I am not a fairweather fan. I am not a fairweather dreamer. I am not a fairweather missionary. God did not call us to be.

“Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not…But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.” 2 Timothy 4:2-5

The time is not at all favorable in Kingston, Jamaica where our mission team is headed in 3 days. The city has been under siege and there are riots everywhere with open gunfire and fires and all sorts of craziness. A lot of the city has been evacuated, including the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf. Flights have been canceled. A travel advisory has been issued and a state of emergency declared.

The reasonable thing in this situation would be to consider our safety and kindly ask for a refund and stay at home and pray for the situation in Kingston while talking about what a shame it is that we missed our trip.

I believe that real faith pardons our reasoning. I believe that by living recklessly for Him, we open up the opportunity to see miracles. Situations that we can’t credit to ourselves, our planning, our strategizing. Francis Chan asks his readers once “What are you doing right now that requires faith?”. In other words, are you living any differently than you would if you believed there was no God? We don’t do much in our daily activities that truly depend on God to come through for us. We back ourselves up with our plans and resources. We pray and ask for guidance when we go on these mission trips, but when the comfort or the safety is threatened, we change our plans and make a new way for ourselves. We don’t need God to do anything for us.

But God doesn’t call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn’t come true” – Crazy Love

I’m no fool. We could be in some serious trouble if He doesn’t come through. I could watch $3000 go to waste and watch my other team fly to Kenya without me next Sunday if I somehow get stuck in Kingston even for a few hours more than planned. But then again maybe I am a fool, because my desire and willingness to go to Jamaica anyway is not wavering. I honestly believe with all of my heart that God will make a way for us. And I believe that He will get me to Kenya the week after.

And if He doesn’t-then He didn’t want me there.

We don’t know yet what the final plan is. Tracy has suggested some other options that we may look into- Haiti, Costa Rica, Peru, Tijuana, and New Orleans are all possibilities. The goal remains to be Kingston. I don’t know if the kids will come back or not. I don’t know if we be the only ones on campus and do construction the whole week. I don’t know if God will send us to another country entirely.

I do know that we are ready and willing to go wherever that may be and do whatever needs doing. And while I hope that all goes well and I catch my plane to Kenya, I have faith that His will be done regardless of my plans.

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity and fear, but a spirit of power and love and self-discipline” -1 Timothy 1:7

I’ll get back to you with the final “plan” tomorrow!

<3, Jenna

p.s.: What are YOU doing right now that requires faith?

p.p.s: I hope to see Antoinette again. Not an expectation at this point, but a deepest hope.