One Last Time

Sunday night I was able to go to Vintage21 for church one last time. It seems the sermons at Vintage are always placed perfectly with something going on in my life, the life of a friend, or with MCA (Meredith Christian Association). Sunday it was able to make me think of MCA and the journey for which I am about to go on.
Tyler (the pastor at V21) talked about how we have to be "regenerative believers," meaning that we have to share the word and scatter God's love to the people of the world. While we are not a perfect people, we must push ourselves everyday to be more perfect, so that through us people may see Christ's love. Tyler also talked about "training our minds" to labor and do good. I see fellow followers striving to do this and it inspires me. At Vintage and in MCA we have brought up Matthew 25 where Christ gave 3 men talents, just as we are given talents and for the 2 servants who multiplied their talent Jesus said "Well done good and faithful servant." How beautiful a gift to be given talent with which we can use to be faithful servants of Christ! For whatever we have done for the least of the people in this world we have done for Christ's kingdom (Matthew 25:40).
I think this helps me answer why I want to go to South Africa. I feel that I have been called to pick up my cross and be in this new place (Mark 8:34), to live recklessly and with an open mind. I must see the mystery of this experience as something beautiful rather than something to be worried about or afraid of. As I lie in my bed one more time I anxiously await what I hope to be 5 of the most beautiful months of my life. It is a gift to be given this opportunity and it is blessing to be supported by family and friends.

I have set the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
-Psalm 16:8-11