Siempre

"Vayan y hagan discípulos de todas las naciones, bautizándolos en el nombre del Padre y del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo..."

Vayan. Go. 

    Right now, I am two weeks away from heading to a new continent with a language I don't quite speak yet. It's been a crazy journey to this point. Becoming a student missionary has been a thought in the back of my mind for a while now. From the first time I heard tales of dodging snakes in the Indonesian jungles from a camp counselor to when I experienced my first short-term mission trip. The ear-to-ear smiles of the kids, the hard work, vibrant culture, the fresh mangos! My soul felt right.

    And so, going into college I was pretty sure I wanted to go as an SM. However, at some point, talking idly about it had to become action, and that, actually taking the first step, scared me. After my first year as a biology student, fighting for good grades and cramming knowledge into my memory, the idea of leaving my classes felt like giving up. After becoming close with amazing new friends and closer with old ones, the thought of being a continent away felt too hard. And the idea of giving up my AC, my closet of clothes, my American food, it all seemed like too much. 

"...enseñándoles a obedecer todo lo que les he mandado a ustedes..."

    These were the list of excuses I used to try to drown out God's ever louder call to go. One of the biggest reservations I had was feeling like the world would move on without me, especially my friends. And I had told God that. Finally, one Friday night it all became real. It was the night of the SM vespers at SAU where all the returned student missionaries from the previous year tell their stories. And God was at work. As the SMs spoke, I knew that this was what God was calling me to, I couldn't run from it anymore. I realized I had to obey. But God in His goodness knew the fears in my heart. In what felt like a wink from Him to me, my roommate and both of my suitemates told me that night that they were going to go do missions too. I wouldn't be going alone. It was as if He was saying, "I hear you, don't you know I'll take care of you?"

"Y les aseguro que estaré con ustedes siempre, hasta el fin del mundo."

    So as I set out into all this new, I'm still tempted to fear, to shy away from the discomfort. However, I know that this is God's call and that He doesn't just call, He also promises. Because while He tells me to go, He also says He'll be with me. Siempre. Always. Even to the ends of the earth. 

"Vayan y hagan discípulos de todas las naciones, bautizándolos en el nombre del Padre y del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo, 20enseñándoles a obedecer todo lo que les he mandado a ustedes. Y les aseguro que estaré con ustedes siempre, hasta el fin del mundo."

"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:19-20