It has been a while. I know. I first want to apologize for not getting back to you guys before now. I had a friend once tell me... "better late than never". So, here it is!
I arrived back in America on July 4th and let's just say it took me several days to get adjusted back to the time here! Jet lag is a misssserable result of the fall! While I was in Washington, DC I took the family to one of my favorite restaurants in SA called Nando's (which conveniently has a location in DC) afterwards we went to watch the fireworks on Capitol Hill. I was exhausted but made my self stay up until 12:30, so that I would sleep the whole night through making it easier to get adjusted to the time difference. Well, that failed. I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 3 am. My dad finally woke up at 6am and we snuck out of the room and went on a daddy-daughter date for a cup of coffee together. :)
Anyways, the purpose of this post is to try and encompass all that the Lord taught me during my time in Africa and try to put into words how He is continuing to use my time there to shape my future goals, plans, and dreams.
1. I have been challenged to live my life in a way that truly reflects that this world is not my home. Just like I was a foreigner in South Africa, Scripture tells us that as believers we are strangers and aliens on this earth (1 Chronicles 29:15) and that our citizenship is not here but rather in heaven where Christ is King (Phil 3:20).
My time here on earth is temporary and I don't want to waste it trying to build a kingdom here on earth with things that won't last. I want my life to be used for eternal purposes. Being a daughter of the King, I have security in Christ and through Him I inherited an eternal home that lasts forever. Because of this truth I am free in Christ to make radical decisions and live a life radically abandoned for the sake of Christ and making Him known among the nations.
2. I have really seen with my own eyes how God desires to use "average" people for His purposes, specifically to the nations. I guess I assumed that missionaries were "super-spiritual" people who had it "all together". Don't misunderstand me. Yes, there were and are some amazing super godly missionaries out there, but the truth is they are no different than myself. They are sinners saved by God's grace! God's plan (Matthew 28:18-20) is to use redeemed people for His purposes of making His name known among ALL the nations.
3. Not only did I learn a lot by doing ministry, but I got a lot out of the community and the people that I lived with during my 8 weeks in Africa. We weren't a perfect family, but I learned what it looks like to have Christ at the center of a home, how to love others who are different than myself, to give grace, and live an open life of repentance. "Close-knit" doesn't even come close to describing our family.
4. I feel the urgency for the gospel to forth more than ever before! I don't ever want that urgency to leave my heart, even as I am here in the states. It's different when you are in another country with a team and that's your purpose for going, but it's a lot harder alone in America with comfort all around. As I sit I home I want to experience that same urgency, if not more! (That's dangerous!)
5. God has stretched me in more ways that I planned or even imagined. Through the hard times and being squeezed I was able to get more and more of Christ. It was worth it.
6. I'm excited for this next year as I get "mobilized" as the Campus Outreach term goes. I want to commit my life to being about God and His mission. How that will manifest itself...we shall see! :)
7. All in all, the ability to GO and be SENT to the nations is much more tangible after having been on a short-term trip.
8. So, UNTIL ALL HEAR "I'm going (to the nations) until I'm called to stay (in America)." <-- I said it. HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE. I mean it.
Daughter of the King,
Lauren
