Too confident?
I had my meeting-cum-interview with the OMF Irish Council this evening. It went pretty well, they really only asked me 3 or 4 major questions, which I answered with, possibly drawn out, but all encompassing responses.
They seemed pleased enough, but one of the questions left me wondering… They asked me what my expectations of the trip were which they then embellished asking specifically what fears I had. Unremarkably to me at the time I had very few fears, but quickly thought up a few minor ones to throw out to them as I felt I should be saying something.
Afterwards Ian (The representative from 1st Antrim’s Missionary and Student committee) mentioned to me that he hadn’t realised just how daunting it would be to leave home for a year and go so far away.
On the short drive home (via Thaitanic to get some dinner - yum!) I thought about the fears I have, or lack of. Perhaps I was being too naive or too relaxed regarding the whole thing. Maybe I should be more concerned about it, like what if I don’t make any friends, or what if I can’t adjust to the culture, or what if I do something else thats not good and so on.
Later on I was on MSN and was talking to Kevin (the korean-japanese-canadian-bass guitarist-break dancing-all round nice guy from the team last year) and he mentioned that he is applying to go to Japan again next year, and the place he is applying to go is about 40 minutes drive from me! Talking to him and hearing how excited he was about it all just reminded me how many people have been praying for me and how I have been guided to this point. Then I was reminded that Christ told us not to worry about tomorrow by Mel and instead we should focus on the problems at hand today.
So I’m not going to worry about it, I’m going to focus on getting these exams sorted out and done. Besides my mum will worry enough for two of us!
May 20th, 2005 at 10:32 am
Lad, you’re totally right: you have been guided and prepared for this mission. There is a reason that you are going to Japan. And people have been praying for you: I could name at least ten people who would have been praying for you last night (it was on our OMF prayer card).
But, even with all that said, you have been praying about this mission. I have recently been studying Philippians and something sticks out that I believe is relevant…
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
Maybe that will give you some encouragement. We’re all behind you with this mission, lad - particularly in prayer.
May 20th, 2005 at 4:51 pm
Amen! I would have to agree.John, you have lots of people praying for you even in Canada, a country so far away! God has it all figured out.so dont worry about if your worrying enough!! haha. ttyl bredrin
May 26th, 2005 at 10:08 am
That was the greatest laugh I’ve had all day!
Those interviewers end up making you more scared rather than allaying any fears you originally had!
How not to increase the missionary population!
Ha ha, there’ll be plenty to scare you when you get here, but we won’t tell you about the bears just yet …
We all prayed for you this a.m. at our prayer meeting … so that adds 11 people praying for you in Japan …