There's always a back story

In early 2012, after we had known we were moving to Monterey, I googled "church in Monterey, CA" so that we could find somewhere right away after moving. The first thing that came up in my search was Monterey Church. I looked on the website for a little while, and I was drawn to the church because, though it was a non-denominational church, the core values were based on the Nicene Creed being broken down by scripture. Austin and I grew up reciting the Nicene Creed each week at church, so I felt like this was a bridge between our Episcopal upbringing and the newer style of service.

The first Sunday we were in town happened to be right after the church building had suffered a fire, so it took us a little bit of time before we figured out where church was held and how to get there. Sometime in the summer of 2012 we visited church for the first time. We were eager to find a church home, though I laugh as I admit our eagerness was for William - not for ourselves. We didn't think WE necessarily needed to be in church each week. I mean, we were good with Jesus right? We just needed to raise William in a church. So that was our driving force. We went to church that Sunday and we were almost offended by the service. We thought we had walked into a TV infomercial for Compassion International. The pastor's wife sat on stage and gave her account of her experience on a mission trip in Ecuador with Compassion. I'm not saying we didn't believe in being the hands and feet of Jesus, but we certainly didn't think we were going to church for that. We were going to church to be preached to about our own lives(read: to be served); we weren't there to hear how we needed to give all of our money to third world countries(read: to serve). To say we were turned off is an understatement. So much so that we didn't go back for a few weeks.

We finally went back, at William's request, and would you believe that we found ourselves sitting in a service where the pastor was once again pushing Compassion International and the church's new partnership with Compassion for a mission trip to Bolivia? They wanted people to sponsor children and sign up to literally go and be the hands and feet of Jesus. Two visits, two strikeouts.

or so we thought.

We eventually gave the church "another chance" (because that's absolutely how we viewed it - US giving THEM a "chance") and we slowly (veeerrrrry slowly) got involved in what would become our church home. We first decided to join the kids church ministry, then later joined a small discussion group (d group) and eventually the corner of Alvarado St in downtown Monterey began to feel more like home than 2183 11th Cavalry Ave ever did. I haven't blogged much about the incredible changes we saw in our lives during those 3 years. I should, and maybe one day I will, but part of the reason is because it was so mind boggling. I won't sit here and say I thought we had it perfect, but I sure didn't know the work that needed to be done - and I didn't know what God was capable of doing through us. We thought we were being good parents by taking William to church - in reality, God was using William to get us to church. I had no idea the things God would tear down in order to restore them more beautifully than we could have asked, and I learned so well that when you approach God with expectancy for Him to deliver, He never disappoints.

In 2014, after having been so "offended" by the conviction to join with Compassion International, Austin and I each separately decided to sponsor a child. Austin sponsors a girl William's age from Bolivia, and I sponsor a boy who is also the same age from Africa. Shortly after Austin chose to sponsor Jhanayna, he also felt called to go on the next trip to Bolivia. I did write about that - and about how "bad" the timing was. We would have an almost 3 month old baby, it would overlap with Relay For Life, I would have been unemployed for the 3 months prior so money wasn't falling from the sky - we had a lot of reasons to say "not now". But, when God says go - who are we to say no? And God had very specific reasons for the timing of when He called Austin to go.

Neither of us knew what to expect out of that trip, but what we didn't expect was for there to be any work or change in our lives back home. We thought God would use him to serve people there and that was the purpose of the trip. That absolutely happened, but so much more happened. While on that trip, Austin said he felt the presence and movement of the Holy Spirit in ways he didn't even know possible. He felt like God was calling our family to be involved in Compassion mission trips for years to come. Trips aren't cheap or easy to come by, but He felt like God was clearly speaking to him and that He'd make a way.

That back story is all preparation to announce that in January I will be going on a mission trip to Burkina Faso, Africa! 

Before you start swinging a bunch of doubt around in your mind - let me go ahead and tell you all of the reasons I should "not" go on the trip. We don't make as much money as we used to, so our expendable income is minimal. By most accounts, we just can't afford it. January is a prime busy time for my work. I have a 6 month old baby, plus oh yeah 2 other kids. Africa isn't the safest place in the world. Wait wasn't ebola near there? I'm sure you can think of more.

But you know what? I can think of one reason why I should go - and that reason trumps the rest. God has given us so much - SO much. He didn't give us that because we deserve it. He didn't give it to us because He loves us more. He didn't give it to us because we worked harder for it. He has given us all that we have so that we may use what we've been given to show His love to others. I may be able to sponsor a sweet boy and provide for some of his needs, but I have no doubt that when I fly to Africa I am going to learn so much more from them than I could possibly teach to them. To be honest, I am well aware that I have no idea what I'll learn.

I am excited to go on this trip. I am excited to meet Salvador, who I have written back and forth with for almost two years. I am excited to see what Jesus meant when he said, "Truly I tell you, whatever you do for the least of these you have done for me". I am excited. Am I scared? Sure. I'm scared about relinquishing control over my kids' daily lives. I'm scared about relinquishing control over my own daily life. (newsflash: I have control issues, and I have way less control than I think I do) I'm scared to get vaccinated (as dumb as that sounds!) I'm scared of a lot of things. I'm even scared of the blessings that could come of it. I'm excited and scared, and I'm hoping that you'll join us in prayer and support as I go on this journey.

I'm not asking you for financial donations. One day we may need help in this calling, if that's the direction it goes, but right now I am not asking you to donate to my trip with money. I do have friends going who are in need of financial support, and if you want to support this trip please let me know and I can put you in touch with people who are still knee deep in fundraising efforts. I know the other people on the trip were called to the trip just as I was, and God has plans for how to fund each of our trips differently. If you're a part of that plan, fantastic. But mostly, I'm just asking you to pray with us and join with us in our excitement over this journey!