If you had told me four years ago that I would be moving to Thailand after graduating from college, I might have laughed at you. I first received the call to full-time, vocational ministry at the age of 10 and around the same time began to develop a heart for the world. It was not until college that my calling became more clear and I felt drawn towards para-church ministry. I was fortunate enough to have a wide variety of cross-cultural experiences while in college, including two study abroad trips in South Africa and Israel and a ministry tour with my choir in South Korea. In each cross-cultural experience I had, I felt a gentle tugging and a voice that was saying, "Gary, this is what I'm calling you to." I had more peace and felt more at home in those experiences then I had experienced anywhere else. As with any major transition in life, there are a wide range of emotions I have been feeling in regards to moving to and serving in Thailand:
Excitement. I'm excited to move, live, and serve abroad. It's been a dream of mine to do so, especially over these past four years. I'm excited to learn another language, and God-willing, become fluent in it. I'm excited to have easy access to delicious Thai food.
Anxiety. I'm a little anxious about moving somewhere new and starting all over again relationally. I am an extrovert and God has faithfully brought people into my life who care for me and are intentional with me in every season I've been in. Still, it doesn't mean there's no anxiety about starting fresh and heading into the unknown.
I could go on about the wide range of emotions I have and am experiencing, but the two extremes of excitement and anxiety capture it pretty well. I trust that God is going to provide in every way, that God is going to be there in the good and the challenging times, and my life is going to be changed forever by my two years in Thailand. God has proven faithful before and I know God will continue to be. It is that in which I trust and the foundation on which I stand as I head into this new, exciting, and challenging season of life.