Time to Go! The cost of the Gospel!

Hello Brothers and Sisters!
As I write today, Heidi, Mikayah and I are 10 days away from stepping on an airplane and heading to Zimbabwe to share Jesus Christ! We are excited and also a little scared. We have no fear for lack of God's power, His providence and sovereignty, but we tend to fear our own weakness in the adjustments that are coming our way! How wonderful it is, to us, to read Hebrews chapter 11 and see that one of the characteristics mentioned of the people who the writer doesn't have enough time to mention is that they were, "made strong out of weakness." (Heb. 11:34) We trust and know our wonderful Father is going to do that in our lives too!

What is on my heart today, as I think about leaving for Zimbabwe, is the "cost" of following Jesus! Do you think about that concept very often? Sometimes, the thought is pretty foreign to me, abstract and emotionless, but today, it is vivid, extremely real, and emotional. This morning, while going on a run, Heidi's dad, Larry, asked me (Ian), "So, how do you prepare for this? How do you get ready?" I answered with "I don't really know, except that we feel the pain of the losses that go with our decision to serve overseas, while also clinging with absolute confidence to the promises of God's Word." For me, the passage in Matthew 19 where Jesus speaks to the Rich Young Ruler, and tells him to sell everything and come follow Him is a common passage. However, the words at the end of the chapter that are usually encouraging but abstract are these, "And everyone who as left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life." For most of my life I have read those words and see them as a tremendous encouragement that God sees the sacrifices that occur in my life and my family's life to follow and serve Him and He will reward us one day. In recent days, for the first time, I've begun to see how much our following Christ can effect other people, causing them to sacrifice and endure and hurt and persevere as well! That's the thought I wanted to share and encourage you all with in this blog. Realize how your following effects others! I would encourage that it shouldn't at all cause us to shrink back from following Jesus radically, but alters our perspective of obedience and sacrifice to be healthier, more patient, more tender and more loving to the friends and family that are directly effected by our decisions to follow our Great King!

This idea and revelation of the cost of following Jesus both for us and our family is very tangible for us as we prepare to leave for Zimbabwe. There will be tears at the airport a week from Saturday because our love for one another runs deep and our "loss" in this life is very real! However, we look forward to the eternal hope that we ALL posses as Christians, believing that what is to come far out weighs anything that we could hope to retain or obtain in this life. And so, we press on toward Christ, our Author and Perfecter of faith, knowing that there is something even better than the incredible blessings of family, friends, running water, electricity and stability of life to come...namely, the Kingdom of God, the presence of Jesus Christ and fellowship of the Holy Spirit!

We greatly appreciate you prayers as we finish up preparations to leave for Zim! We leave at 11am on Saturday, November 5th from Washington, D.C. May God bless you all richly in Christ Jesus as you continue to grow and serve Him here in the States and around the world. We pray you keep pressing on in your walk with God, growing and becoming more like Jesus all the way! Our next blog will be from Zimbabwe!

Here's a poem we wrote expressing our hearts about leaving for Zim:

It’s a world of comfort, ease, and peace,

This is the land I know.

Life is familiar, calm, and routine,

This is my comfort zone.

In ten days, I’ll exit this world

And enter a new land

All that I know will be left behind,

And on foreign ground I’ll stand.

This new life will be a challenge,

It is no Disney World.

Disease, famine, darkness, and war,

And spiders that would scare any girl!

Do I really desire this life?

My flesh tells me no.

But the Spirit of God has called me;

Therefore, I must go!

Thanksgiving and joy will be a choice

In the good and bad days.

He must be greater; I must be less

For my life to be an offering of praise. 

As I exit my world and enter theirs,

I will have to decide

To hold on to what I want and know

Or in Christ alone abide

When I feel alone on this journey,

I remember my Saving Lord.

How He came to earth and served us

With His offering that can’t be ignored. 

He left His throne and lived in our muck

To save all who’d believe

If I can’t exit my part of the world,

Then to Him, do I really cleave?

Farewell dear pride, doubt, and fear

You’re no longer a part of me.

I’ll live in the power from above

And make my selfishness flee.

I can do this with His help!

He gives power to the weak.

Crooked roads will be made straight

When Him we completely seek. 

The roller coaster is going up.

The hills’ peak is in view.

One life ends and another begins,

Lord, my hope and trust are in you!

Tichaonai!
Until we meet again,
Ian, Heidi and Mikayah