In Other News: A Trip to Africa

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For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a dreamer. Ideas are what fuel not only my mind, but my heart. Many of my dreams are still that- dreams.

Just so you understand, I’m an average person. One of nine children- the fairly insignificant number 6. I thought I might travel beyond the US one day…the tiny town I grew up always seemed too small. I fear I didn’t appreciate the simple life it offers and though I appreciate it far more now, there has always been a restless nudge in the depths of my soul to say more, do more, be more.

I don’t know where the drive comes from. Perhaps part of it has been inherited genetically. Now that I’m beyond my 20’s & 30’s (I know; you’re shocked, right?)I believe most of that drive is inspired spiritually. I constantly ask God to show me what He wants me to do. I continually believe that His plan is far bigger than mine.

But I also embrace my daily life of caring for my busy family with all their varying needs. As difficult as some days are with the essentials of the children, I am accustomed to my roles as wife, mom, servant of Jesus. Stepping outside of my home and community is fun and adventurous, but also different from the everyday.

When my husband took a trip to Africa two years ago, it changed his life and all of our family’s lives in many ways. Once he returned from the trip and I watched all his videos and looked at photos, then  when I heard him speak of his experiences, I felt the Lord nudging me to go. And I agreed to the nudge because I knew he wasn’t saying “Go, right now” but that later he would provide the time. Only his timing came a bit earlier than I anticipated. My time table was about 5 years. God’s is this June.

One of the reasons I enjoy providing Bible resources for children here on the blog is because I know how important it is to embrace faith as a child. Without the Lord, I’d be an even bigger mess than I am. With Him, I’m a grace-filled mess and I know what the early years of Bible reading, Bible stories, Bible verses, Sunday School and all the rest has meant in my life over the years.

I already told you I grew up in a tiny town. It’s a very economically depressed area of the US- always has been. And when I was a child, for one year, our small church had AWANA Bible club. Every week, AWANA was the highlight of my week. Games, verses, handbooks, I loved every minute of it. But after one year, when it was time for AWANA to begin again, the tiny church couldn’t find the resources or manpower to hold the Bible club each week. Just about broke my heart.

After taking a few days to pray and seek God’s face, I’ve accepted an opportunity to travel to Africa with AWANA International in June this year. I’m incredibly excited to see how God uses the team to share God’s Word and spread the news of how AWANA is impacting lives all over the world. How important it is for children all over the world to hear the Gospel and learn Biblical truth.  And I’m fully anticipating what God wants to whisper to my heart. If you’re ok with it, I’ll share it with you.

Thanks for taking the journey with me. Let’s see where God goes, shall we? As Sheila Walsh says:

Lord, I don’t know where you’re going today, but I’m coming with you.

Only this time, I do know we’re going to Africa.

By His grace,

Rachel