I am a child of God. I am so privileged just to be able to
speak these words. I am honored that God would want to adopt a sinner like me
into his family. I am honored to be chosen to spread his word amongst other
nations. I am in total awe of how faithful he is to me every day. I am
overjoyed by how much my Heavenly Father loves me.
I am so blessed beyond belief. As I sit on this 13 ½ hour
flight to Ethiopia (then more flights to Uganda), I think back to all the
amazing ways you have provided for me to go on this trip. I cannot believe it…I
am finally on my way to Africa!! The place I have always dreamed of. Thank you
Lord for opening up this amazing opportunity for me to grow by trusting you,
and to serve you and your precious children. I remember the day you spoke to me
in my EDRD class and told me to check out the Visiting Orphans website. IT
seems like yesterday when my parents gave me the “ok” to sign up for this
mission trip. Forgive me Lord, for not trusting you always to provide for my
trip. I have had doubts about going and doubts about financial issues. But you
promised me that you would send me, and you of course, are always faithful. You
did more than just provide the funds to go. You prepared my heart along with so
many other blessings. Thank you for the amazing support, generosity, and love
of my family and friends. Thank you for everyone’s prayers for me and my team members.
Thank you for providing an abundance of donations for me to bring to those who
need it. Thank you for the extra money to help their economy. Thank you for
preparing my heart for this trip though your word, prayer, devotional, peoples
love and encouragement, and Katie Davis’ book, “Kisses from Katie.” I truly
thank you for all that you have blessed me with.
This morning, Brittany and I boarded our plane and left
Columbia, SC very early. We boarded our plane from Columbia to DC at 6 am. It
took us an hour before that to get our bags under 50 lbs each. Each team member
was allowed 2, 50 lb suitcases. Most of us filled ½ of a bag with our clothes
and the other 1 ½ with all donations for the children. Brittany and I had quite
a struggle to get our suitcases down to the right weight. Our prayers were
answered. Thankfully, God won that battle and we were able to take everything
with us for the orphans who awaited our arrival. We arrived in DC at 7:07 am-Fast
flight! We met up with our group, ate breakfast, and all tried to learn each
other’s names. There were 23 people total on our team so it took a little while
to get to know each other. We took off from DC to Ethiopia, Africa (straight
flight) around 11:20 am. As I write, it is 6:00 pm our time and 1:00 am in
Africa. We have a long rest of our flight ahead of us but I’m about to get a
lot of sleep.
Father, I pray that you would give me your love to love your
children. I pray that I would learn on you and show these people your truth
with boldness. I pray that you would fill me up with your Spirit so I am only
alive because of you in me. My heart beats fast at the sound of Africa. I can
barely stand it because I am so anxious to be there now. I pray that this would
not be a onetime thing but would change me forever and I would get the chance
to go back. My heart screams with joy as I see these children on the plane and
think about how I am going to get to hold them, love, nurture, feed, bathe,
play, and most of all, be a light in a world of darkness. I can’t wait to show
them our Savior’s love. I pray that they devil would not come anywhere near me.
I pray that you would protect my heart, mind, and soul against all evil. I pray
that I would use these precious gifts you have given met to glorify you in all
I do.
Mood change-Funny story…. Moral: Learn to laugh at the small
things:
I went to the bathroom 2 times on the airplane before I
could figure out how in the world to wash my hands. I mean I never knew
something could be so complicated! I literally pushed every button in those
tiny bathrooms that I could and eventually gave up. I settled by hand sanitizer
that I had to dig out of the bottom of my book bag which by the way…was stuffed
with baby wipes from my suitcases that I couldn’t fit. Well, Brittany informed
me that you just put your hands under the sink and then the water comes on. I
tried this out for myself…Sure enough, It does work! Wow! What century am I
living in? I mean I guess I never thought that planes would be so tech savvy!
Important Scripture I read before entering Africa
Ephesians
6:10-18
2 Corinthians
10:1-6
2 Kings 6
Numbers
22:22-35
Ephesians 2:11
1 John 3:18
I prayed all of these prayers but especially 1 John 3:18: “Dear
children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
I pray this scripture for Africa. I pray God, that all my actions would show
how alive you are in me. I pray that I would learn to serve you because your
truth and to teach others as well. This is our purpose in life.
Isaiah 55:8-9-My thoughts and ways are nothing of you
because you are so perfect. You are so much higher, bigger, and more powerful
that I give you credit for. I pray that you would help me to think and do
things the way Jesus did.
The journal entry above was the very first journal entry in
my new journal. I wrote in this a bunch on my long plane ride to Africa. As I
type my blog, please know that my thoughts and prayers on this page are very
real. I am in no way, shape, or form in any position to give myself credit for
the things I was able to see and do in Africa. Everything….and I mean
everything was because of the Lord. Please know as I type this that I am just
as much a sinner as everyone around me. I strive everyday to follow the Lord
but I still sin. Thank goodness God sent Jesus to die for my sins! I thank him
for saving me and forgiving me when I did not have to do anything but accept him.
I have a few more journal entries from the plane ride before I get to the
really good stories and incredible works of God from my Africa trip. I tried to
document as much of every detail as I could. Thank yall for being patient with
me through my adjusting and wanting to hear about my experience. I am thrilled
that people want to read to see how God is using me and can use each of you in
His own way as well.
To Him Who Paid it All,
Becca J
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