It's Almost Here

Wow. It’s almost here. I leave for Cote d’Ivoire in less than a week! Can you believe it? I know I can’t. I could have sworn that a couple of days ago the countdown on my phone said thirty something days left. And now it says 5. Where has time gone?! 

I have a complete mix of emotions going through my brain right about now. First, I am beyond excited! This is something that I have been praying about doing for almost a year now.  As I am beginning to start the packing process I literally have to pinch myself because I still can’t get over the fact that in a week I will be overseas serving with missionaries and working in a hospital.  The Lord is so faithful. That is one thing I am continually being reminded of! From the application process, to interviews and to support raising, He has done more than I could ever imagine.  

Along with being so so excited, I am starting to get nervous.  So many questions and thoughts are going through my head.  Have I prepared enough? Have I spent enough time in prayer? Am I going to get along with everyone? How am I going to communicate with my patients in the hospital? I really don’t speak much French…bonjour?

WHAT AM I THINKING?! No. But seriously! What am I thinking?  What did I just say in the second paragraph?!

Has the Lord not been faithful from the beginning?  Has He not already provided? I know that He has been preparing me for this trip for a long time now. I know that He is going to be with me the second I leave my family and get on the plane in Houston. I know that He will be my strength, my peace and my comfort throughout my time in Cote d’Ivoire.  All I have to do turn to Him and trust Him. It’s as simple as that.

Sometimes I just love it when the Lord just slaps me in the face with truth like that. Most of the time, I really need it! But as simple as that truth it is, it is something I am daily having to preach to myself.

All of these thoughts, emotions and stuff have been reminding me of what I have been reading in Joshua. After the death of Moses, the Lord went to Joshua and told him to arise and take the people into the Promised Land.  Over and over again, the Lord told Joshua to be strong and courageous, to depend on Him, obey him, follow His word and He will do the rest. The Lord wasn’t going to leave Joshua. All Joshua had to do was to be obedient to the Lord, find his strength in Him and leave the rest up to Him.

Well man, what more truth do I need than that! I know that the Lord has called me to spend the next month of my life in Cote d’Ivoire. I am joyfully obeying His call! Now I just need to keep trusting that He will take care of me! He’s got the rest!

So with all this said, I am beyond excited to get on that plane to Cote d’Ivoire. I have faith in the Lord’s plan. I can’t wait to see how he uses me and grows me during my time overseas. Good thing I don’t have to wait much longer! 5 days!! Eeeeeee!!!!