A Life Worth Living.

I would just like to start of by saying the Lord is GOOD.

He is always so much better than I am expecting. 

Shocker.

I had originally planned to write about something that had been going on in my life for a while...

...but within the last 14 minutes or so I've changed my mind.

I'm going to write about something that I feel like has always been going on in my life, but it also just started about 17 minutes ago.

Confused?

Me too.

Throughout the years I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve the Lord in many different ways and in many different places. 

Missions has always been in my life. 

I went on my first mission trip in 7th grade.

And I haven't stopped since.

It's an addiction.

You start to crave the challenges, the rewards, the sacrifices, the blessings.

You miss the relationships you make. 

You miss investing so heavily in people.

You miss walking through life with those on your team. 

You miss being aware of the Lord working so blatantly.

Mmm. 

I know I miss them.

Once you go international, there's no going back.

Once you go, you HAVE to keep going.

It's one of those experiences that can't leave you untouched.

You can't come back unchanged. 

When you get to interact with people from a different culture or a different background, the world just opens up.

You're introduced to new ways of thinking, new perspectives.

The Lord proves that He NEVER changes.

The same God that I pray to in English is the same God that Rhys prays to in Welsh.

The same God that answers his prayers, answers mine.

The same God that forgives him, forgives me.

And that is something that instantly bonds you with people.

You may only have that one thing in common, but that's all that matters.

And you always hear about all the orphans in Africa and all the hungry in Asia and all the poor in South America, etc, etc.

But it's different when it's Arturo that's the poor hungry orphan. 

Now it's not just some random number or statistic. 

It's this chubby little boy with pudding on his face. 

He's why I go.

They are why I go.

(And also because I LOVE IT)

If anything I get addicted to seeing the crazy stuff the Lord does.

He is quite the creative fellow. 

And it becomes somewhat addicting to watch Him surprise you.

Give it a try and see how it goes. 

So that's how missions has always been in my life.

But until about 26 minutes ago it has become my life.

This is what I was made for.

I was made to go.

I'm made to be a friend to the friendless.

I'm made to be a help to the helpless.

I'm made to be a mother to the motherless.

I'm made to be Christ to the Christless.

I am made for this. 

This is me. 

God made me for His people.

I have to go.

I have no clue what all this means.

I could end up in a hut in Africa,

or a lean-to in Guatemala, 

or a flat in London, 

or a farm in Nebraska, 

or a house in Louisiana. 

I don't know where or what or how yet.

All I do know is that this is what I was made for. 

And this is what I have to do.