Dear Future Goers,
I hope that as you make preparations and say goodbyes that you feel the deep security of the great God who has great grace for us! To help process my really weird and over-the-top journey in North Africa, I’ve compiled a list of five things/advices that were critical to my time overseas:
5: Commit to learning the language for as long as you can as soon as you arrive. No matter how dumb you feel or how much work it is. God will use whatever language you have to do work in you and through you. For me, I always made the most inappropriate (but hilarious) mistakes in class…but in spite of that embarrassment, the impact that using the language became immeasurable. God used it to its fullest extent, and continues to use it in my life back home.
4: Plug into God in a radical way. For me, that meant doing two hours a day of prayer/worship/quiet time/solitude. The whole reason we serve is to partner with what God is doing in the world, but we can’t do that without a radical reintroduction to him and outside of ourselves. The way that I heard the Lord changed dramatically when I got to North Africa, and plugging in deeply made the difference to my soul in the hard months that followed.
3: Be sure your food is always hot and as clean as it can be. I returned to the States early after a serious battle with parasites I caught in North Africa, and a little TLC goes a long way when you are there. Take the extra time to wash your vegetables and cook for yourself. Take care of yourself physically as well as mentally/emotionally and spiritually. Pay attention to how you are doing. Your soul can’t bear the burden of thousands, and you need to take care of yourself!
2: When life sucks and you want to explode, don’t isolate yourself from others. In whatever way possible, make sure you stay connected to the believers around you. If you can’t find any, ask God to reveal safe people to you.
1: Be bold with what God has given you. God has called you into boldness and bravery in this journey with GoCorps, and your identity is in Him first as a son/daughter. Spend time discerning and learning to hear His voice overseas, and follow Him wherever He leads you. Even if it seems crazy, you can’t see the future that God sees (unless you’re prophetically gifted in that way). What lies behind the most potentially awkward situation could be the most life-giving opportunity in your life!
Blessings as you guys go. Be bold, and NEVER neglect your roots in the Most High!
Esther, Class of 2015