Learning Contentment...

I sit here on my futon, and I think. I think about Burkina Faso, India, Thailand, Guatemala and South Africa. I think about Grand Rapids and Chicago. I wonder what God has planned for me. I see all these different opportunities, and I have no idea which to choose. I pray for opened doors, that clarify which path to take. I pray for that voice telling me which way to go.

Tonight I got an email from a lady at Wycliffe. She said that she found an internship for somebody interested in ethnomusicology. The internship is for one female during the month of January. To Burkina Faso. It calls for somebody willing to be humble, somebody willing to embrace African food, and somebody has some musical training. Well, that sounds really up my alley. An ethnomusicologist goes to a place and studies their culture and the music in that culture. Then he/she gathers a group of musicians that can write music for the church or for schools using the music of their culture. I don't know, perhaps this is a door that God is opening for me.

Tonight, at Bible study we talked about contentment. We talked about being trusting God with our money. Could it be that God is trying to tell me that I need to trust him for finances? My parents often wonder how I can pay for these mission trips. Could it be that God already has people gathered that are willing to support me in this mission work?

I also have been reading a lot about an organization called Adventures in Missions. I've been reading about 2 month long mission trips over the summer to different places like Thailand, India and Guatemala. I could work with an organization that helps women that have by the grace of God gotten out of prostitution. I could help teach them English. Or I could play with orphan children. When I read stories about women in India, or children in Guatemala or Thailand, my heart just leaps out to them. I want to go and be there for them. I want to help them. I want to grow closer to Christ by helping "the least of these".

But perhaps God's plans for me are here in Grand Rapids. Perhaps I need to be here for interim so that I can serve people in the GRPS music program. Maybe God is calling me to teach in urban schools. Or perhaps I should just take classes at home and volunteer at a place called Roseland Christian Ministries in Chicago.

I don't know what God's plans are. I pray he will reveal them to me. But I want to be content with whatever those plans are. I'm excited to embark on this journey. I don't know where it will lead me, but I pray it will bring me closer to Christ.

-C