God Raises Up

Last night our team had the privilege of sharing with our church family about our mission trip to Uganda.  We cooked a sampling of Ugandan food for them to try: posho and beans, cooked nuts, fresh sliced pineapple and hot Ugandan tea.  We even had lukewarm water.

Then we took turns sharing about what we did in Uganda and how it personally impacted each of us.  As I listened to my team members share, it took me back...back to our trip...back to Africa.

And I thought, as I have so many times, what if we hadn't went?  What if we had missed it?

Because we almost did.  We almost missed it.

Last September when Joshua, Sophie and I committed to going, we had absolutely no idea how we were going to pay for it.  The financial aspect of it seemed so overwhelming, so big, that it nearly kept us from even trying.  

We almost didn't chance it.

Just as Peter had to step out of the boat in faith before he could experience walking on water, we had to step out in faith before we could experience God's monetary provision.  

I wish I could tell you that I had complete and utter faith in God alone.  I didn't.  I experienced great times of doubt and frustration.  But this happened only when I took my eyes off of God and focused on our circumstances--that is when my mood sunk down low and doubt and discouragement reigned.  Kind of like when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus.  When he looked down at his circumstances, he no longer was able to skim along the surface of the water.  Instead, he sunk down into the deep abyss.

Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that 'Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see'.

Faith is walking forward even when all that you can see with your human, naked eye appears to be insufficient.

Not only did I struggle with doubt regarding raising the money, I struggled with doubt about whether it was good stewardship.  This happened after reading several different excerpts from a book written recently that raises questions about whether or not short term mission trips are beneficial.  Over and over, the question plagued me: would giving $6,000 to the ministry be wiser than spending it on us to go?  

Stepping out.  It felt risky.  It felt scary.  It felt vulnerable.  And sometimes--in light of the prior paragraph--it felt maybe wrong.   What if it really wasn't good stewardship?  Oh, how I worried and fretted more than I ever should have!  Thankfully, God only requires faith as small as a mustard seed.

Between September until March--the amount of time we had to come up with the money--there were only three things we could do: offer up the little we had, pray for God to multiply it, and then sit back and wait for Him to do it.

Sounds a little bit like the feeding of the 5,000, doesn't it?  When Jesus asked his disciples to provide food for the crowd of thousands, all that the disciples were able to scrounge up were two loaves of bread and five, measly fish.  Interestingly enough, it wasn't even their own food!  They had to borrow it from a boy in the crowd! 

Our 'meager offering' came in the form of fundraising and my small, part-time job.  The rest would be up to God.  The Great Mathematician.  The Great Multiplier.

As the months ticked away and the mission trip got closer, I began to witness God's math at work.  Our team held a 5K, hosted a spaghetti lunch, and provided food for a business.  Then, we watched the balance that we owe begin to decrease.  

After much prayer, Joshua, Sophie and I sent out support letters two months prior to our trip.  We asked people to 'sponsor' us as we worked here locally on behalf of orphans and widows.  Our 'offering' this time was donating our time towards mission work here in Paducah.  We prayed and hoped that doing so would take care of our remaining balance.  

God indeed provided for our remaining balance through our letter writing efforts as well as a few generous 'out of the blue' donations. We were (and still are!) so very appreciative of everyone's generosity.  Each check we received left us speechless.  We felt so unworthy, yet so grateful... 

Kind of like the cross, isn't it?

On this side of our mission trip, I am blown away by God's provision.  He raised up every single dollar.  He solely raised it up for such a time as this, to accomplish His kingdom work.  What God raises up, no one can tear down.

As far as my worries that our short-term mission trip might not be good stewardship?  While, yes, I believe we should always weigh the benefits of going versus giving, I also believe there are transactions that occur in people's hearts on mission trips upon which a price tag can't be put.  Sometimes, you must witness things in person before it can penetrate your heart.  Sometimes going first births an outpouring of giving later.  The results of experiencing it makes it a part of you and forever changes you.  The bottom line is that mission trips birth further action.  


Stepping out and going was another lesson in trust for our family and believing even when we can't see.  It was a lesson in not putting boundaries on what God can do and believing that the Cattle Owner on a thousand hills is completely able.  

God is in the business of doing the impossible and accomplishing God-sized dreams.  His eyes run to and fro among the earth, looking for people who are fully available to accomplish His plans.  Our mission trip--it seemed like such a tall order at the time, but it was just a glimpse--just a glimpse--of the All Sufficient One.  

Glimpses of His Glory...In the Starfish 5K that only expected 300 runners at most, yet had over 700 show up.  In my close friends/family who are seeing God provide extravagantly as they step out in faith and adopt.  In the donor who wants to make our FCA Power Camp this summer completely free to every single participant...Glimpses of His Glory.  

I don't know about you, but I'm not settling for watching front the sidelines.  Until He returns or calls me home, I want to be a part of those glimpses.