Why am I going to India? The word says that God has the plans for our lives, and He knew them before the foundation of time. We only begin to see this as He unfolds His plans to us and that is really quite a phenomenal thing. I am constantly reminded of His sovereignty and all I can say is WOW! It's like working on a huge jigsaw puzzle and it is only when one piece fits into place that you see the possibility for the next piece.
I clearly remember thinking about serving Jesus in other countries as I listened to our pastor Art talk about his trip to China in January of 2003. I had always been interested in going on trip some day, I like to travel and it was one of those things that everyone should do at least once in their lives. But, as I listened to Art something was gripping me in a way I had never experienced before. My heart started to pound and I felt drawn in to everything that was said.
At the end of Art's message he asked if anyone felt drawn to this kind of service, was this for me? I had to admit that something was happening. I came up to the front for prayer, and the first thing that happened was that I heard Jesus speak to me (in my Spirit). This was still a very new experience for me. I heard "fear not" and I thought to myself, well that is something God would say. Then I heard; "Your children are in my hands" and I was shaken because I was just thinking about my kids. Then I swallowed and said okay, then I heard; "Now I have you where I want you." and I fell on the floor, not so much because I was slayed in the spirit but because my knees just gave out from under me! I knew this meant a huge change in who I understood myself to be.
Over the next couple of months I sought out everyone I could think of to pray for me and I was constantly asking the Lord to tell me where I was going. He had taken me through a series of prayers in which I gave Him everything; my house, my things, my work, my children, my independence. As a new Christian I was in a big hurry to "get there" I did not yet understand that this journey would last for the rest of my life.
One morning late in March, as I was lying on the floor crying out to God to tell me where He was sending me, the phone rang and Ester, a precious elderly missionary who had prayed for me several times was on the other end. She said she thought she knew where I was going and she began to describe a trip that was advertised in Voice of the Martyr, to India. I would never have picked India in a million years but I knew there was something to this because I felt that heart pounding excitement in my Spirit again.
My first trip to India took place in June of that year and I went again the next two years as well. It was on the second trip that I heard the Lord say that I would be coming back here to be a mother to the girls there. There would be some bumps in the road along the way and a couple of side trips to Guatemala and to Brazil, but it was all part of His plan,
When I came back from Brazil I felt the Lord say that the time had come to give my notice of retirement at work in June, and that I was to give a year's notice. That seemed at bit strange but I was obedient. I understand now that if I had waited and saw the downturn in the economy, I would not have given my notice.
So here I am now, my retirement is just four week away, the house is up for sale and before I know it I will be in living in India!
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