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If anybody would have told me that the Lord would be sending me to Thailand 5 years ago, I would have said, “Really?” Five years later and my fourth trip, the Lord continues to amaze me in so many ways, including calling me back.
This year has been a very different year with the passing of my father recently, thinking that I would not be here on this trip, doubting His calling to me, and my faith wavering at times. But the Lord has shown me His faithfulness, His love and that He really means it when He calls you to the mission field.
Here I am writing in Chiang Mai this morning with much gratitude to Him, my team and all the amazing supporters He provided for me along the way. Some think the journey is in the actual mission trip. The Lord has shown me there is much more to His calling than that. It is in your journey before and after where He is doing a great work in you. Drawing you closer to Him, leaning on Him, trusting Him. This year He took it to a new level, after planting a small seed in me, 5 years ago, He is reminding me and showing me How great He truly is.
“I tell you the truth, If you have faith as ,small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to here, and it will move, nothing will be impossible for you.” - Matthew 17:20
This year is different for me, as I found my last trip to be overly confident and in a comfort zone, most likely missing out on some of God’s voice to me. This year, with all that has transpired and all the stripping of my own identity or pride He has taken away, He had a plan and is doing a new thing in me! Although every trip has been exciting and enlightening for myself, I am most excited for days ahead with open arms to whatever He has to show me within my team members, ITDP and all the villagers. He is teaching me that my identity lies within HIM and all He created me for, His purpose and glorification of His name.
In the words of Paul, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:20). I have read this so many times and didn’t really grasp it until now. There is no doubt in my mind that this will be an amazing trip of exploration, continued healing and redemption.
As I listen to my new team members, their uniqueness and individual stories, their anxieties and fears, I cannot help but think how we are all interconnected and so carefully hand-picked each and every one of us to lean in on, learn from, help each other up in struggles, and celebrate victories in each other on this trip. I am grateful to Him for each and every one of them and cannot wait to see what is in store!
~ Debbie T.