Reflections on Candidate Orientation, Part Five

Back to real life, eh? Kathi and I got back from Colorado on Saturday. As a result of sheer exhaustion, we spent most of Sunday recovering. Now it's back to the daily grind of the working world. Regardless, both Kathi and I have been so encouraged these past couple of days. Click here for more pictures.

The whole orientation experience was amazing. Once again, God continues to lead us step-by-step through this process. The leaders and staff at GEM were so positive about our candidacy that it served as another confirmation of our call. It was wonderful to hear their encouragement and to share in their burden for Europe. We also were blessed to spend the week with other soon-to-be missionaries and to share this experience with them.

Now that it's all over though, I'm struggling again to really believe that God really wants to use us. I'm particularly saddened by how much I have lost touch with the Gospel. In my heart, I've lost the sense that the Gospel is "the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." How can I be a minister of the Gospel if I'm not completely in love with it? Please pray for that. I want the gift of God in Jesus Christ to be my passion and joy again.

These next few weeks, Kathi and I are doing nothing but praying. We decided not to start the support raising adventure until we have gone before God in prayer. We're asking Him to give us a right view of support raising, and that He would lead us to the people who would share in this ministry with us.