This has been a semester packed full of God’s grace and tough love. After a summer of testing my patience, and a semester of trusting God to set life’s pace, and in the midst of a leg of my journey in which transformation has become not only evident, but necessary, I’m excited to say He’s finally revealed a small piece of what He’s preparing me for.
After boatloads of prayer, a few tears, a couple of happy dances, and a lengthy application process, I am thrilled to announce that I will be spending my summer serving alongside missionaries is Phnom Penh, Cambodia! It’s hard for me to describe in words all that this internship opportunity means to me. It seems that God confirms my calling to cross-cultural ministry almost daily and possibilities are everywhere, but making those possibilities a reality is often where visionaries like me tend to struggle. There are not only logistics to consider, but also finances, spiritual circumstances, and that little thing called college that takes up 9 months of the year.
Most college students get distracted from studies by facebook, twitter, pinterest, or the like. But I get distracted because I am researching international crises, trying to teach myself new languages, google-earthing obscure locations, or reading OpenDoorsUSA’s World Watch list. I tell you this not so you will think “Oh, what a globally conscious university student,” but as an example of how the passion God has given me permeates my everyday life. That being said, it is no surprise I found this internship by google search, during one of my lackadaisical, rather casual, pin-this-and-go-there-someday ministry daydream sessions. One thing led to another, and I found myself filling out a crazy long application in which I had to testify to how God truly brought me out of darkness to share the hope and joy of His Gospel. Technical difficulties ensued, interviews followed, and now I’ve found myself in this weird in between of real life and what I keep having to tell myself is not just a dream. It’s no longer a mere possibility for me to go to Asia, to share His hope and experience His Spirit in such an intimate way. This is a reality, y’all!
I’m only in the beginning stages. I’m raising support and reading up on culture and trying to wrap my mind around this crazy adventure God has chosen for me. And it truly will be an adventure. This is an organization I’ve never worked before, with people I’ve never really met, in a region I’ve never even been to, in a culture that is drastically different from my own. It really is just me and God. It’s all I’ve been asking Him for, this opportunity to step out in radical faith and immerse myself in ministry in unfamiliar territory. And it’s becoming increasingly real to me each day how much this is going to require true dependence on the Lord. I am ecstatic, but at the same time terrified. I am celebrating, but extremely humbled. This time last year, my spirits were crushed as the Lord closed doors for summer ministry, one after the other. I could never have known he was preparing me for something such as this, testing my trust, and testing my patience. He has called me to radical obedience.
I am celebrating in this season of anticipation; however, I also realize God still has life for me in abundance in these months leading up to my departure. May I savor the days as He gives them to me, one at a time. Thanks to Mission To The World (mtw.org) for letting me be a part of their work. And overflowing thanks be to the Lord our God, for His Spirit is among us. And if you are in a place of brokenness, or waiting, I just want to let you know: Hang in there, because He is going to show Himself, and who knows? He might be gearing you up for quite an adventure.
Rev. Bekah Rhea, MDiv. 