Another journey about to begin......

It is Sunday night, January 6, 2013..... the first Sunday of a new year.  Epiphany Sunday.....the day we recognize, as Christians, the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus..... the Messiah.  Those men, whether we believe they were three or fifteen, embarked on a long journey to see for themselves, the new King.... our Saviour.  They were called on a mission, and they were led there by God himself.   

As I sit here, I think of the sixteen members of our Mission Team and the fact that we are preparing to do much the same thing.  We have spent months preparing to embark on a journey.  Our travels will take us across the country to a new land.  One that some of us have visited in the past, one that many of us have never seen.  We pray for safe travels, we hope for no delays in our flight schedules, and we know that we are being sent by God to do His work.  We have been called.   We may not be following a bright star.... but we are following where He has sent us. 
We believe that what awaits us will change us forever.

To those of you who follow us through this blog, through phone calls and emails, through Facebook and through your prayers.... thank you.  We know you are with us, and we are with you.  We want to be good stewards and we want you to know we love you for your support.

To my fellow team members..... I look forward to serving with you this year.  I look forward to the fellowship, the sweat, the tears, and the bond that will not be broken.  I know we will be changed, forever, through the Spirit who fills us.  I know this because God is with us. 
We will leave families behind.... some of us will be seperated from our children, some will be seperated from  grandchildren, some will be seperated from our spouses, and some will be seperated from all family contact.  But this is for only a while.....and we do this so that we may fulfill our committment to serve God.  Our God... who loves and provides for us every single day. 

Let us pray.....  God, as we go through the coming week, help us to be mindful of all that you have given us.  That all we are, and all we have, and all we do, is by and through Your glory.  May our actions and our thoughts be pleasing to you.  Protect us God.  Bless us.  We seek to do Your will at home and in Costa Rica.   We ask that you be with our church, our families and our friends and we ask that you send your angels to watch over them in our absence.   
Lord, bless our travels and our work, and that anything we accomplish will be to further Your kingdom here on Earth.
All of this, and so much more, we pray in Jesus's holy name.....   Amen.