Have I ever told you my personal mission statement? It is to reveal the love of our Father to those who are physically, emotionally, or spiritually orphans, through love and nurturing, that they would know their identity as sons and daughters of a King. 

As we started the retreat in Thailand, Barney revealed that the topic of our conference/retreat would be “Spiritual Orphans.” It felt as if he had taken a look at my personal mission statement and decided to make it the topic of our time together. It’s truly funny how God works! Needless to say, this time in Thailand was awesome! God spoke so much to me personally about my calling to the people here in Asia, and as I flew back to my city, I felt refreshed and ready for what God has before me.

Another thing that God spoke to me, funny enough, was while I was on an oxen cart ride. As I watched the oxen in front of me, I noticed that one of the ox kept getting ahead of the other, causing him to bear most of the weight of the yoke. The ox bearing the weight kept looking at his fellow ox annoyed because he wasn’t keeping up and wasn’t bearing his share of the weight. In that moment, God spoke to me, and suddenly, I realized this last semester, I was that annoyed ox. I kept getting ahead of God, trying to charge forward in my own strength. Then, when I would begin to feel the pain from carrying the weight of the yoke, I would get frustrated with Dad. In such a simple cart ride, I felt that Dad had reminded me of His grace and mercy; that He willing takes the yoke and that I can find rest in Him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30