Will and Last Testament

Today, Josh and I signed our Will and Last Testament, an unusual activity for a couple of 23-year-olds with no children, no property, and no significant assets. This caused a startling realization of the risk involved in moving to Africa; it’s not that we haven’t considered them or been aware, rather that they haven’t been our biggest priority. I’ve realized an attitude of balance and complete reliance on God is absolutely crucial. On the one hand, Africa is not all war-torn , all the time. On the other, contrary to what many people say, it is not even close to commensurate to living in north Minneapolis.

I’m not going to lie to you- there is risk involved.

At our local fireworks last July, we had one of those convoluted “coincidences” in which we ran into a long-term missionary to the Philippines who was on furlough. She graciously allowed me to pick her brain, and offered the following wisdom in response to my questions regarding responding to others’ concern about danger:

“The most dangerous place to be is anywhere but God’s will.”

Oh, I was convicted. How many times has my stubborn foolishness caused me to be outside of God’s will? What we are going to do is far less dangerous. God commanded us to go; it wasn’t a suggestion. We are privileged to have the opportunity to obey.

Do not fear for us, or for our safety. Instead, pray.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” –Philippians 4:6

I hope God will use our absence and our work to somehow challenge you. He will certainly be challenging us. We will miss home and our loved ones SO much! For those of you that may miss us at times or fear for us, PLEASE let it draw you nearer to the Lord. If we cannot affect those closest to us on Christ’s behalf, we have not adequately done all we can, both as missionaries and as Christians.