Hello to the blog world! I feel like I should introduce myself: I’m Sydney, the other teammate who has been joyfully placed on the same path with Courtney for the past semester or so. I’m new to the whole blog thing, as you will probably see, although I’m really excited to be a part of the way blogs are being used all over the world to speak about God’s glory and redemptive work.
So in this post I’m going to delve into how I’m feeling as we prepare to embark on this journey to India. There’s so much to say on several different topics, so just a WARNING this will be pretty scatterbrained...
First off... We are really doing it! This time next week we will be on our way to India, most likely perusing through an airport in Germany. I'm constantly amazed by God. I've been so fortunate to be involved in a few mission trips over the past four years, and each one is so unique and special. Even though I know that God created the world, and loved the world in such a way as to send his ONLY son, His precious offspring... it is amazing to really see, smell, and hear the different cultures, and be in relationships with His children who live in areas completely different from the American society I’ve grown up in. HE LOVES people all over the world... unconditionally. I'm trying to prepare my heart for it to break and mend all over again, as God allows His love to flow through my sinful heart onto His children in India. That in itself is something worth singing about!
I can't help but compare myself to my teammate Courtney, who is clearly (although she may not admit it) more prepared for this trip than I would even think of being. It seems as if the only thing I'm prepared to do is be surprised and blown away by what God has planned for us to do in the month of July. I think she and I could hardly be more opposite when it comes to organization, planning, time management, love languages, food choices... etc. But honestly, I am so thankful for the way God has chosen us to be on a team together! The closer we get to leaving for Happy Valley, the more I can see God's sovereignty in pairing up a planner with a dreamer. We have been given different gifts and have different ways of doing service, but we serve the same God and proclaim that Jesus is Lord together, united in the same Spirit - that’s what matters (1 Cor. 12:4-6). No matter what we disagree on, we have to agree that we have been redeemed by the sacrifice made by Jesus for our sins, and everything we do is driven by our love for our Savior Jesus and our love for people. If we don’t have love, we will be nothing (1 Cor. 13:1-3).
Did I say I’m excited already? What a great sister to link arms with and labor in fields that are white for harvest!
Also, as we get closer to our launch date, the gravity of the situation has come over both of us. This is reality. This isn't just a fun trip to get out of our American comfort zones. Our short trip has the potential to catapult us into being a part of God's redemptive work in the lives of the exploited and enslaved in India, and even in our communities in the states. This is reality. People - mainly vulnerable women and children - are being used for extreme labor and/or sexual services, without any relief or escape. Through all of this, though, we have to remember that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12). And there is hope. We know the ending, we know that Jesus triumphs over Satan and injustice in the end. While we are here in this temporary home we can choose to learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause (Isaiah 1:17). Or we can sit back and relax. After hearing stories and statistics from organizations like As Our Own, A21, and IJM (just to name a few), relaxing isn't an option for me, or Courtney, or so many others. This shouldn’t be the latest "fad-cause" for us to jump on, but Jesus followers should be driven to fight against injustice. “Seek justice, correct oppression.” Plain and clear. And the one, Jesus Christ, who has ALL the authority in heaven and on earth is with us to the end of time. Resting in His truth is different than relaxing in ignorance.
Well, this seems to be the rambling part of the blog... But before I go I want to say that I’m extremely thankful for our church family at UBC for coming behind our mission on which God is sending us. We needed over $1,700 this past Sunday, and by Monday afternoon our Father used the local body to provide all of that and more, our financial support is overflowing! What an affirmation that God is laying out the path in front of us to go to India! It means so much that body of Christ is sending us out with their prayers and their finances. We are so blessed! I know Courtney will speak more to this in her blog, so I will stop now. :)
Thanks for sticking with me! Please continue to pray for us as we prepare to leave next Wednesday. So grateful for you!
Sydney
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
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