The Call Goes Full Circle

 

Ever since I was a child, I had a "call" to go overseas. My mom told me when I was five, she found me digging a hole in the ground because I needed to get to China. I had read a children's book and, in the book, they dug a hole to China. She used to joke that I was born speaking Chinese. In my late teens this call became more pronounced. I was 15 and Bro. Hattabaugh told me I was going to go to China him one day and I laughed and told him no, but the truth was God had been dealing with me for some time.  Then came the day that I was on my very first plane ride and it was with Bro. Hattabaugh to China. I spent 2 weeks there with him and a group of others. That birthed a deep desire in me to return. This was followed by a summer in Taiwan with two other girls, the missionary kids and another guy. We forged a lifelong bond. It could be years since we spoke or seen each other, but when we do, the connections is instant. This led to my going to Taiwan for two one-year trips. I honestly thought I would live the rest of my life there. There was even talk one time with one of my fellow laborers to start an ESL school and run it together. Unfortunately, that never happened.  After I had moved back to the states, I got married and we were the Global Missions Directors at our church. I loved every minute with the missionaries. Divorce came and life brought me to live in NC. My love for missionaries is still very real. Those things never leave you. Today, we had a powerful move of God's spirit and Bro Linder had the ages 25 and under come up to the front and asked if anyone had felt a call to go somewhere. Many began to say different countries. I could see RJ was struggling and then finally he raised his hand and named a location.  It was like coming full circle. I honestly had been struggling, because all my life in a service like today's I would hear a place or something along those lines and I felt nothing, except to be still. When my son spoke out, I was overwhelmed with a heart of gratitude. This same little boy that God would give visons to. This same little boy who at a Global Missions Conference service at the age of 3 and about to turn 4, when Bro Howell, yelled out, "Who will go!" and RJ yelled out (when it was quiet), "I will go!".  This same little boy who would give his hot wheel cars to missionaries to take home to the kids in their country. This same little boy, now becoming a man has been called by the Lord and has answered.  His steps are ordered of the Lord.  This momma will be praying and will support him completely on this journey. He will still go to college, but he has a goal in mind. I am so proud of him. Life is filled with seasons. There are the times that you go and there are the times that you stay. God is good.