why in the world would we go to Africa? Not to mention, I had never had any desire whatsoever of going to Africa on a mission's trip. Let alone to live there. Nonetheless, I tucked it away in my heart and my head. Thinking to myself, even if we do go....surely it would be many, many years down the road.
Two years later I was able to visit Swaziland on a mission's trip. It was a beautiful country. The missionaries there were wonderful. The need was certainly great. The missionary's wife would make comments about what it would be like for us when we got there. I knew she knew what I knew. Many years away....I thought.
A year or so ago, when this process of becoming fully appointed missionaries began, I thought about how I always imagined going after the kids were all older. I had never thought about taking such small children to go and live in Africa! Again....many years away....I thought. And then the Holy Spirit said, Swaziland doesn't have MANY years.
Where you say to go, God, we will go....but also, when you say to go, we will go. And so, here we go.
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waiting patiently for lunch
random church nurseries
a new night, a new bed...and a sucker and a pacifier...of course...
2 comments:
Mmm. That's GOOD. Amen. I think of "Where you go I go" by Kim Walker. Man, may the Lord continue to bless your family. I am SO excited to hear what the Lord will do through ya'll and the power of the Holy Spirit that is within ya'll. This is beautiful. Acts 9:15
I knew how much Dezra had no interest to ever take mission trip to Africa, but she went anyway. I knew how much Dezra had no interest to ever move to Africa, but her she goes! Something I will always admire about Dezra is that her heart has always been to serve the Lord and to be obedient to his calling no matter what the cost. I pray abundance of blessing on The freeman family as they begin this family adventure!
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