I might have my fears and reservations on certain experiences in life, but in the end my will to serve God trumps those. So when the Good Lord called me to go on this trip I carefully weighed my options:
- I could do as God commanded me to, and just go
Or as Jonah so kindly figured out for me...
2. I could not go and instead spend a few lovely days in a fish or some other horrible place God would use to get my attention.
After spending a little too long weighing my options, I found myself in a completely different country and on a mission trip. As it would often be quoted by Michelle on the trip "You have got to be kidding me!" - often ran through my mind on the first few days. I was constantly trying to figure out how I had gotten myself into this situation.
Those of you who know God and how He works can tell He was going somewhere with all this...
...that somewhere was Monday morning. We returned to the orphanage to do some crafts with the children. Up until this point everything was going just as I had expected. You see, before leaving we were briefed on the type of living conditions and culture shock we would encounter while on the trip. I had prepared myself for the worst.
The unexpected happened when I sat beside a young girl to help her with the activity sheets we were doing. After years of schooling and learning to put your name on the top of your sheet, I did so rather automatically. The young girl I sat beside also wrote her name at the top of her sheet. She then pointed to my last named and asked what it meant. I explained to her it was my last name, the name of my family. A moment later the young girl wrote my last name on her paper as her own last name. At first I wanted to be like "No, wait! You have no idea what type of family you are getting into!" "We are not exactly the Brady Bunch; we have issues!" Then, at that moment, God quieted my heart and spoke. "It has been done. She is now your sister; her family is now your family and yours hers". I had prepared for so much but no one told me to prepare for the love that the people I met would have for me. That young girl without hesitations excepted me and all my faults. She simply just loved. I was gloriously overwhelmed. It was at that point I looked around the table and for the first time saw my family. These weren't just children in an orphanage anymore; these were my brothers and sisters. God had opened my eyes and heart to them.
Just to wrap this up - I had never felt "made" for missions. I never had a heart for it. But in a tiny orphanage in the Dominican Republic, with the use of my sister Noellia, God taught me that I don't need to be on fire for missions. He is on fire about it enough. I just need to be willing to go, He will take it from there.
Faith, Love and Dynamite<3
RiantGorkette
