It’s official! We’re going forward with the contingency plan and spending around 3.5 months in Gainesville, GA at the Adventures in Missions headquarters doing missional training, leadership development, and discipleship, and then we will launch in January for 5 months in the field (here’s a cool hype video!).
To be honest, this was tough to swallow initially. I thought I was at peace with whatever was going to happen but I was surprised at my frustration at the official change of plans. Why is this happening? This is not at all what I thought I would be doing in September, is the whole experience not going to be as good anymore? So much is going on in the world and it seems like everything is falling apart at the same time. Is this really what God had in mind?
I wanted to just call a friend right away and talk about it and be sad about it, but I’ve been learning that the best thing to do in brokenness or hardship of any kind is to go to God first in prayer (It’s not bad or wrong by any means to go to friends – I did this later – but the Spirit is called Comforter and Advocate, and when we pray and give thanks His peace guards our hearts and minds. So I do my best to go to God first). I decided to go on a walk and spend as much time as I needed to praying and listening to Him.
First, I spent time asking Him why I was even frustrated in the first place. I genuinely didn’t know. I discovered that I really placed a lot of value (and still do) on the extreme departure from familiarity that comes with living among a totally different culture. I thought of it as almost essential to deeper relationship and intimacy with God. The truth is that it’s simply a tool that can help us get there, but it isn’t essential. I thought the trip was now somehow less than what God called me to, not as exciting, and maybe wouldn’t be as life changing as it could’ve been. He reminded me that I didn’t say yes to this journey for the cool travel opportunity (although I love traveling), or convenience (definitely not convenient), or to look good for others (I’ll actually be leaving my best friends and most intimate community behind over the next year). I said yes because of God’s invitation. I said yes because I’ve seen that His plan is always better, even if it doesn’t look as pretty as we pictured it, and even if the world says it’s the wrong way to go. Following Him leads to ultimate joy and fulfillment.
I finished my walk and called a friend. He also had a word for me about the change of plans. This is a combination of things he and I heard from God:
This may seem like less than you expected, but I am actually going into the fire with you. People are afraid and broken and need guidance in this time, and I am sending you out to them! This extra time of preparation is necessary for your faith and intimacy with Me. The lost need to see the joy and devotion you have right now despite the pain and brokenness that you and everyone else has experienced in this season. I called you at this time for a reason!
Isaiah 43:2 – When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
So I’m excited and expectant for this change of plans! The fact is that it seems like a change for me but it’s what God intended the whole time. My squad got on a zoom call a couple days ago to ask our leadership any questions we had about the new plan, and it was so encouraging. They told us that a longer period of training in Georgia was actually being considered for next year’s trip and they’re very excited to do it this year.
I’m so thankful for you and any way you’ve supported me thus far, even if it’s just reading these! I am still fundraising and the goal has not changed, so if you feel like donating there’s a button near the top. And I would always love prayer support! I hope you are encouraged by this as I am. Jesus loves you so much and so do I!
Ben
