Journal Entry #8

09.22.13

Leading up to the first India training meeting, I found myself overwhelmed by fearful aspects of this trip, and not enjoying the exciting parts of it. Some fears were completely reasonable, but there were others I was blowing way out of proportion. For instance, when I was writing my first draft of my support letter (which you can read by clicking the “Contribute Financially” button above), I found myself Googling how leprosy is contracted...for two hours. 

Fear kept creeping in all week long and I kept praying for peace. Somehow I finished my letter in time for the training. 

I arrived kind of early and did not know anyone when I got there, so I asked a girl who was already sitting down if I could sit by her. We introduced ourselves, her name is Amanda, and started talking about how our weeks went. Somehow our fears for the trip were brought up and we realized that we shared the fear of contracting leprosy (as most people would). Talking about my fears aloud with a complete stranger who empathized made my fears seem less daunting and ominous. Pretty soon Amanda and I were crying tears of laughter as a result of the same thoughts that scared us before. 

Amanda and I realized we live in the same area, so after the meeting she and I and another girl, Sloane, exchanged numbers to meet up sometime in between meetings. We ended up meeting on Tuesday for yogurt, and both our time and the yogurt was wonderful. We shared how we became Christians, how we decided to go on the trip, and things we need prayer for in preparation for the trip. 

Sloane told us one of the coolest stories ever, and with her permission, I want to share it with you. A while back Sloane went to a service which put a heavy emphasis on speaking in tongues. She was kind of reserved about the idea of speaking in tongues at the time, but eventually found herself desiring to worship God in this way. So she started praying for the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. And one night as she was praying in bed, she spoke a few words, but with no one there to translate for her, she had no idea what she said. So when it happened again she wrote some of the words down and decided to google them. 

All of the words she spoke were words in Hindi. How rad is that?? I cannot wait to see what the Lord has planned through this gift and her obedience to enter into it.

Her story reminds me that nothing we do in preparation for and in India will be through our own strength, but through the movement of the Holy Spirit. He will empower us to lavish others with His love and kindness when we are tired, grumpy, and fearful. 

So please pray for more of the Holy Spirit for myself and my team. Pray for us to be open to letting Him lead and work, not just on this trip but for the entirety of our lives.