Ready or Not

In less than 48 hours I will be on my way to Africa. Wait, didn't I just get back from somewhere? Well, yes, in fact I did.  And off I go again. I actually just realized yesterday that the trip was only 3 days away, and my immediate thought was, "I am so not ready!" I am so grateful for the amazingly encouraging and wise people around me who have reminded me that this is actually exactly where God wants me. If I'm honest, I still feel completely spent after returning from Mongolia. But then I think of the majority of our team who went back to full-time jobs and families, while I was blessed with time to process and cry and have coffee dates with friends.... and sleep. Even though I had that time, I still feel empty, and not ready to go at it again.

About this time last year, God began teaching me about being prepared in season and out, which I translate as "ready or not, be ready." I think I prefer not "feeling" ready, because I am much more consciously aware of my need to not lean on my own strength, knowledge and abilities. I tend to go to Jesus much quicker and know that I really can't do anything on my own. I also acknowledge that God is really just answering prayers I've been praying since I was little. This is what I've always wanted to do and I'm getting on-the-job training in how to do it completely dependent on Him.

I love Matthew 11:28-30 in the Message version:
"Are you tired?... Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I love that. I have a long way to go in that lesson. I know that God gives me the grace to do what He's called me to do, but I have to receive it and rest in it and "learn the unforced rhythm" of it. So ready or not, here I go.

Please keep our team in prayer when you think about it. Say a quick prayer when you read this. We are hoping to do 80 cleft lip surgeries on children and adults in the next 2 weeks. Please pray for logistics, for health, strength and unity for our team. Also for everyone who will be having surgery and their families, and anyone we would come in contact with, that they would see how much God loves them through us.