Why International Missions? Why Ethiopia?

Today is the day we've been waiting for, challenged about, excited for...today I leave for Ethiopia on a mission trip with Global Expeditions. Why international missions...why Ethiopia...why now? These are all questions that people have asked me over the last 4 months as I've been preparing to go.

In January I began reading a book that changed my life, Radical by David Platt. Don't read it unless you are prepared to be challenged and provoked! Seriously! When I read scriptures with more of a global perspective, I learn that God loves me...and He loves me so that I might spread the Good News about Him...his ways, his salvation, his glory, his greatness. I'm not the end of the message...I'm possibly the beginning and then my job becomes to reach out to others with what I'm learning from God. I'm reminded that apart from Christ, people cannot come to God and there are billions of people that have never heard about Christ...this is a serious eternal problem. I realized I had not been willing to engage in the battle for the souls of people around the world but instead I was content to live in my peaceful comforts of my world. I was asked 'Am I willing to obey the orders of Christ? Am I willing to be like Him? Am I willing to alter my understanding of Christianity for the sake of those who have yet to meet Jesus?'

Then Platt challenges me to a one year Radical Experiment:

1. pray for the entire world (use Operational World as a guide if you don't have one)
2. read through the entire Word (get a reading plan going)
3. sacrifice your money for a specific purpose (local church, missionaries, charitable org.)
4. spend your time in another context (Ethiopia, homeless ministry, etc.)
5. commit your life to a multiplying community (mentoring, disciplining, Life2Life ministry)

So, I'm sure you can begin to see the progression of my decision to follow God's plan for my life at this time and that that plan included this trip to Ethiopia. The timing was good...the money was available...my heart was stirred...how could I not go?

I'm so excited about all the possibilities that Ethiopia holds for me and for Chelsea. I know I will not come home the same. I'm not going to lie that makes me a little anxious. I like my life, who I am, and the new journey I'm on. I'm not sure I want or need any more change. But I'm leaning on God completely right now and I know that His ways are always better then mine. I'm clinging to the Word He gave me in January...Courageous!