I don't think I've communicated very well about Immersion. This past week I honestly feel like many of you don't understand my reasoning, or know what I'm doing. I don't know if you are in that group of people, but I hope that after this blog you will have a better idea of what I'm walking into and are able to feel my heart and vision for this coming year.
Back in October 2011 I was surrendering to God my desire to travel, then a few weeks later God said I could travel. My first thought was Immersion with Adventures in Missions. A month passed before AIM posted the Immersion trip for this coming year. On December 14th, the day after I came home from Uganda I signed up for the trip. A week later I had my phone interview, and a week and a half to two weeks later, after the new year, I was accepted to the team!
All this started before I knew the need in Pader, Uganda, before I went to Pader, before I began to fall in love with Pader, and before I felt God calling back to Pader. If it were up to me I would have returned, and actually this past couple weeks I've been playing with the idea of giving up Immersion to return to Pader. At the beginning of December, when I was beginning to learn to love this little village in northern Uganda, I wrote in my journal that I was willing to give up traveling, give up visiting India, and Swaziland, and give up other things just so I could be in Pader (so it's not a new thought)… but that's not what God wants me to do, He wants me on this trip. So, I am planning to go on Immersion.
I see the Immersion trip as a way to jump head first into new cultures, and reach out to people who need to know Jesus but just don't have the same social chance as others. In Central America (possibly Honduras), I might have the opportunity to minister to those in slums (the families who make their home in local dumps), participate in feeding and other outreach programs, maybe even reaching out to children in orphanages. In Asia (possibly Thailand), I might have the opportunity to reach out to the girls and women working in the bars who sell themselves in the sex-trade they have been forced into. In Africa (hopefully South Africa), I'll visit hospitals and prisons, play with kids, preach and teach Bible studies, etc.
To be immersed once again in the Spanish language will be great. I loved it in Ecuador… I am most excited about Asia, I can't explain it, other that I know that it is going to be an amazingly challenging 11 weeks. After talking with my dear friend Craig (who went to Uganda with me) and reading some blogs I have gained so much more compassion and love for the women (and children) in the sex-trade. Then to be back on African soil will be so good! I miss the red dirt so much! When I came home in December I couldn't wait to wash it all off, but now that it's all gone I want it back…
I see all that I'm going to experience in the next year strengthening my faith, stretching me, changing my view on the world, and building my dream for Pader, Uganda. What I would like to do in Pader, isn't that big, and isn't all that God wants it to be. After this Immersion trip I'm pretty sure I'll have a better idea of a dream, and a better idea of how to pursue it.
Immersion is going to impact the lives of the natives in each country, me and my team, and the people of Pader (that is later down the road). God knows what He's doing, and I am anxious to get on with it
P.S. I have about 32% of my Immersion cost. I need to have 50% by June 21st. If you feel lead to support me, please click the "Support Me!" tab above. Thanks!
