Being a twin, people compare you. Ever since Brennen went on her first out of the country mission trip I have always been asked why I have not gone. My response has always been "God knows I can't handle not being in the United States, He would never send me overseas or out of the country."
I honestly think that is the dumbest statement I could have ever said. I've always heard people quote Matthew 28:19, or at least what I thought was that verse... The version I have always heard is "Go and make disciples..."
They left out the most important part.... "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
It doesn't matter how uncomfortable I am with the thought of leaving my precious comfy lifestyle that I live, God has called me to go to the "nations" and further his kingdom.
Let me tell you how this all started....
About last summer I felt like I needed to get uncomfortable and go overseas on missions. I knew I wasn't prepared yet though. God is the ultimate creator and planner. He placed me at WKU for a reason. I believe part of that reason was how much my relationship with Him would grow. When you leave home, it's all about what you want, what you believe, and how you want to live. I decided I wanted to try my best to glorify God in everything I did while at school. I am definitely not saying that is completely true as my freshman year comes to an end. But what I can say is that I have clung to God more than I ever have in my entire life. And I have heard and seen God at work in my life over this year.
A week ago, the pastor at the service I attend on Sunday night had his brother-in-law, Todd, talk about his recent trip to Haiti. Todd had a slide show and talked about the orphans he was with while there. I kind of just let this go in one ear and out the other and didn't really let it affect me. Little did I know God was trying to get my attention.
Two days later, I was reading statuses on facebook while at work and came across one about mission trips to Haiti from IMB, while reading what was needed I was brought to tears instantly. Things don't usually affect me in that way. My heart ached and still aches for the children in the orphanages. Since that day I have heard or seen something about orphans every day of the week.
I think I'm going to listen to God. Sometime in the near future I will be with orphans.
My prayer is that God continually molds me and teaches me and prepares me to work with them. I pray I learn more and more about Him on a daily basis so I can further his kingdom. I also pray that God opens up doors so that I can go, and closes doors for when not to do something that would interfere with my future mission with orphans.
This is crazy for me to realize this. I've always stood back and let Brennen do the radical trips, and stayed home. It will be me now, that's scary. I'm just thankful I have had such a great example to live by when it comes to overseas missions. She has taught me so much and I couldn't have asked for a better twin sister.
This verse is my affirmation for working with orphans:
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress
and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27
