A Calling
What is a calling? Google defines a calling in two ways–the first is defined as “a loud cry or shout of an animal or person”–been there. The second definition is “a strong urge toward a particular way of life or career; avocation.” I would agree with that to a point and so thankful that our urges come from God.
Five years ago, we felt an urge of God speaking to us that after our sons are all out of the house, we should consider missions for our next stage in life. “Okay, that sounds cool,” is what I thought. It felt as one of those easier said than done type things. When someone tells you that you should be a missionary, my very first question is “Okay, God... Where?” It’s funny when people ask us, “Why Portugal?” That’s kind of a challenging question to answer. I never had a dream or a burning bush experience where God plainly spoke to me and told me to “Go to Portugal”--using my best God voice. I had never had any close encounters with the people or country of Portugal. I’ve never even been to Europe but through the last year there is no question in my mind that Portugal is where God wants us to spend our life serving Him.
We have been very fortunate in our life to have seen God’s direct leading. In college, I always worried about what I was going to do and where I was going to serve. My pastor always told me to stop worrying because God will take complete care of you. Wow, has that been true. There are three major events in my life that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt were God’s divine leading.
The first event was moving to Plattsmouth, Nebraska and becoming a youth pastor. We put about one week’s worth of thought into that decision, but boy has it been a great one. Ultimately because it’s what God wanted me to do but He sure knew what He was doing with this one. I couldn’t have asked for a better fit. We fit with the church. I fit with our pastor. I really fit in with the teenagers–a little too much at first–quoting Dumb and Dumber lines all night. But God truly has been so good to us here. He has allowed us to serve here for over 20 years.
The second thing that He asked us to do–I could spend a whole day telling you about this one–was to adopt two of our sons, LaCory and Daniel. Adopting children was never something I really wanted to do but when God told us to do it, we did and haven’t regretted it one bit. I’ve heard some crazy stories about adoption and while it is a huge life change, there is no question it was of God and our family is so much better for following Him.
Lastly, just as much as we know God called us to Nebraska and told us to adopt our boys, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt He’s telling us to go to Portugal as missionaries. It’s just one of those things. Hard to explain, but something you know. In that calling He has sent people and situations to verify and strengthen our calling many times over and we look forward to serving Him.
When I was 16 years old through some rough circumstances I claimed Psalm 118:8 as my life verse “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” That verse is so true and it’s been fun to look back and see that I really could trust Him and now we are excited to see what else he’s going to do as we trust him in this second part of our Journey.