passport_fiLast night was super-exciting!

I live everyday of my life in awe of God’s goodness. I’ll never understand His pursuit of me, nor will I ever be able to explain why He chose me for His “team.”

Can you relate to this? Have you ever been completely overwhelmed by the awareness that God chose you to be a part of His Kingdom work? I’m shaking my head as I type this. How gracious of our loving Father to let you and me be on the sidelines or perhaps in the center of the Divine huddle to save the world!

I was absolutely giddy last night! Four high school girls, two mommas, three pastors, one pastor’s wife, four mission directors, a lay leader, Rusty and I gathered at the Western District Baptist Association headquarters for our second training session.

This summer we will be going on a one-week mission trip to Guatemala with the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Bro. Jim Twilbeck is leading the team of local pastors, and Enough Grace Ministries is hosting the seven high school girls. A dear supporter of EGM (and veteran overseas missionary), Rachael French, is coordinating the week of ministry for our EGM team.

The workings of the Lord are so amazing. Almost fifteen years ago, the Lord placed Rachael in our lives. Rusty and I served on the student ministries leadership team of our church, and Rachael entered the department upon starting the seventh grade. Over those next six years, God opened countless ministry doors for us. Rachael never missed a student mission opportunity that was offered to her.

Rachael was one of our “go-to” students when ministry needs arose. It was such a joy to watch this tender, compassionate gal, surrender her all to Christ and serve Him passionately. Over the course of her student years, Rusty, Rachael and I seemed to form a ministry partnership (along with many other students). We would sense the Lord’s leading in some outreach project, and Rachael would always commit as a student leader.

Rachael joined us in many mission endeavors. The location didn’t matter – whether it was inner-city Memphis, Paris Housing Authority, the Big Sandy ballpark, a school gymnasium, a camp in East Tennessee, Rachael would be there with face-paint and/or a mega-phone in hand, ready to share the love of Christ.

How sweet of the Lord to bring into full-circle our ministry partnership with Rachael that He birthed over a decade ago. I cannot wait to see what all the Lord does this summer – abroad, now in a foreign land. I’m sure there will be nostalgic moments for Rusty and me as we unite again in mission work with this special gal. I suspect that Rachael, now in the second half of her twenties, will be a “hit” among the children of Coban, . . . And I can image that as she gathers scores of precious Guatemalan children around her for Bible storytime, Rusty and I will mentally revisit those days gone by, the images we have of a much younger Rachael – with her faintly freckled-face and honey-colored braids – sitting among the Backyard Bible Clubbers in a playground just a few miles from our church.

God is so good. So very, very good.

We are asking God to give us prayer partners for this upcoming mission trip. The most vital aspect of this trip is prayer support. Please begin praying with us now. Praying is absolutely the greatest, most impacting thing you can do for us!

And, if, perhaps God is leading you to financially contribute to this trip, please see the PARTNERS link listed at the top of the EGM website’s home page. From there, you can see the arrangements for online giving and giving through the mail. Please make a note on your contribution if you’d like to designate your gift for this summer’s Guatemala trip. We love you, and we appreciate so much your sensitivity and your obedience.

May God richly bless you!

And we’ll keep you updated as God does His thing during this trip!