Packing

Wednesday we packed most of our things into a pickup with a trailer and stored them at Micah's parents place in PA. Today we tackled actually packing what we need to take in suitcases. Everything we will want for two years packed into two 50lb bags apiece. This week we've spent a lot of time deciding what we "need" to take with us and what is worth storing.

Since packing has all but taken over my mind this week, I thought I'd share this e-mail from Dan Wolgemuth the President of YFC in the USA

...the words of Jesus in Mark 6:7-9 to be so stunning…

And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.

Let’s understand this… the disciples, dispatched for duty. Aware of the uncertainty of the assignment. Constrained to move by the Spirit. And the packing checklist looked like this:

o No food.
o No luggage.
o No money.
o No extra clothing.

The disciples had to be stunned. “Take nothing.” But make no mistake, Jesus had a perfect strategy and an ideal design. This was not a suicide mission or a haphazard approach. Jesus fully equipped the disciples.

Each disciple, mission clearly spelled out, was released with two incredible resources… authority and companionship. These were the key components to successfully executing the call of God. Perhaps this very lesson was still ringing in the ears of Peter when he wrote: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.”

We have all things necessary for the journey and the call when we embrace His divine power, when we dip deeply in the well of His authority and we rely humbly on the companions that share our pathway. Notice that Paul selected the word “us” when he described the call. This is not a solo mission, and it’s not fueled by fumes.

Together and with power.

This is the formula. Pack light, but pack wisely.

Thanks for joining us on this journey. Regardless of what we manage to fit into our two 50lb suitcases apiece, we know that with you behind us, we have all that we need.