A daughters missionary passion

Since December of 2010 when my family sadly left deputation, I have clearly struggled badly with it. The calling and passion never left and nothing before nor since those years of preaching, teaching and investing in the souls of men to the glory of Jesus Christ have brought any inkling of satisfaction to what I had the privilege to be a part of. Yet that is not the topic of my musing. I have not really put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) for some time as it pertains to blogging, writing, musing or whatever you might classify this. But as one of my favorite prophets said (Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.) Writing provides but the smallest of outlets for my thoughts and passion. And so I am starting to write again.

Apparently, I am not alone... My oldest daughter, who just turned 11 is doing some writing of her own. She has fond memories of deputation, ministry, tracting, street work and meetings when she would sing solo or with her sisters at churches, etc. Yet beyond just memories of a time where there was much travel, activities, friends to meet and excitement, my daughter was saved while we were at a missions conference in Houston, Texas a few years ago and she has had a burden for souls and service since. She has written convicting notes to me of how much she misses it and how much she still wants to be a missionary. Then when we talked about how people make new year resolutions etc - she came up with a list of things she would like to do this calendar year. Unlike most children, her list didn't include her favorite sports, parks, games and the like but rather how she will read her Bible through, pass tracts, memorize, sing specials at church again and other ministry related pursuits. What a blessing! Her enthusiasm has been a catalyst for me personally as I have spent so much time discouraged about what was, what we aimed for, could have been and where i am now. While she has been disappointed as well, she has been more of an example of Paul to me than I have to her... Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward unto those things which are before... She has challenged me to press on, in whatever capacity I can with Christ's direction and empowerment. Here is part of a letter that she set next to my computer the other night as she was heading to bed.

"People in many other countries are starving, without stable governments, without shelter, without a lot of clothing, without education and most of all, without the gospel. I am just very, very sad that I am not able to give them the gospel. I am also very sad that they are going to hell because people don't want to tell them about Jesus, I would if I could." On the outside of the note it said "my journal entry on why I am glad to be an American but sad that we are not going to be missionaries."

We had a talk about this after and I encouraged her that she has incredible potential for Christ and that she is not too young to be praying for God's wisdom and guidance about what He would have her do in the future. She has the heart for missions as i do and so my commitment to her was that the days of looking back are done and it is time to prepare our hearts and do whatever God will allow us in our current situation and see what He does from there.