Countdown

Ah...at last my final hours in the United States has begun to tick away. How time flies when you're not paying attention! To begin my blogging journey, I thought I'd answer a few common questions I am often asked and share with you a sort of epiphany that I had today. I guess it is officially time for me to dust off the old type writer and get to work. Who am I kidding? I WISH I was retro cool enough to own a type writer! Even so, with this computer as my middle man, I am ready to share with you a little insight about my latest adventure.

For those of you who are unaware, I am departing tomorrow, September 29, 2011, on a 5 month journey to Nairobi, Kenya. I am going with the organization Youth with a Mission (YWAM) and shall return on February 26th, 2012. There are about 15-20 students from all over the world who will be joining me to discover an entirely new side of God that we have yet to see. What an amazing opportunity!

Now the quintessential question that many of you may be asking is: Why? Why am I going across the world, to a country I have never been before, with men and women I do not know?
My answer to you is this:
You know that sensation you get when you have an itch that you simply can't seem to scratch? Imagine that feeling-that ache- concentrated in your heart. It was this very longing that was instilled in me at a very young age and I never could figure out what it was. Then, about two years ago, I began to notice how my heartstrings always experienced a little nudge every time a mission opportunity presented itself. I never hesitated to participate and was always left wanting more. Thus, I began to pray that God open doors and point me in the direction He wanted me to go, because I was simply at a loss. One after the other, He guided my steps, I found YWAM, and fell in love with Africa. Through much prayer and many conversations with different people, I found confirmation and signed up for the 5 month program. So really, the answer to your question of why is this: I am going because I have been called.

Now for the epiphany. I promise to make it short! Basically, as I was sitting in IHOP this morning, the Lord opened my eyes to a very startling idea. Amidst the bustling of waiters and waitresses, the chatter of customers, and the conversation at my own table, He revealed to me that I was looking at this trip in the wrong way. I had been so focused on what God was going to do THROUGH me that I missed the bigger picture- what God is going to do IN me. As a wise man once told me, "Doing flows from Being", and I had to understand that the good deeds I will accomplish comes secondary to learning more about the heart of God. This journey is between me and Jesus, and I need to stop being a Martha and simply sit at His feet. My goal now is not solely to be used and accomplish great things in the name of the Gospel, though that is very important to me; rather, it is to draw nearer to my Savior and to grow to know Him in a new and unique way. And what a weight off of my shoulders that is!

The learning has already begun, and I haven't even left California yet. What a picture of the things that are yet to come. I definitely hungry for more.

Love Always,
Fran