Hi, there!
I like roller coasters. Ever since that memorable day in my junior year of high school when my class when to Six Flags for “Physics Day” (really just an excuse to have fun and miss school), I’ve loved roller coasters. Loops, forward, backward, being shot out from 0 to 70 in two seconds, huge vertical drops –– I love them all.
I’ve been thinking about roller coasters recently because I feel like I’m on one right now. You know the feeling that you get when you’re being slowly pulled up the huge initial hill? Ka-chink, ka-chink, ka-chink. The chain pulls you up, and as you near the top, thoughts start going through your head:
“Am I insane?”
“What ever possessed me to do this?”
“Didn’t someone die on this ride last year?”
“Can I get off now?”
But of course, it’s too late at that point –– you’re already committed. In just a few seconds, you’ll crest the hill, and the craziness will commence.
That’s me right now. I don’t know if you’ve heard yet, but I’ll be joining a team in Asia for the whole year, and we’re leaving in just a few weeks. I’ll be laying down basically all of my current responsibilities to become a normal worker on a team. It’s a big step for me, and honestly, there are moments when I’m not sure I want to go through with it. There are still many things to wrap up here on the Stateside (more on that below), and in Asia I’ll be working in areas of ministry in which I don’t have a lot of experience. At times it feels pretty overwhelming.
But through it all, I know that I’m committed to the process. I’m not turning back, not because I’m trapped in the car like on a roller coaster, but because I know that God has great things for me, the CT team, and all of our soon-to-be friends in Asia this year. It’s a radical change for us –– the whole Stateside team is going over this year, and leaving behind just two people to do everything from recruiting to accounting. But as we join the 63 people who will work overseas in 2009-2010, I know that this could easily be the best year yet for CT.
Will you please pray for me as I get ready to leave? I have two things on my heart as I write to you tonight:
1. Supernatural grace to finish everything that I need to do before we leave. I have three weeks to pack an apartment, get my replacement up to speed, work on a few special projects (one of which you’ll hear about soon), and nail down seemingly a thousand other details –– all while going through full days of training.
2. My adjustment to team member and field worker. It’s a big change for me, and I want to dive into my new role with enthusiasm and reverence for all that God wants to deposit in me for His people this year.
Thank you so much for all your care and support of me. You’ll be hearing from me again soon – and in three weeks it will be from across the world. Have a great day!
Ben