Preparing for Overseas Ministry

Early Sunday morning in Bagley, MN

I've now been with CTI for 7 weeks, and these have been the most incredible, life-changing weeks of my life. To see how our music and our actions have impacted those we've met in churches, schools, colleges, and prisons just blows me away. God really does show Himself through the people we encounter, and I truly believe that CTI is equipping us for ministry this year, and for always. Tomorrow afternoon we leave for Taiwan (first flying to Chicago; then Seoul, South Korea; and finally into Taipei, Taiwan), and I am so excited to see how God will use our team overseas!

CTI Team 14:22 setting up in Edgerton, MN

On Friday night, CTI had a special "Commissioning Service" for us at a local church. Kind of like a send-off for the teams heading overseas, with time of worship, reflection, and communion. I thought I'd share something I wrote after coming home from that service:

We had our Commissioning Service tonight at First Baptist Church, and it was amazing. I wasn't expecting it to have that much of an impact on me. But I got so lost in prayer, and so overwhelmed when I started thinking about the amazing blessings in my life that I totally don't deserve, that I almost started to cry. To just reflect on how good God has been to me - blessing me with great friends, family, CTI, and this amazing life where I get to live every day for Him - really humbled me and blew me away. It's so easy to take life for granted, and to be thinking about the past or the future, but to just "be" in the moment with God, and to really be aware of how He's moving in my life is so incredible. I don't deserve this. Any of it. I'm selfish. Insecure. I've made some poor choices. Lots of really poor ones, in fact. I've sinned. I don't always put others first. I take for granted all the things I have. And despite all this, despite all my very obvious flaws and faults, God still pours His love on me. Without holding back, without judging, He just unconditionally loves me. And this might be one of the first times I've really, truly felt that. God never lets go. Even when I pull away from Him, He never leaves me. He loves me always, and deeply, and without conditions or reservations. And I know now that I have to run to Him. To always listen to His voice, even when it's a challenge. Even when my selfishness and ego says "no", or "you're crazy", or "that's not really God talking!". I was thinking tonight about how just a couple of months ago, when I was still in Toronto, I thought I was happy. And I was, at the time. But I know now that this, where I am today, is happiness. To have given up my job, my apartment, my comfort, and my stability for God's will was one of the biggest challenges I've faced, and has brought me the most joy I've ever felt in my life. All of this to say...I want to continue to live fully for Christ. To give up "me" for "Him". To truly rid me of myself, to die to me, and belong to Him. To live in whatever way and whatever place and whatever circumstance He may present me with. My life will not be normal, will not be what society/friends/family expect. But you know what? I don't think there's much about me that's normal anyway. :)

CTI's Display Table in Duluth, MN

I am so excited to see how God will use me and our team to minister and encourage those in Taiwan. Please keep CTI team 14:22 in your prayers as we head to Taiwan (and also team 14:21 as they travel to Honduras!). Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your love and support. I'll be back in a month to share stories and photos of CTI's overseas adventures!






PS. More pictures from my CTI trip can be found here.