Posted by
Deb on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 11:32:10 AM
At 5:30am Dad, Jessica and I, formed a group hug in the driveway. Dad prayed and barely made it through as his voice choked with emotion.
Today, we sent our oldest offspring, our only daughter, Jessica aka Yesha, JJ, J, off to the mission field. Jessica heard God asking, not audibly, she heard in her heart and soul, to inexplicably give up everything in her current world and decide to trust wholly on Him, to enter a new and challenging world.
In Jessica's case this translates into 25-month commitment to making her home on a ship, the Operation Mobilisation's LOGOS HOPE. http://www.omships.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=49This ship will travel to mostly third world ports with over 6,000 books on board for visitors to select. These will be places where books are scarce, libraries and bookstores are non-existent and people are hungry to read books in their own tongue. OM ships endeavor to share knowledge, help and hope with every visitor and the greater community in every port they visit.
Jessica is well suited to this calling, as she worked for several years on cruise ships, traveling on luxury vessels, working with children of the almost rich and not very famous. The only comparable aspects to what her life will be on this new ship are: working on a ship and living in a small cabin with a roommate not of her choosing.
On the LH she will not eat gourmet meals. Her bed will not be turned down every night. And there won't be a chocolate on her pillow each night.
But JJ looks with joy upon the way God has prepared her for this adventure. She loves travel, the sea, ships, new cultures, new languages and laughter. Her middle name is Joy and she has a special ability to bring that into any situation.
Dear God,
Though my heart was not especially joyful today, I know you were pleased as punch to see another of your children join in your faith- walk parade! Thanks for the opportunity to watch her blossom.
MoM
"The Lord your God is with you. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17