Hopping off the plane, I told myself, “This is it. I’m finally here in Asia.” The journey to that point was not easy. I was concerned about the possibility of losing my job, leaving friends, and being away from family. I also struggled as to whether God really wanted me to go. Could it be wrong? However, God took care of me, lifted those burdens off my shoulders gradually, and reconfirmed with me along the way that He is and will continue to be my Shepherd.
Sometimes, it is difficult not to feel proud of myself. After all, I sacrificed so much for God, right? I took a long-term leave from my job, left my comfortable lifestyle behind me to go to a developing country, and all this without pay! I quickly realized how little I gave up in comparison to the many foreigners I have met living in Asia. Most of them are young North Americans, recently graduated from school, married or with young children. They left all they had, and moved to a foreign land with a foreign culture and language. It isn’t easy. Not only that, many of them often experience diarrhea or other sicknesses from the drastic change in lifestyle. Yet, they are willing to persevere and stay in this unknown land. Why? It’s all because of their love for God and for the Asian people. I joined a prayer meeting one night and together, we sang a few songs of praise. Those all-too-familiar lyrics “I gave my life for you…I surrendered all…” became so powerful coming out from the lips of these friends. These people not only sang it, but they lived it. They really did surrender themselves completely to God as a living sacrifice.
I had the privilege to live among them during my short stay in Asia, and they showed me a different perspective of what our life is about. A Gospel-centered life for me, is no longer just about hosting meetings or knocking on doors and then going back home to relax at the end of the day. It is about living out your faith anytime, anywhere and under any circumstance. It is about encountering problems and struggles, yet willing to obey God and press on at any cost. Are we willing to live a Gospel-driven life?
