Hey, this is crazy! But...

 Oswald Chambers once wrote, "Suppose God tells you to do something that is an enormous test of your common sense, totally going against it. What will you do? Will you hold back?" 

As we get closer to our departure date, the reality of what we are doing is setting in. This whole adventure that we are going on seems crazy, and at times, impossible. However, if there is something I have learned in the last few years, it is that when a task seems impossible, that is when God can do His greatest work in and through us. When we admit our incapability and learn to rely on God for strength it means that God will get the glory.

In all areas of life, we want to see God work in us and through us in ways that clearly show that it is He who has done this. It’s easy to expect big changes on an international missions trip, but to me, God’s working through me should be just as visible at home in Canada as it is halfway around the world. In whatever I am doing, He must get the glory. A principle I learned from Elisabeth Elliot springs to mind: in making a decision, choose the harder of two things. That goes absolutely against my normal mode of thinking. However, it is beginning to make sense. When I come to a circumstance which is impossible for me, that is when I must rely on God, and others will see the result.  As David wrote, in Psalm 109:26-27, “Help me, O Lord my God; Save me according to Your lovingkindness. And let them know that this is Your hand; You, Lord, have done it.” Oh, may that be true in my life!

Francis Chan said, "I don’t want my life to be explainable without the Holy Spirit. I want people to look at my life and know that I could not be doing this by my own power. I want to live in such a way that I am desperate for Him to come through.” Wow. Is that true for me too? Would I be willing to pray that prayer and accept whatever adventures God leads me on? 

Chambers lays down the challenge, "Trust completely in God, and when He brings you to a new opportunity of adventure, offering it to you, see that you take it. We act like pagans in a crisis— only one out of an entire crowd is daring enough to invest his faith in the character of God." We have taken this opportunity for adventure. We are investing our faith in the character of God. Now we are stepping out in faith, and expecting to see God do some great things!

Team Building

In two weeks from today, we will be boarding a plane for Cambodia! We are busy making lists, checking priorities, talking to friends, writing emails and asking ourselves, "are we really doing this?" I wrote to one friend that this is putting hands and feet to our faith, but as the time gets closer, I wonder if our hands and feet can work fast enough to get everything done before we go.

We have been astounded at the generosity of friends who want to contribute to our trip. Some have contributed financially, others have donated items for our trip and some have offered their expertise in specific areas. For example, we spent an hour yesterday morning with a neighbour who teaches English as a second language. What a privilege it was to be able to ask questions, to learn some basic concepts that will help us to avoid causing offense and to understand that teaching ESL doesn't have to be tedious for student or teacher. We should be able to have fun with a piece of string and a pie plate! What stories we could tell...

As this whole trip is a walk of faith, we are encouraged by those who have offered to help before we even tell them what we need. As Hudson Taylor is reported to have written, "God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply".

This is what team building is all about. One friend was shocked to hear that there were only two of us on our "team". I told him that wasn't quite right, we have lots of people on our team, they're just not getting on the plane with us. Everyone who is praying for us, who has provided for us, who has shared their knowledge with us, is a team member, and we are grateful for each one.

I was encouraged this morning by Paul's words in 1 Timothy 1:12, 14-17:

"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry... And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God Who alone is wise, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen"

Wow Moment - Episode 1

In our family, we have a term for events where we recognize that only God could have orchestrated the circumstances. We call these "WOW" moments. WOW stands for Walk on Water, because it is something only Jesus can do, or someone who keeps their eyes and mind fixed on Jesus, trusting in Him.

We had a wow moment this morning. My family and I are in Vernon, visiting my Grandparents. This morning we went to church, the one we usually attend when we are here, but I haven't been to this church since July last year. Anyway, this morning Mum opened the bulletin and discovered that the country they are praying for this week is Cambodia. Of the approximately 200 countries in the world, what are the chances of them praying for that country on the only week we are here? A coincidence? I think not! Mum mentioned this to the pastor and he invited me to tell everyone about the trip we are going on, and how they can pray for us now and while we are away. At the end of the service, the pastor gave an opportunity for anyone who wished to support us financially. The amount donated will cover a significant part of the cost of our trip. It was amazing, we didn't even have to ask! They also prayed for us before we left.We drove home feeling amazingly loved and blessed, not only because of the financial support, but also for the way in which these people so openly welcomed us and cared for us this Sunday, and on Sundays last summer.    

Here is the verse that was printed on the back of the bulletin this morning: "His name is the Lord, rejoice in His presence! Father to the fatherless, defender of widows - this is God. God places the lonely in families; He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy." Psalm 68:4-6.

Beginnings

Hopping onto an airplane to travel 12,000 kilometers isn't a choice that one makes lightly. However, when God says go, it's time to trust and obey and set out on an adventure...

It all started on the 10th of March 2013, when Blaine Sylvester showed some slides of Cambodian orphan children and orphan grannies at our church. Place of Rescue is an orphanage in Cambodia, started by Marie Ens. In three different locations throughout the country their team (of mostly locals) looks after nearly 500 orphan kids and 25 orphan grannies. As Blaine explained the work that the organization does, I sat there looking at the innocent faces of the children and thought, "hmm, maybe this is where God wants me to go this summer... No, that's crazy, I'll just put that thought out of my head." Little did I know that Mum was sitting next to me thinking the same thing. She nudged me, "did you see the eyes on that orphan granny?" she whispered. "I wonder if we can help." Later that afternoon, as we walked on the pathway to the north of Three Hills, we discussed the idea further. It seemed crazy, but then again, a lot of the adventures we have start with a crazy idea.

Over the next few weeks we continued to pray and began discussing with Blaine how we may be able to help out. We told friends and relatives what we were planning and everyone was excited. One by one things just began "falling into place". Sometimes slowly and sometimes more quickly. On May 5th, Marie Ens came and spoke at our church. She shared many stories of how God has rescued and provided for the orphans, and what some of their continuing needs are. We met with her after the service and discussed more of our plans. How can we use our unique set of skills to help out? The primary need is for English teaching, so that will be our main role. Our combined musical skills will also be put to use.

Our tickets are booked, we've had the vaccinations (ouch!), now we are praying and packing and preparing and trusting God to do the rest.

Of course there is a whole lot more to this story, but to try and explain every amazing detail of how this whole adventure came about would take far too long. Over the next few weeks we may tell some more background stories of how God has been directing this and how He has provided, but for now, an overview is sufficient. It's a bit like looking at a spider's web, where each one of the tiny strands connects, until a beautiful web is formed. Sometimes it's hard to track how each strand is connected, but things become clearer as time passes. It's exciting to see how God has been pulling all the strands of this adventure together, involving people from across the prairies, across the country and around the world. As we head off on this adventure we acknowledge that it is God who has called us to do this and He will be faithful to enable us to do it. To Him be the honor and glory!

Nutshell version:
Who? Chris (aka: Mum) and Hannah (Me)
What? Short-term missions trip - teaching English and music.
When? June 12th to August 15th
Where? Place of Rescue in Cambodia
How? Only by the grace of God.
Why? It is what we have been called to do.

For more information about Place of Rescue, visit their website: www.placeofrescue.com