Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders,

The first time I heard the song, “Oceans” by Hillsong United I fell in love. It’s a truly beautiful song but have you ever really listened to the lyrics? If you don’t want to be challenged or convicted, don’t. It is full of really big prayers. 

The line that gets me the most:

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.

Lead me, WHERE EVER. No boundaries, God. Nothing in my life is off limits. Just go for it, take me where ever. I’m game. That’s a BIG prayer. Ehh, maybe; spirit lead me where I’m slightly uncomfortable but can easily step back into my box. Where my trust is without borders? Deeper than my feet could ever wander? That’s bold. I like borders, I like boundaries, and I like parameters— at least when I’m the one that sets them. There are a lot of places I don’t want to venture and things I don’t want to experience. Like the death of a loved one, an illness. Also on the list-- places without WiFi, flush able toilets and anywhere where cockroaches are considered even slightly normal. However, I prayed that God would take me where my trust had no borders and God answered, quickly. I asked him to take me where I wouldn't take myself and now this summer I will be travelling to Honduras for a mission trip. It’s not that I’m anti mission trip—I've been on two. Both of which were inside the United States, to New Orleans and Detroit. It’s easy to step out of your comfort zone a bit and serve when you’re still within familiar boundaries. Don’t get me wrong, I was 13 and 15 when I took these trips, they were challenging. I was without my parents and the youngest on the trip in both cases. Both places were totally different cultures and environments but…. Wall-Mart was right down the street and I had electricity and hot water—the whole time.

This time around, the accommodations are described as, “semi –modern, with electricity most of the time and hot water some of the time.” I don’t speak the language and I've never been out of the country, except for Canada which, besides the fact that their milk comes in bags, it’s basically the same place. So in honor of my first mission trip out of the country, God decided to go big or go home. I’m not just going on a mission trip, I’m going as a leader for the senior high team going. God not only led me to this trip, he’s having me lead others. Granted I’m not THE leader, (then I would start to question whoever approves these things God comes up with….)

In preparation for the trip we have regular meetings. Two weeks ago, I attended a retreat with the whole team. There are about 20 people going for the elementary ministry and a team from the church attending the DR as well. They told us things like, don’t drink the water and don’t touch the stray dogs. You can’t flush the toilet paper and sometimes people get travelers diarrhea. I spent that whole session trying to control my facial expressions.  Some aspects of the trip appear really uncomfortable or awkward. The language barrier and the fact that we’re staying in a motel that ‘occasionally’ has electricity, are some examples.

However, above all of this ‘noise’- I sat around the circle and felt nothing but peace and reassurance.  I was surrounded by adults and kids who heard God’s call and listened. They took seriously their call to spread the gospel to all nations. The senior high group has eight girls. When I was in 9^th grade, I took a hair straightener to church camp and straightened my hair using the generator, so these girls really impress me. These are big commitments, financial, spiritual, emotional, and physical commitments. I am so proud to be able to sit among teenagers, children and adults who are so in love with God and are willing to make these commitments.

This trip is a little out of my comfort zone—but that’s where God works best and I can’t wait.

And, here's the song in case any of you were curious;