Asia Bound

This week I bought tickets. In January I'm finally going to Asia to see first hand what opportunities there are. As I think about the possibilities I must say I'm slightly intimidated. I don't think that I'm anxious. Paul tells us not to be anxious but rather to pursue things with prayer and supplication, but that intimidates me even more. I think one of the things that makes me uncomfortable is the idea of being uncomfortable. Despite fighting it, I think I have grown comfortable and complacent here. On a given day I know what to expect. I know who I will run into and converse with, I can choose to engage or avoid awkward and challenging situations, I feel like I am in control of things. As I pray and seek His will, and look at my deep desires as a believer I know there is so much more that He has for me. I know the desires He has for reaching the lost, helping the needy, and healing the hurting. I know that He is growing these things in my deepest desires and directing me to engage this work head on. As glorious and altruistic as that all sounds, when it comes down to it, these tasks are really messy and really hard. I wonder if I'm up to the challenge. I know that His grace is sufficient and that His strength will be my strength.

In one sense I have big expectations and am praying for specific things. He has placed this area of the world on my heart. He has placed a desire to meet people's physical needs through business. He wants to to use me to tell the lost and hurting that there is life and healing and fullness in Him. Why this part of the world? What city? What business? What partners? What local body of believers? How long? What is the next step? For now I know the next step is to pray and fast and seek Him. In January I'm adding to this going to seek out more answers in a few specific cities. I've seen God answer huge prayers before and I can't wait to see what he chooses to reveal in the next few months.