I laughed hard as our dentist this week struggled to find the appropriate word to describe our family. I told him it would be no offense taken if he went ahead and said crazy. Josh had an emergency tooth extraction on Monday, which was pretty brutal, and I was in on Wednesday to make sure some discomfort I was having wasn’t anything serious. I am apparently just grinding and clenching my teeth a lot at night, so a simple guard and all is well.

The dentist gave me that look. I know it well because I’ve been seeing it…well, I suppose my entire life. It’s the look when someone is bewildered by me or my decisions in life. When they just can’t understand why I’m doing what I’m doing or what in the world would motivate me to do something so, well, probably opposite of what they would ever do. He said, “You’re going to Africa in a few days.” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Your husband just had a tooth extracted, and you’re sitting here, calm and not worried at all.” I said, “Yes, well, I suppose we both know I must not be too calm at night if I’m grinding my teeth so much!” We laughed, and he said, “I just don’t know who would do this; I get that you must have a calling. Y’all are…adventuresome.”

Now, I want to clarify that he has given us 100% okay to go medically. What he’s bewildered by is what could prompt someone to do something like this in spite of the “setbacks” or potential threats. Isn’t that exactly what we all are as Christians? It doesn’t have to be going across the ocean; maybe it is going across the street to love that neighbor who doesn’t understand or know the depths of the love of Jesus.

I got this message this morning from a dear friend in Burundi. “I love your family so very much. God did a wonderful thing by bringing us together so that we could know one another. I believe it was God’s plan, because every time I see you or speak with you, I feel the Spirit of God dwelling in me. I pray for you every day; we love you so very much.”

Don’t look at us. Whatever amazing anyone thinks we have is ONLY His amazing grace. Isn’t this the point, though? For the unbeliever to know Him who sent us? For the believer to draw nearer to the God who has called us to Himself? He is the point; He is the reason for it all.

God willing, we will leave tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn. Emotions are all over the place as we prepare to go, but there is total peace. Please pray for us these next 2 weeks, will you? The enemy hates it when believers obey, but in the lyrics of Brandon Lake, “There is more in the hem of His garment than the camp of the enemy. There’s power in the presence, power in the blood, power in the name of Jesus.”