Rules of the Road- 4 states (1,061 miles)

It has been a week full of surprises, capped off with deep dish Chicago style pizza!  After the first week of travel, here are a few “rules of the road” that Katie and I have learned.

We started off at 8:30 p.m. in Lincoln, NE and drove all the way to Saint Louis, a 7 hour drive!!  Due to construction and a flooded bridge, we got to our first destination around 4:15 a.m.  We lugged our suit cases down the side walk, up the stairs and to the front door only to find out that the door was locked!!  I am so thankful for my teammate Katie, for we just laughed and drove to Denny’s.  There spent the next 4 hours chatting, talking to the waitress, and we even met a Korean War vet.  So needless to say we started the week off with a slumber party at Denny’s.  First rule of the road, “be willing to be flexible, your plans might not be the best plans.”

That night we had the chance to be a part of a bible study with youth of East Saint Louis.   We worked alongside a friend of mine, Pastor Randy.  I met Pastor Randy two years ago on a mission trip to Saint Louis, and after two years, God gave me the opportunity to work alongside him again.  Katie and I couldn’t think of a better way to kick start our three and a half weeks of recruiting for youth missions, than to actually take part of a local youth mission.  Katie and I each had the chance to be youth group leaders for around thirty inner city youth.  Isn’t it amazing that while we were on our way to get college students plugged in with global youth ministry, Katie and I had the chance to do exactly what we love to do… youth ministry.  Second rule of the road, “don’t expect to do missions where you are going, but rather, where you are at.”

The next day we went to Saint Louis Christian College where we met some amazing students with a great heart for the Lord.  Katie and I got super energized seeing people get excited about the internships and the opportunity to go and serve the Lord in another country.  The next morning Katie and I sheet rocked the ceiling at “the Rock”, and then we headed out to Iowa City to talk at Campus Christian Fellowship.  It was such a refreshing night and a special thanks to Roger and Nancy Charley for their hospitality.  Third rule of the road, “we’re all in this together.”

Bright and early this morning we drove to Wheaton College and spent the entire day recruiting where we met some more passionate college students, with a great heart for the Lord.  The last rule that I learned dealt with the fact that God placed missions on these people’s hearts long before Katie and I ever showed up.  My biggest prayer now is that God would prepare hearts for His message.  Fourth rule of the road, “God goes before you.”

Right now I am sitting in down town Chicago (a place I never would have dreamed I would ever see) reflecting on the past few days.  I can hardly believe the grace Katie and I have been shown; the grace of the gift of Jesus and the impact that His life story has on our lives.  Life is one big story, full of lots of little stories.  These stories include emotions of joy, pain, laughter, sorrow, frustration, and celebration.  On this road of life, we are often faced with a crossroads where we have a decision.  The decision is our free will of how we will respond to these emotions.  But trust me; if we follow these four “rules of the road,” we tend to focus more on how our little story is a part of God’s big story.   

Thanks for all of your continued prayers and support!!

Shout out to our friend David Peterka, who was such a great encouragement at Saint Louis Christian College- check out his ministry at:  whenthesaints.com

Two by Two

 Later the Master selected seventy and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he intended to go.  He game them this charge:

What a huge harvest!! And how few the harvest hands.  So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands.

Travel light.  Comb and toothbrush and no extra luggage.

The seventy came back triumphant. “Master, even the demons danced to your tune.”

Jesus said, “I know.  I saw Satan fall, a bolt of lightning out of the sky.  See what I’ve given you?  Safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy.  No one can put a hand on you.  All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God’s authority over you and presence with you.  Not what you do for God but what God does for your- that’s the agenda for rejoicing.”

At that Jesus rejoiced, exuberant in the Holy Spirit.  “I thank you Father, Master of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the know-it-alls and showed them to these innocent newcomers.  Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

Our journey starts today.  Katie Debusk flies in at 7:30 p.m. tonight and we start our journey to St. Louis.  I was up late last night, not able to sleep, tossing and turning.  Instead of continuing to fight it, I got up and read through the Message (above).

As I read through this passage, I have a better understanding of how Jesus’ disciples must have felt.  I feel just like them, uneducated, innocent humans who were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, going to every town and place the Lord intended them to go.  Honestly, lately I have been scared… scared of all of these unknowns.  But I look at the journey Katie and I are about to embark on and see how it lines up with scripture, and I am encouraged by the word of the Lord to preserver.   

First, Jesus sent his disciples out two by two, after he had walked with them for a little while AND he gave them this charge… GET ON YOUR KNEES (pray) and ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands.  This is where Katie and I want to start, praying that the Lord would send people to the harvest fields and we can just be a vessel through which the Lord reaches them.  PLEASE PRAY THAT AS WE TRAVEL THAT THE LORD WOULD SEND HARVEST HANDS!!

Travel light… I can’t think of a lighter way to travel than my own car.  The Lord will provide all we need for the journey just like he provided the lamb for the sacrifice (Gen. 22.8)

 We are innocent newcomers!!  We do not have it all together; we are just following the path the Lord has paved out in front of us.  I pray that we all understand this to a new level- God uses those who trust him!!!  The more we empty ourselves, the more room there is for Jesus and his rule. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Finally, and most importantly “the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God’s authority over you and presence with you.  Not what you do for God but what God does for you- that’s the agenda for rejoicing.” (Luke 10:18-20 Message)  We are not going out with our own authority; instead we walk in God’s authority and presence over us.  TO HIM BE THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER… AMEN!

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?vpsrc=1&ctz=240&vps=2&jsv=375b&ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=216344638282410086739.0004afb91ccc2895fb8c2

go... Go... GO!!!

In less than 4 days, the journey begins. A few weeks ago I was having a difficult internal battle of listening to God's word.  My heart said go... Go... GO!!! However, everything that I read in scripture kept telling me to wait:

Be still before the Lord and wit patiently for him- Psalm 37:7
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience- Romans 8:25

There were so many questions I had replaying in my mind.  How can I wait and go at the same time?  I took some time to be alone- just God and I.  In the quiet and stillness of the Lord, I began to see the promise of missions in God's mystery of waiting. Reaching out to a world that does not know Christ takes trust, it is unknown.  In this I can see how Jesus would say "blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Matthew 5:6)  I hunger to see the nations praising the Lord in Spirit and in truth.  If that means behind everything comfortable to pursue a hope that is unseen, then I choose to walk in faith.  I began to realize that God may not be telling me to choose one or the other: go or wait.  Rather, he wants me to GO and WAIT.  But wait not on the present, but rather on the promise that awaits me through his stewards at YouthHOPE.  God will guide and direct all of our steps, we just need to take the first step forward.  He is guiding us by a pillar of light as He did with the Israelites in the desert.  We may not see the end, but you and I can obediently step in the direction of the light that is illuminating my way.


I know that my heart can not follow God right now without moving forward.  He says, "I have good plans for you Britney Sue.  Trust my judgment.  It might be harder than you thought, but never will I leave you or forsake you.  My hand is on your shoulder!! Do not fear to speak as Moses did, for your words are not your own but from me.  Trust me!! Continue in diligence here in remembrance of what I have told you.  Let my comfort be your guide.  Truth rests in me and you will find me when you seek me with all of your heart."

Then God gave me reassurance again as I prayed about YouthHOPE in Jeremiah this afternoon:
 "I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding."- Jeremiah 3:15
As an apprentice at YouthHOPE I know that God has placed me in the hands of shepherds after his own heart.  Those I have met have a love for sharing the Lord and providing holistically for their needs.  I am so excited to be a part of God's bigger plan and thankful that He has chosen me :)  I am excited to go... Go... GO!!! while waiting for the HOPE that awaits me!!!

I want to say a special thank you to all of those who have been such a great support in this walk of faith.  I am thankful for God's rich blessing of provision for this journey over the next year.  The long awaited excursion begins in St. Louis this Monday working with inner city youth!!  Please keep Katie and I in your prayers over the next 3 and a half weeks as we start our magnificent journey across the United States heading east!!  Packing up the car tomorrow... I can hardly believe it!!

In Love,
Britney Sue