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| Bungy jumping 144 feet over water in Taupo, NZ |
Here come the butterflies...
It's the feeling you get whenever you are getting ready to do something terrifying, yet exhilarating... you know, the fluttering in your stomach making you feel nervous and excited all at the same time. It is when you are facing a fear that you are not sure you want to or are able to face... like bungee jumping when you are afraid of heights!
In any other circumstances, I don't think I would have considered bungee jumping. But I was on a college mission trip to New Zealand and we were informed that bungee jumping was invented there. On top of this, we only had a few days left in the beautiful country, so it was the perfect recipe for spontaneity.
It was all excitement until I walked out onto the platform (picture on the left) and they started putting the cords around my feet. It was at that point that I let the staff know, "I don't think I can do this!". They gently informed me that at the count of three, I would jump head first towards the water. And before I knew it, they were counting and I was jumping. I had my "3 seconds of courage", which for me was more about clearing my mind long enough to forget about my fear than it was about becoming more brave.
And here we are. Just days before we take the jump into this exhilarating, yet terrifying adventure awaiting us in the Dominican Republic. And yes, the butterflies are fluttering! Thoughts have crossed my mind that were similar to the day I jumped head first from a 144 foot platform: "I don't think I can do this!" and "Am I crazy?!"... and yet I hear God's gentle reply: "With man this is impossible, but with [me] all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).
Be Careful What You Ask For...
In any other circumstances, I don't think I would have considered bungee jumping. But I was on a college mission trip to New Zealand and we were informed that bungee jumping was invented there. On top of this, we only had a few days left in the beautiful country, so it was the perfect recipe for spontaneity.
It was all excitement until I walked out onto the platform (picture on the left) and they started putting the cords around my feet. It was at that point that I let the staff know, "I don't think I can do this!". They gently informed me that at the count of three, I would jump head first towards the water. And before I knew it, they were counting and I was jumping. I had my "3 seconds of courage", which for me was more about clearing my mind long enough to forget about my fear than it was about becoming more brave.
And here we are. Just days before we take the jump into this exhilarating, yet terrifying adventure awaiting us in the Dominican Republic. And yes, the butterflies are fluttering! Thoughts have crossed my mind that were similar to the day I jumped head first from a 144 foot platform: "I don't think I can do this!" and "Am I crazy?!"... and yet I hear God's gentle reply: "With man this is impossible, but with [me] all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).
Be Careful What You Ask For...
"The best things in life are the things that give you butterflies": This quote was stated by one of my co-workers during my first trip to the Caribbean Mountain Academy in February. The recurring theme of that trip was faith. It came up in my devotionals, in Sunday's sermon, and in conversations with people on campus. This theme of faith was also being lived out each day by the staff members who all had made the decision to leave their comforts and step out into the unknown... in faith. I remember telling the Lord, "I want a faith like that, whatever you have to do please bring me to a place of deeper faith in you". I would have never guessed that God's way of answering that prayer would be calling me and my family to exercise our faith by moving to the very place that prayer was prayed!
Now we are just days away from making the big move, faith is what is fueling us forward. Certainly not faith in ourselves, because we know we can't do it on our own. Without the Lord behind us, pushing us forward, and in front of us, paving the way, this wouldn't be happening! But He is all around us, making this adventure possible for purposes not fully known to us. After all, it is not our job to know why He asks us to do these crazy things, it is only our job to walk in obedience through faith. "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1).
So as we count down to the day of departure (Monday!), please partner with us in diligently praying for all that is to come and all that has yet to take place before we leave...
A few specifics:
- An extra measure of grace to sustain us through all the "good-bye's" and "see ya later's"- both for us and for those who will be missing us (or mostly Gabe!)
- The remaining 25% of our financial support to come through and our car to sell
- Our big travel day on Monday- especially that Gabe would travel well!
- For our new community at Caribbean Mountain Academy
May you experience the Lord's blessing as you exercise faith in your own lives, as you face your fears and feel those butterflies! - Jamie
