Counting the Costs

I leave in less than a week. And as I continue to sift through my stuff and rid myself of that which is untakable sadness overcomes me. I forget what it is like to lose everything earthly in pursuit of heavenly things. It's harder than I remember. I forget how nice it is to have financial security and a steady job. But my honorable father didn't call me to these things. He called me to be an ambassador in a familiar unfamiliar place. He took me in as his child and I want to share that honor bestowed upon me with others.

They're are many challenges I face like how I don't begin to get a salary from my support until I've been teaching a month. I think that its there way of combatting the fact that my support is one month shy of fully funded so I have to dip into savings just to survive. But they are the ones with little faith. I know he will provide all I need and hopefully more. I'm in a season of sadness- goodbyes to comfort, goodbyes to friends, goodbyes to stability and goodbyes to a culture where I was raised only to enter another which I love.

I'm in a season of sadness but it won't last. I'm looking forward to the joy that meets me as I arrive at Camilles door. The joy of reuniting with friends and  former coworkers. The joy of meeting with my team and getting to know them.

I fear expectations,  getting stuck in airports, not having money and misunderstandings in communication because of cultural differences. I hate it but I also know when push comes to shove my Lao friends will help me out. I hate that I'll have to rely on them but I know my father has it under control. He makes all things beautiful in his time!

I'm excited at the end of this month to enter Laos. I enter on the 28th and will be staying with a host family. Things will have changed but it will be good to adjust. I know at first it will be a struggle but it will grow on me just as it did in the past. I can't wait for all the new adventures that await! Thanks to those who make all this possible!