It's here...

Well, it is currently 3:07 AM [early] Friday morning. My plane leaves Houston in about 9.5 hours. I won't be back on United States soil until July 2012. How crazy is that! I don't even know how to feel or what to say. I have no clue what my life will look like in a week. What I eat and where I eat, who I hang out with and how much we'll be able to communicate, where I'll go during the day and what I'll do. I'm trying to have as few expectations as possible so as not to be disappointed when what I thought would happen doesn't happen. Blessed are the flexible for they will not break, right? Well, we'll see. All I know is that I am super excited about living in a different place. I know it will be difficult at times, but it's an adventure and it's where God has called me, so I'm going.

I've been getting quite a few questions about the immediate future and what I'll be doing, so here is a rough outline of where I'll be and when.

- For the first month I'm there I will be just hanging out in Manaus. I'll get a head start on language and maybe do a little traveling with my supervisor on the river. I should have internet during this time so I'll try to update this blog and do some facebooking, but no promises on anything.

- In mid-November I start formal language training. I'll be living in a house of sorts in Manaus and a tutor will come to me each day. I assume he will be there in the mornings and early afternoon and then I will go out and practice what I am learning in the late afternoon and evening. This will last a little less than 3 months.

- At the beginning of next February I start jungle survival training. I don't really know what this will look like, but I do know that it sounds really cool and really intense! I will be learning how to live in the Amazon Basin, which I assume means learning which plants to eat or not eat, which bugs to eat, which plants are good for medication, how to make a shelter, how to fish Amazon-style, how to avoid mosquitoes, etc.

- Then [finally], next May I believe I will for the first time go to a people in need of the Gospel. And that starts my 3 months in and 2 weeks out process.

Hopefully that clears some gray area so you know where I'll be and what I'll be doing.

Prayer! So, here are some ways that you can be praying. I'm sure these requests are elsewhere on the blog, but these are the ones that I think are most important at this time.

Pray for safe travel.

Pray for an open mind that understands a new culture instead of deeming it 'wrong.'

Pray that God would give me His grace in learning a new language as quick as possible.

Pray that God would lead me to young Christian men in the city of Manaus that I could grow close to and depend on through the transition of moving to a new place.

Pray that my eyes would be open to the lostness in Manaus and that wherever I am I would be a light shining in darkness that causes others to give glory to God.

Pray that I just fall in love with the country and the people.

Pray for safety.

Pray for strength.

Pray that I would remain rooted in the Word of God. That I would look to Him as my rock, my shelter, my fortress, and my foundation. Pray that He would be my source.

Pray for the people of Manaus. That God would open up their eyes and their hearts to the truth of who He is and His grace.

Thank you all!

God is Faithful

As I reflect over my time at Field Personnel Orientation (I'm back at home as of September 23rd), I can think of one verse in particular and one theme that we find throughout the entirety of Scripture. This verse is 2 Corinthians 2:14, "But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere." As I prepare to leave a week from tomorrow I am constantly reminded of how inadequate I am. I am not worthy to be a missionary. It is humbling that God has chosen to use me. What is encouraging in the face of this is the fact that God leads us in triumphal procession. It's not about me going and telling people about Christ, it's about me following God where he has led me and worshiping him through missions. It is not about what I can do for the kingdom of heaven, but about taking part in God's story and his work that has already begun in the Amazon basin. I'm not perfect and I'm not worthy and, really, I'm not capable. But God is! God leads us in triumphal procession. And God spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of himself everywhere. Praise God! He does use us, as the verse says, but it's him spreading the fragrance through me; it's not about my own strength and my own words, it's God's!

We see this same theme through Scripture:

Genesis 14:20 tells us that God delivered Abraham's enemies into his hands.

Exodus 14:30-31 tell of God's mighty power to save the Israelites from the Egyptians.

Deuteronomy 31:8 tells us that God goes before us and he will always be with us.

Joshua 23:3 tells us that all the victories of the Israelites in Canaan under Joshua were because God fought for them.

1 Samuel 17:37 is David saying that just as God delivered him from a bear and a lion God will also deliver him from Goliath.

2 Kings19:35 tells of God striking down many enemies to defend Judah on behalf of his great name.

All through the pages of the Bible we see men who are faithful to God being led by God as he is faithful to them. How refreshing to know that God works for us and in us and through us for himself. As I leave not too long from now, I know that God is guiding me and that he has already prepared the way. "But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere." Thanks be to God!