God has been so faithful and kind to us in this season of waiting. What felt like an agonizing detour we can see as a beautiful season of preparation and calling. God has been at work. He has held us close, disciplined and comforted us. We are keenly aware of our unending need for God and see Him as bigger than all our fears and worries. We have been tangibly held. We are so undeserving and we are so thankful. I threw many a fit these last few months. And God, so tenderly, again and again put me in my place. I am so thankful for the uncomfortable, the unknown, the desperate dependence on God.
“…yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” – 1 Corinthians 8:6
It has been a season of putting off so much- the fear and expectation of man, redefining success, trust and setting our eyes and hope on One. A constant battle. I have wrestled continually with the Lord, begging for freedom, for peace, for understanding and for hope. God has taken hold of idols in my heart I wasn’t even aware of and ripped them away. It has been an ugly season. It’s been a season of being hidden away. It has been GOOD.
I cry sitting here typing, thinking of how (despite my ugliness) God has decided He is going to call us up from the ashes for a purpose He has had planned for us since the beginning of time.
In all my tantrums ,especially over the last 10 years, I could not see God’s kind, Sovereign hand in everything…preparing us to walk this next road.
So I stand here, amazed that God would want to use us but begging that He would use us up for His glory and purpose.
We see that this next season of ministry with TLI is exactly what God grew in our hearts in Haiti, as if He sent us there to prepare us for exactly this. A love for immigrants and refugees, knowing the great need for solid, Biblical training for pastors, an understanding of how important worshiping in your heart language is and no house or things to keep us from saying yes! It’s something we would not have been able to do well, or even understood how needed it is if we hadn’t gone to Haiti.
I am excited and hopeful.
This season has made us uniquely thankful for the global church. People from all over have been to us- teammates, encouragers, confidante, counselors, family, cheerleaders and friends. To be on mission alongside all of you is a great joy and honor.
These Scriptures fuel hope and peace and tell me that:
I have to lose my life in order to find it. (Matthew 16:25)
I have to count the cost of serving him. (Luke 14:25–33)
Success isn’t always what we think it is, and seed-sewing is just as important as watering and branch-pruning. (1 Corinthians 3:6–9)
Pain is temporary, and is nothing compared to glory. (2 Corinthians 4:17–18)
God’s word will not return to him void, but always does its work. (Isaiah 55:11) *
And so we walk this road that God has laid out before us…to Minneapolis to serve the immigrant communities for the Glory of God and the good of His beloved people!
Much Love,
Annie
*from “Missions is Worth the Mess”
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