Opportunity

"You wonder why people choose fields away from the States when young people at home are drifting because no one wants to take time to listen to their problems. I'll tell you why I left. Because those Stateside young people have every opportunity to study, hear, and understand the Word of God in their own language, and these Indians have no opportunity whatsoever. I have had to make a cross of two logs, and lie down on it, to show the Indians what it means to crucify a man. When there is that much ignorance over here and so much knowledge and opportunity over there, I have no question in my mind why God sent me here. Those whimpering Stateside young people will wake up on the Day of Judgment condemned to worse fates than these demons-fearing Indians, because having a Bible, they were bored with it—while these never heard of such a thing as writing.” ~Jim Elliot, missionary to Ecuador

It's Getting Real

I was going through my box of framed pictures yesterday, removing all the pictures and setting the empty frames in the pile of things to give away. That's when it started getting real. Framed pictures are things that you take to your next residence to hang up on the walls. They're far too heavy and bulky for me to take, plus I can always get more once I get there, but taking the pictures out and giving the frames away is a sign of finality. It means I'm not planning to have walls to hang them on on this side of the Atlantic anytime in the near future. It means I'm not keeping any reserves back home "just in case." It means commitment.

I'm at 95% monthly support. I have a ticket booked for March 10th, only two and a half weeks away. I'm making all my last minute purchases and appointments. Planning going away celebrations. Meeting with friends or talking with them on the phone for the last time. It's getting real.