Today, when I logged on Facebook I read a post from my friend who is in Cambodia as a student missionary. She was knifed and robbed. It wasn't that she was alone and walking where she shouldn't be, she was with a friend when someone decided they should take matters into their own hands. She is doing okay but will have a nice big scar. I told her that in Heaven, her and Jesus can share their scar stories :)
All of this could not have happened at a better time. (There is never a good time for it, but if there were it was now) I have just recently started to tell my mom about my desires to go overseas and teach, as in, I told her yesterday... She told me to make sure to get my name in at LPS and then I replied with something to the effect of, if I am even in this country teaching. When I first brought it up she seemed okay with it but inside I could tell she was dying. My mom has irrational fears, and I could see them all running though her head at once. She made a few excuses and then gave up until my grandparents came over for the Super Bowl. My mom turned to my grandma and said, "Courtney wants to teach in South Korea." (Which I don't but that's another story...) She then replied with a nice laugh. I brushed it off because this is something that I feel my heart was made for.
Then today, I told my mom this story about my friend in Cambodia. She responded with, "Doesn't this make you want to go overseas even more?" And I told her the honest truth. "Yes." This does not scare me or make me doubt what is heavy on my heart at this time. If anything, that person needs God's love and that is what I want to bring to people all over the world. In class today this verse came up: Acts 14:22, "strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said." Immediately, I thought of my friend in Cambodia and what it would be like if I go overseas. We have hard, tough, and very scary times in our lives, but we are built up by them and grow closer to God through them.
I just want to go somewhere where all the people have and need to live on is love. I want to go teach in another country and just love these kids who may not know love. I want to tell them about Jesus. I want to wrap them in my arms and tell them that it will all be okay.
Wow Courtney, I'm inspired. I can relate, but I do so with great difficulty. I often want to rescue the violated while destroying the violator, but that is so antiGod. He rescues both and redeems as many as wish to know Him more.
ReplyDeleteThis Last Sunday we decided not to watch the half-time show, and instead pray for the men who purchase and traffic women and children in sex-slavery. To be honest it was really hard for me. I love your passion to reach this man who knifed your friend. That is the gospel. This is love.
Thanks for sharing.