Going Against The Grain..

Hi Everyone,

So good to be back here again. I've had a very exciting couple of months, and yes, out of those couple of months I have learned some things :) 

I had my first trip overseas since 2001!  It was a short trip, but a full one.  We (Astrid and I) went to visit a friend who is volunteering in Cambodia for the year.  When Renee went I had it in my heart to go and visit her about half way through her time. I wanted to stand beside her, encourage her and see what else we could do to support her. 

It's a big thing for a young woman to live in a developing country for a year as a volunteer.

We had a wonderful time. What a beautiful country and a beautiful people.  Renee helps in village schools by teaching English and other basics and also visits and helps at an orphanage.  We simply shadowed Renee for the week which was wonderful.  This took us into authentic Cambodian communities, something we felt privileged to do.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, Cambodia's treasure is not her temples, but her beautiful people.  For such a suffering nation they have such a warm and personable nature.




 The decision to go and visit was something I thought on for a while before mentioning it to Jeff (my husband) and Murray (my boss).  With their agreement I started to make the plans.  The week before we left somebody asked me what had prompted me to make this trip.  Was it a strong sense of the call of God to do this?  Did I have a specific time and place and chapter and verse? ... No.  I simply felt the urge to go and lend support to Renee and had a quiet sense of peace about it.  I certainly never felt it was not a good thing to do. 

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15)

"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:16)

This quiet peace of God seemed to say 'yes' as The Spirit Himself seemed to bear witness with mine that it was a good move. 

This is an important part of the lesson that I learned because there were a couple of things mitigating against this trip.

1.  Money.  We are planning a big life-time trip to England next year.  Could we afford for me to do this first?  I felt a bit guilty spending this first, but again had a quiet sense of "It's OK" along with ...
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8  The week before we left, a decision had to be made about buying a car.  It was difficult to get the money for that, and I can tell you that the enemy had a field day with me.  "What makes you think you can fly off on a missions trip when you can't even afford a car??"  Shame and embarrassment had me in its grip.
Well the good news is, that I was able to get the car (I signed the papers the morning that I left) and the trip has presented no financial hardship at all. :)  God indeed is Jehovah Jireh!

2.  Safety.  Jeff did ask me if I would be safe, going to a '3rd world' nation.  I suggested to him that I might be safer than a younger woman.  Leading up to the trip a woman of similar age to me was murdered in neighbouring Thailand.  Mmmm, " for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city" (Acts 18:10)  Never underestimate the power of a simple daily Scripture reading plan. Time and again The Lord has quickened to me just what I needed to hear, at just the right time.

3.  My own capacity. Was I up to it? Would I find myself freezing in my natural reserve in the face of a different culture and language?  Would the challenge of seeing such poverty and suffering turn my world upside down? How would I manage the climate, (it was the rainy season), would we have to take long walks through muddy villages to get to where we were going? After all, I'm by no means old, but I'm not a spring chicken either!

It makes me smile to think of those fears.

It didn't rain the whole time we were there. Transport was brilliant ... I love tuk-tuks! The poverty? Yes it is definitely there. But of course I learned that big houses, beautiful cars, and the trappings of western life are not necessary to happiness. These people are getting on with their lives and doing all they can to improve it. I hardly saw any of the discontent and grumpiness that is so familiar to us here in the west.

4.  Bereavement.  A few short weeks before our trip Jeff's mother passed away.  She was unwell for about a month and Jeff had a trip down to Victoria to visit her, came home and within a week we were driving back down for her funeral.  I have always considered myself blessed by Jeff''s family and Dorothy was a wonderful mother-in-law.  The last thing I wanted to do was fly off overseas. What I wanted to do was hibernate at home with Jeff. I certainly was in prayer about that.  I was meant to be excitedly counting down to going, not coming back! 

The Sunday evening before we left we watched the "Facing The Giants" movie.  One scene that has so rescued me before, spoke yet again, but in a different way.  As the young man is struggling to crawl blind-folded with the weight of a team member on his back his one question was, "Where is the finish line?" (or something like that).  The coach said, "Don't think about that, just give this moment all you have!" 

What a brilliant strategy for me.  I determined that every day I was there I would not think about coming home, I would embrace what each day brought and give my heart to it.

What is the point of me sharing this with you?  It really doesn't take much to go overseas for a few days, I didn't suffer in anyway, quite the contrary... it was great fun - truly!

The point of this post is to encourage you to follow the peace of God, not your fears and not your emotions. 
It is also to encourage you to step out on the Still Small Voice. Don't wait for a great fanfare, just be prepared to change your plans should He direct. 
I also want you to know that if you step out you might well be surprised by the sheer pleasure of what God brings into your world. 

The experience of that short trip to Cambodia turned out to be a delightful discovery of a different culture, a different country, and a beautiful people. It was also very timely for Renee and for us ... simply to find out exactly how we could better support her.

I don't know what new venture you are facing ... But let me encourage you to step out in a joyous expectancy of delightful surprises, you never know whats around the corner!

Till next time (hopefully sooner than this time!)

be blessed.