Time flies
The phrase goes “Time flies when you’re having fun.” I don’t think thats entirely true, I think it should simply say, “Time flies.” I’ve had fun on this trip and its been very difficult for me, but regardless I can’t believe that this is my last blog update from the Philippines and I’ll be boarding a plane for Japan in 12 hours. I can’t believe that I’ve been in this country for 60 days. It has gone so fast that its actually scary. Life as a whole is flying so fast that its scary. Honestly, I can’t believe I’m entering my last year of college, what happened to those first 3 years? What happened to these last 2 months? I really think that as you get older time starts moving at a much quicker pace. I mean, I turn 21 in less than a week. Thats crazy to comprehend for me.
God has taught me a ton on this trip. More than anything he has taught me more about myself and what my future holds. He showed me aspects of my life I need to work on if I want to be successful for him and he showed me peaks and valleys of mission work. It was almost as if God revealed a little bit of my future as if to say, “Here, this is the basics, are you sure you want to do this?” Its been difficult for me to consider this realization that life in the mission field isn’t going to be easy. I know that sounds silly, but I had this even sillier preconception in my mind that being a Bible translator would be easy just because I knew it was what God wanted me to do. I was following God’s will so he needed to hold up his end of the bargain and make it easy. He’s showed me that its not going to be easy but it will be more rewarding than anything else I could choose to do, simply because that’s his plan for me. I’m not saying the only way to be successful is to be a Bible translator, for me I firmly believe that to be true, but by no means does that hold true for everyone. All it takes to be successful is to do what God’s will is for your life and follow his plan.
Life is short. Times flies. In that time God is showing me I need to work hard and follow his will and that it won’t be easy and that it will take more faith than anything I will ever attempt in life. But he also showed me the rewards. He showed me a village of people that held a prayer service singularly because a couple from America sacrificed a comfortable life so that God’s word would be made available to them. He showed me the amazing churches and ministries that literally would not exist if it weren’t for Bible translators. He showed me the souls that have been saved as a result of this work. Most of all, he showed me more than anything that he wanted me to participate in this work. He wants to use me in this way. Like I said, it’s exhilarating and terrifying and honestly probably not my first career choice after this summer, but I’m slowly realizing that my first choice looks out for my interests.
Once I get home I’ll have much more time to reflect and write a review and summary and such, but those are my thoughts right now. I should have a couple more posts coming so stay tuned for those, but like I said above, this is my last one from the Philippines. I take off from Manila around 9 am on Tuesday and land in Japan around 2:30. I then take off from Japan at 4:35 pm on Tuesday August 3rd and land in New Jersey at 4:30 pm on Tuesday August 3rd. Thats right, I’m going back in time. Wish me luck on that front, I’ve never time traveled to its a new experience. After that I fly from New Jersey to Knoxville at 8 pm and land at 10:30 pm. It’ll be a long trip so please continue to pray for me. I’ll be sure to update this one I get home safely so everyone who is following this knows for sure. Thank you for your prayers!
