God Speaks

Last week our team hosted a Vision Trip consisting of about 12 businessmen and women from the States. It was a great, but tiring week which culminated in a 35 person banquet including children. Its a tradition to hear vision trippers thoughts on their experiences from that week and to encourage them to join with us in our mission here. Sara was asked to give her thoughts, from a mom's perspective, regarding what her transition has been like and how she views this crazy ministry God has called us to. I (Aaron) don't think I've ever been more proud of her. I wish I could've seen the looks on others' faces in the room, but like theirs, mine was fixated on her as she spoke. Here it is, straight from Sara's mouth. "When I was asked to share why it's worth it to move a family with three small children across the world to a crowded city in a foreign country I was hesitant. The truth is that in the midst of this difficult season of transition there have been many, many days in the last 2 months where I have forgotten why it is worth it. But in a season of difficulty and stress where my sin is ever at the surface I have the constant reminder that I once was an enemy of God. I used to walk in darkness and my heart rebelled against my Creator. I was without hope. But God saw me in all of that and loved me, loved me enough to die for me. And if that love is true then it is a message worth sharing. And if God's love for me is real then there's nothing He can't ask of me and it is fitting that I would offer Him my whole life and entrust my children to Him. So that is why we're here. Not because we have a lot to offer or because we're these faith-filled super Christians, or even because we do a good job of loving the East Asians well. I think God called us here because He loves East Asians and desires that they would come into a relationship with Him. It breaks my heart that 9 out of 10 people I meet on the street are headed to an eternal destiny apart from God unless someone tells them about their Savior. I think of the book of Esther in the Old Testament where the King's evil servant hatched a plan to kill all of the Jews. Esther's uncle Mordecai comes to her and says something to this effect, "Don't think that you will save your own skin by remaining silent. God WILL save His people, the question is will you allow Him to use you to do it? It seems He has made you queen for this reason." And that's where we're at right now; God seems intent on rescuing East Asian people, the question is will I allow Him to use me to do it? And why wouldn't I say yes to that? Why would I want to miss out on the blessing of seeing people go from death to life in such a significant place at such a significant time in history. The truth is that right now the sense of sacrifice is acute. It was hard saying goodbye to family and friends. I miss them! I miss my life in Grand Forks! I miss my church! I miss my dishwasher, my grill... We've downsized from a minivan to a double stroller! It hurts right now. But I believe that when I get to my true home in heaven some day, these sacrifices won't look like sacrifices because so much more was gained. I look forward to worshiping with my East Asian brothers and sisters in heaven some day and I get to experience the depth of God's love for me in ways that I maybe otherwise wouldn't have. That's why it's worth it to me. Because Jesus is worth it."