I love most things about it!
Travel to new places or back to old places.
Writing from Juneau, Alaska, this morning, I’m thinking about all the blessings I have had to go around the world and experience different cultures and meet people. As I get older, travel is different from when I was fresh out of college and off to live two years in Japan teaching English and Bible classes at Japanese Baptist schools and churches as well as community groups.
I saw many other places while there: Hong Kong, Philippines, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Okinawa, Thailand and up and down Japan. When coming home we went through Russia — to Nahodka, a seaport we sailed to from Japan, then a train and plane to Moscow, Leningrad and across to Finland, Luxembourg, Copenhagen, Paris, England, Greenland and back to New York.
On our way to Japan we went through San Francisco and Hawaii. I was part of a group of about 50 young Baptist Christians, who had just graduated college in different careers and skills, who went to different countries to assist career missionaries. We formed a bond of love of people and the desire to take the Gospel to them.
Gary and I have been to Ukraine on a prayer walk and he preached at a Ukrainian Baptist church, to Austria, and he went to Indonesia training and working with local pastors.
God allowed us to go and tell as we went. Each trip was full of excitement, adventure and His presence as we made our way.
Packing is always a big deal for me. Especially when going places where it will be hot and cold, rainy or stormy. Having to take bulky winter clothes is harder than just regular clothes for temperate adventures. Shoes are important, too, since lots of walking is usually involved. There is the bag of “just in case” medicines for sea sickness or air sickness along with other ailments that might afflict us. Now, we have phones, iPads, keyboards and chargers for each to keep charged, that were unheard of in my first journeys.
We have to do our best to stay charged ourselves! Alaska and Canada have been blessings to Gary and me as we have explored the beauty God created!
I think of the disciples Jesus sent out to tell His message. You can read about it in Luke 10. He sent 72 out in pairs and told them “do not take a purse or bag or sandals.” He told them to stay at one house, tell the Gospel if they were welcome, but if not welcome to leave and tell them “even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you.”’
Today, as then, people need to hear! Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Let’s go! Now! Telling as we go about. Wherever we are.
