As I travel through the barely inhabited rolling plains of Montana, I feel at peace. Which is actually really nice, because just two days ago I was wondering how long it would be before my emotions calmed down a bit. I had hoped that TeachBeyond Orientation would be a refreshing, recharging experience, and in some ways it was. But it was also very emotionally draining. Everything seems so much more real now. We still don’t know exactly when we are leaving, but we are leaving. And I have a very real sense that what we are choosing to do will change us in ways that we cannot even begin to imagine. It WILL NOT be easy. In fact, I have a real sense that this is going to be very hard. But it will be good, even if it doesn’t feel good for awhile.

On the last evening of Orientation, after many hours of listening and talking through issues concerning culture adaptation, transition, third culture kids, and more, we all gathered together in the Bethel Seminary Chapel for our dedication. Surrounded by 80 plus candidates hoping to join the work TeachBeyond is doing around the world, I felt very inadequate. I’m not the right person for this job. I don’t have the right experience. I’m not strong enough. And then it dawned on me, God isn’t asking me to be the right person, but rather to become the right person.

Let’s face it. Most of the people God chose in the Bible to do his work had some pretty major flaws. God isn’t asking us to follow him because we have it all together. He’s asking us if we are willing to let him work in us to accomplish his purpose. So the question is: Am I willing to sacrifice who I am to become someone different?