When are you leaving

When are you leaving?

Definitely the most asked question I get. And probably the hardest question to answer. I’m grateful that lately when I get asked this question and not sure how to respond, this verse comes to mind…

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. –Matt 6:33-34

But how do you translate that into an answer?

For a while I was struggling through finding peace in still being here (aka not in Africa). I had set a departure date of January 6^th and by mid December I was just over 50%. I had faith and prayed daily that January 6^th would happen and it’s hard to answer people who ask about it when you yourself are wondering the same thing.

Yes, I don’t know either.

But over the last couple weeks God has been doing some awesome work in my heart. Support has increased (124% one time and 67% monthly) and that has been a huge encouragement to see who God is choosing to be a part of my financial and prayer team, but it really is in the quiet times on the beach or at a coffee shop or in my bed when God’s truth rings out so loud I can’t ignore it.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. –Proverbs 3:5

There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless it is the Lord’s counsel that will stand. –Proverbs 19:21

But Jesus looked at them and said, “with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. –Matthew 19:26

For we walk by faith, not by sight. -2 Cor 5:7

please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night…-Nehemiah 1:6

In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. –Job 1:22

There are countless other verses that have helped soften my heart to see that God can use me here and may just have a bigger purpose than I could ever begin to see or imagine.

Truth: God hasn’t called me to just do ministry in South Sudan. He has called me to live a life doing ministry.

As I read His timeless love letter to me I see Him using Scripture to build an altar of remembrance of His perfect plans and perfect peace in the waiting. I see Him building up stones of memorized Scripture in my heart to combat doubt, be confident in where I am, and ready to see how He wants to use me today. 

So how do I answer the question, “when are you leaving?” I say I’m leaving when God is ready to move me to do ministry there and until then I’ve got work to do here. I still feel so excited to get to Africa and transition to language & culture learning in South Sudan, but I’m not sitting around waiting to leave, I’m focusing on what God has for me here and now, and that leaves me in a place of pure contentment and joy in Him alone and not in my circumstances.