Into Marvelous Light: Unbelievable. (part three)

I still can't believe it.

It's been 60 days since I returned home. Two whole months.

I can't believe it's over. I have been brought to tears many times during the past few weeks as I've reflected on all that God showed me through my trip to Indonesia.

I've mailed my final letter to my support team.

I've given my presentation and showed pictures.

I've told story, after story, after story.

This trip is over, but I still find my thoughts drifting back to the heat, the smell, and the taste of Indonesia. I can still close my eyes and picture the kids of Sekolah Gracia and Abigail gathered around us, meeting us for the first time. I still remember what it felt like to work in ministry beside my team, a group of people that were strangers a year ago, but I now call family.

Maybe you're sick of hearing about Indonesia, but I have to write just one more time.

Please forgive my scattered thoughts, I have many things running through my mind right now.

I am in awe.

God wanted me to go.

I can now say that with complete confidence.

I went through my notes, pictures, and journal, and finally packed up my keepsakes. Memories flashed through my mind. I was reminded of the reason I went on this trip.

This trip was not about a cultural experience.

This trip was not about work projects, or teaching English.

This trip was not about making new friends.

Do you want to know the reason behind this trip?

Two thousand years ago there was a man that died to take the punishment for my sin. He wasn't just an ordinary man. He was the Son of the living God.

God chose to come to this broken earth as a man, so that He could buy us back from the slavery of sin.

God created us, He knows us inside and out. He knows every deep dark secret we try to hide. He knows every thought, every word, every action. Every evil in the world is laid out before Him. He sees it.

When we visited the garbage dump community in Jakarta I caught a glimpse of the true awfulness of sin. This world is corrupt. It's been corrupted by us! The image bearers of God! The ones that He formed, and breathed the breath of life into! We are the ones that rebelled against our Creator. We chose filth over royalty.

And yet His love for us is so great that in order to satisfy His righteous justice, He became our perfect sacrifice. He chose to bridge the gap between us and Himself, so that He could fellowship with us.

I have been washed by the blood of Jesus. I am innocent of my sin because He has said of me, "Not Guilty". The wrath of God was poured out on His own Son so that He could call me His child.

It's as if God asked: "Do you want to know how much I love you?"

There is no greater way that He could have demonstrated His love for us.

When you realize the incredible truth of the good news of Jesus Christ, you will have a burning desire to serve the One that has redeemed you.

The reason that 11 people from the United States invested themselves in a trip to Indonesia is because we want to serve Jesus, and in doing so, become more like Him. We love Him, because He loved us first. There is an incredible need for the gospel to be shared. There is an incredible need for the love of Jesus to be demonstrated.

For a King that has laid down His life in order to call us His own, shouldn't we be willing to do anything, and to go anywhere to show our love for Him?

A year ago, I would have told you that I planned to spend the summer of 2012 at home with my family. A year ago, I would have told you that I was too busy to add anything else to my to-do list. A year ago, I didn't know God had something else in mind.

He chose to use Youth Missions International to send a team to Jakarta, Indonesia. He chose to use Ken and Linda Wakefield as the leaders of Team Indo. He carefully selected each member, and prepared our hearts for the things He wanted to teach us. He chose Sekolah Gracia and Abigail as our two main ministry sites, and worked out all the complicated details for us to impact, and be impacted by the people there.

God was the mastermind behind my trip to Indonesia. Every last detail had His fingerprints on it.

This trip was just a short chapter in the unfolding story of all God has planned for me. He could have chosen to teach me about Himself through a summer spent at home, but He didn't. Instead He chose to take me all the way to Indonesia to amaze me with His love.

I can't believe all the ways He's blessed me. He has proved His faithfulness and goodness to me all year long. Looking back at how God provided for me, and brought me to the place I needed to be in order to go on this trip leaves me short of breath. He is so awesome. I am so unworthy of His love! Praise God! He's not finished with me yet! One day I will be completed!

Will you surrender your life to the King of Kings? He will take you on an unbelievable adventure in order to make you more like His Son.

Does that seem impossible?

God is not limited.

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

-Philippians 1:6