Day of Epiphany

January 5, 2013 - I had just finished a wonderful evening - sharing dinner with two great friends, Madge and Cindie. On my drive home, with the car radio volume on low, I experienced one of those moments when you hear a song and the music cuts deep into your soul; oftentimes without knowing why, or what experiences and emotions that song is touching in your life. I turned up the volume and listened more closely to the lyrics. The song is "Follow You" (written by Ed Cash, Jack Mooring, and Leeland Mooring). "And I'll follow You into the homes of the broken. I'll follow You into the world. I'll meet the need for the poor and the needy, God. I'll follow You into the world. Use my hands, use my feet to make Your kingdom come. To the corners of the earth until Your work is done." It struck me then that this song must have struck me as being like a send-off song. In one week I will leave Phoenix for Phnom Penh, Cambodia where I will volunteer for about a month with a wonderful ministry named "Daughters of Cambodia". Why Cambodia?

 

January 6, 2013 (Day of Epiphany) Here are some highlights from the Mission Journal that I have been keeping since May, 2012.

 

“May, 2012…It started with a dream in early 2012. The dream was clear in the respect that God was calling me to a mission of service, but not clear as to where, what, or when. [God’s timing is often different from our timing. Oswald Chambers describes how we often jump between worship, waiting, and work, but that God often intends for them to exist simultaneously.] I have sought clarity through prayer and counsel – leading me to know that I shall serve people who live in worldly poverty and that service shall not be predetermined by me, but based on their needs.”

 

Mother Teresa said that we may not all have the opportunity to serve in “big” ways, but that we can serve in small ways with great love.

 

Psalm 78:72, “So he shepherded then according to the integrity of his heart. And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.”

 

“This time of transformation is not so much to learn “what” is next, but “how” I should be and do what is next.”

 

“July 8, 2012…Despite feeling fairly settled in my heart that I would serve in the Dine (Navajo) Nation when I attended church with my family on San Juan Island and heard of a January mission to Cambodia I was moved. I contacted Jenny (who is serving a two year mission in Cambodia with Daughters of Cambodia) and she was excited about the possibility for me to go there. Prayer. I need prayer.”

 

“August 25, 2012…Continuing to pray and joined in prayer by Jenny. Both of us feeling led that I would go to Cambodia for 2-3 weeks to pray with the volunteers and to be available as support to young volunteers.”  

 

“January 6, 2013…The Day of Epiphany. Quoting Mother Teresa, “In the choice of works, there was neither planning nor preconceived ideas. We started our work as the suffering of the people called us. God showed us what to do.” True freedom is not, for me, when I take control of all my actions and surroundings, but more so when I yield to God.”  

 

At that time I did not know what I will be doing in Cambodia or even where I will be staying. This lack of planning is uncomfortable in some ways, but it is also intentional. In essence, the more I release myself from the power and control in my life that I have worked to achieve, and the more that I give myself to God, the more freedom I truly have. 

 

As far as I know I have no expertise in the "work" of Daughters, but I do have a deep faith and complete trust that God is calling me and will equip me to do His work. I am also so empowered by the passion and courage of my colleagues and the families whom we are honored to serve; and by the kindness, wisdom, and love of my friends and family. I also know that I have had many experiences in life and that "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28