“Then I heard the Lord asking ,”Whom shall I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am Lord. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8

EXCITED, anxious, EXCITED, nervous, EXCITED, overwhelmed…. Humbled, prayerful, covered in peace- AND, officially trying to not freak out 🥴. Lol, ALL the emotions of a very “human” momma. The momma that loves the Lord with her whole heart, has seen His face and love, trusts His Word, holds on to her faith for dear life – but, STILL, human.

All of a sudden your babies are basically grown, love Jesus, and want to GO OUT and tell others about Who He is.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of age.” Matt. 28:19-20

This is what we pray for, what we want for our children. To see them love Christ more than anything, and to fall more in love with Him daily. When Emma, Piper, and Mac came to us and told us they wanted to go to Alaska that’s when all of those emotions came flooding in. We all started praying. Praying for guidance, direction, and of course- confirmation. And God, in all His glory, and His way, worked it all out and lined everything up. Long talks about missions, what to expect (the very real and raw), and gosh – them being SO FAR away! (YA’LL! My kids were closer to RUSSIA than to me!😬🫣)

Days, weeks, months of hard work, prayer, preparation, and so many moments asking God to calm nerves as it got closer and reality set in. So many days PRAISING GOD for an Ah-Mazing Youth/ Church leadership, Church family, and grateful for our community and village!

I knew myself what it was like to go on a mission trip. I knew all the different sides of it. The overwhelming emotions, the exhaustion, the nerves, and the very greatness of God unfolding before your eyes. The good, the bad, and the in between. But, it wasn’t me going this time … it was “my” babies and their friends – that are my babies!

“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24

“…. take up his cross and FOLLOW ME.” There is so much overwhelming spiritual joy in missions and following God’s call. There is also the very reality that taking up His cross and following Jesus is not easy. CHRIST’s mission was not easy, His life was not easy, spreading the gospel – not easy. As “momma”, I was so excited for the mission, the joy and refining they were going to take part in and experience. I was also, admittedly battling my flesh. Nervous about the possibilities that come with the mission- heartache, trials, tribulation, risk, rejection, safety … all the things. Even when we know that God teaches us our greatest lessons in the midst of “the hard” – it stinks watching your kid hurt, struggle, battling sadness, or fear.

God continually reminded me of WHO HE IS. Reminded me that they are HIS children – and so am I. And while they did experience some “hard” and unplanned hiccups- sickness (imagine being closer to Russia and sick lol 🫣🤪), spending days and hours with children sharing the gospel and crying because you don’t want to leave them, cancelled flights, being split from your sibling and church family to be put on different flights, AND up for 33 hours trying to get home – but – even with all that and more – they saw His face! And so did I and many others. They were His hands, His feet. They took up their cross to follow Him, and He was with them every step of the way. They fell more in love with Christ, with His people, and His mission. They went to Alaska to change lives – and they were embraced in Him changing theirs. I look at all their pics and see that Alaska was breathtaking- but Alaska with GOD was LIFE-GIVING.

3 John 1:4 “I could have no greater joy than to hear my children are following the truth.”