Will You Follow Too?

There are many things I love about this life, but few things compare to expression.
Art.
The written word.
Photos.
Dance.
Music.
Expression. I see a beautiful story in all of those things.

I definitely think it is because I have been a quiet person all my life. It's who I am. Even though I have opened up over the years, my strong feelings are careful to show themselves to the outside world even with the best of friends present. Thoughts are constantly circling in my head and most of the time they don't make it past my tongue.

So, I write. I sing. I try to speak the words.

For the past three years, I've had a song. A song that is partially my theme and wholly my prayer. It reminds me what following Jesus really means for me personally, and recently, for certain brothers and sisters in my life. It is my expression.

I Will Wast My Life by Misty Edwards.
The title of my blog and a song that has a lot of meaning. It is uncomfortable, and yet it is simple.

"I will waste my life
I'll be tempted and tried with no regrets inside of me
Just to find I'm at Your feet
Let me find I'm at Your feet

"I'll leave my father's house and I'll leave my mother
I'll leave all I have known and I'll have no other

"I am in love with You there is no cost
I am in love with You there is no loss
I am in love with You I want to take your name
I am in love with You I want to cling to you, Jesus
Just let me cling to You, Jesus

"I'll say goodbye to my father, my mother
I'll turn my back on any other lover
And I'll press on
yes, I'll press on"


What would happen if we all took this message seriously?
How honest and real, uncomfortable and challenging, it is!


This song doesn't just apply to me. It should apply to ALL of us who desire to follow Jesus.
It doesn't just apply to some girl who is going to be an international missionary in Uganda, it applies to everyone because we are all missionaries in life. Well, we should be.

 
"People from my first home say I'm brave. They tell me I'm strong. They pat me on the back and say, 'Way to go. Good job.' But the truth is, I am not really very brave; I am not really very strong; and I am not doing anything spectacular. I am simply doing what God has called me to do as a person who follows Him. He said to feed His sheep and He said to care for 'the least of these,' so that's what I'm doing, with the help of a lot people who make it possible and in the company of those who make my life worth living”
― Katie J. Davis, Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption


What does it look like for you to "waste your life" according to the world's standards?

Me? I will go and teach in a foreign country with different philosophies, different teaching styles, and different beliefs on Special Education. I will miss birthdays, holidays, weddings, and maybe even funerals. I will miss getting a hug from my mom after a day that leaves me completely empty. I will miss the smell of my dad's aftershave on his clothes. My brothers; their infuriating banter. The students I have been with for a year and a half; seeing them grow and change with joy. A comfortable teaching job, finding an apartment, staying with my small church and best friends,  paying off student loans, etc.
That is what I am "wasting". And I intend to continue to "waste" no matter where God takes me.
Yet, I have counted the cost and I am ready. Because God is worth it. He has proved that to me over and over again. He has used me despite my ugliness and selfish nature.
There is no excuse for me to not follow where He leads. It's not about me.

It's the same for you, but will you follow too?
.
 
 A dear friend of mine completely changed the direction of his life this last summer. His family was counting on him to get his degree and provide for the family after university, but God was calling him to be a ministry in his home country. His family disowned him as he followed Jesus' leading for several weeks. Now, he has reconciled with his family and is on his way to ministry - and knowing him, he will be great at it. I know God will bless him abundantly. I know for sure.
This friend is such an inspiration to me. That is what "wasting" life for Jesus looks like.
 

Waiting in Prayer

   I have some specific prayer requests concerning Uganda that have come up in the past couple weeks.
My departure is most likely going to be pushed back to January 2014, but that is still not certain as it is also possible I will be going this October. There are advantages and disadvantages to both departure dates. I honestly would love to leave in January to give myself more time to prepare. It would also allow me to leave my teaching job at a less awkward time. However, I realized that I need to go when God says to go regardless of my preparedness.
Ultimately, God is directing and orchestrating this trip, but as a human, I worry more than I should which results in stress. Why do I do that when I know for sure He is sovereign? Why do I question even when I know for sure that Jesus is leading me to East Africa? When He has told me time and time again? Oh, the irony. I am so thankful that the Lord loves me unconditionally!
  Please be in prayer with me as things are finalized and decisions are being made for my trip. Also, please pray with me that I will be actively waiting: praying, seeking God's guidance, and trusting Him with my whole being. My funding still is an item to be prayed for as well.

Thank you for all the prayers and love. Know that I am encouraged by all of you!

Mungu akubariki (God bless you),
Missy

The Next Step - Uganda

Though my trip to Kenya will continue to follow me as God continues to reveal more of Himself to me, I am now fully engrossed into my next trip to Uganda. Timing and other details are still not known, but here is more information on this next chapter of my life. Thank you for all the prayers and support in general! It means a lot.

Dear family and friends,

It hasn’t been that long since I last wrote to you and I pray that you are all well and blessed.  My school year has ended as a paraprofessional in an Autism classroom and I cannot tell you how much I have learned this year. Special Education seems to be where I fit best as a teacher and God has gently been leading me there as it becomes part of my heart. However, He isn’t finished with me yet.

During my previous trips to East Africa, it has been clear to me that I want to take a leap of faith to teach overseas, to “go into all the world”, and to represent Christ as I reach children (and others) for Him.  In my next steps, I have been accepted on as a short-term missionary for Africa Inland Mission (AIM) and will be serving in Kampala, Uganda in the special needs ministry. There I will assist teachers as they teach children with autism at Kyambogo University from October 2013 to August 2014 (which may change to January to the end of 2014). I want to make a difference in the lives of the teachers, and especially students using the skills I have acquired during the past year.

In Uganda, children with special needs and their families are often ostracized by society because of the belief that the disabilities are due to demon possession or witchcraft. They also frequently experience neglect and deprivation.  AIM’s desire is for the special needs ministry to provide care for this community’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs as well as for their families and caregivers.  My hope is that I will be used by God to carry out His vision for Uganda’s special needs community.

Not only do I want to be used by God, I want to be continually changed by Him through this step in my life. I am looking forward to learning more from a new culture and people; to learn more about God’s heart for His world, and to grow in my relationship with Jesus. I hope to be challenged in my faith and for God to speak to me as I consider full-time missions in the future.

God is certainly moving in my life and as I am looking to Him for guidance, I am also inviting you to become a part of this ministry by supporting me.  I will have barriers between language and culture, and I will face many challenges. Please keep me in your prayers as I cannot do this alone. Please pray for understanding as I work with teachers and students, smooth travel, and for all that is required of me before I leave the country.

 If you would like to receive e-mail updates for prayer this fall, please indicate that on the included form and return it to me and I will add you to the list! I would also ask that you prayerfully consider being a part of my financial support for this trip. The cost is $15,895 which covers travel, living expenses, as well as contributions towards outreach supplies. I cannot leave until the amount is raised. All donations are tax deductible; and all checks should be made out to Africa Inland Mission. Please do not place my name anywhere on the check - instead use the included form. All checks should be sent directly to me, so that I may record them and then pass them on to AIM. You can also give online at http://www.aimint.org/usa/; just type in Barnett, Melissa. I am looking forward to hearing from you!