In the past few years, since we
have been attending Maryland Community Church (MCC) and have joined their
C-groups (small groups), I have noticed a common, occurring theme: “Am I
listening for God?” This theme has popped
up in almost every single small group session.
Although I have never not known God and have believe for as long as I
can remember, I have been struggling with this, as I have never heard an
audible voice from God, but often see His work after the fact and can then
understand how all the pieces fit together.
However, am I really listening for God on a daily basis? If He can trust me with the little,
day-to-day things, then He will trust me in the big things! By no means am I perfect and I falter every
day it seems, but I have felt in the more recent months a sense of contentment,
less anxiousness and knowing that through God, I can handle anything. I have been praying to God for some time now
for him to lead me where he can use me. Although when I was praying this
prayer, I was praying more specifically job-related in my mind…like should I
expand my photography business or should I try something different
professionally in the occupational therapy field. Little did I know that God was taking my
prayer in a completely different direction.
Recently, there have been some
clear moments where, although I still do not hear the audible voice of God, I
know God is “speaking” to me through others on several different occasions
where I feel led to travel with several other people from MCC to Managua,
Nicaragua. This is definitely putting me out of my ‘comfort zone’ and has never
been something on my ‘to-do list’ in my spiritual journey, but I feel up for
the challenge to help others but also grow myself during this experience. We
will be leading Sunday school with children, meeting with the teachers to
assist getting ready for their upcoming school year, light construction tasks, making
home and church visits, as well as two food distributions to assist local
families with 10 days worth of food which they currently only have enough food
for one day at a time. In addition,
there is hope for a future MCC medical mission in Managua, so my medical
background will help me basically ‘scout’ for the future mission so there is a
better understanding of the medical needs in this community.
I will be gone from February 7th
– February 14th. I am writing each of you to first of all ask for
prayers as I try to follow the path I feel God is directing me toward. Also
prayer for Bobby and the girls as they will be without me for a week and
although I know they will survive, it will be a different routine for all of us
in that week! After looking at the NRN
website (www.nicaresourcenet.org)
and prayerful consideration, if you feel led to offset some of the cost I would
be very grateful to you for helping me on this endeavor. Also, any extra funds
I am able to gather I will be able to give directly to the families I encounter
to assist them with any food/shoes/clothing costs they have. Plus, it’s tax
deductible if I get it before the end of the year! J
Thanks for
sharing in this adventure with me! I am
sure I will have several stories and photos, which I plan to document on my
blog when I get back. I love each of you that I have shared this email with.
THANKS FOR PRAYING!!!
Love,
Brandi
If you would like to contribute to the trip, checks can be
mailed to my home and made out to Maryland Community Church.
“Nicaragua-February” can be added to the subject line.
