Faith in God's plans

Oh my gosh...I am tired from all of the preparations that have to be done in order for me to move to Ethiopia in October.  It almost seems like a never ending list of "stuff".  I am really trying not to get bogged down in all of the details and making a point to remember why I am going in the first place.  Whenever I feel even just a little disconnected from the real reason behind all of this, all I have to do is look at the pictures and video from my trip last October.  Then all of these details actually start to seem like a joy because I know they are getting me one step closer!

Lately people have been saying things to me that have gotten me thinking about how we know or gauge what God is asking of us.  What kind of proof do we require to "prove" to ourselves or others that the path we are taking is actually of God?  The comments I have been geting a lot of lately go something like this "Well, if God is really sending you to Ethiopia then He will keep you safe".  Maybe people don't know what to say so this is their pat comment but I disagree completely with this statement.

I don't believe that just because I am a Christian or just because I am living out God's plan for me that everything is going to be all rainbows and fields of 4-leaf clovers.  In fact, the Bible is pretty clear about one thing: Christians will face trials, tribulations, test, and troubles.  Becoming a Christian doesn't give us a free pass to a perfect life.  Just read James 1.

I sometimes wonder, if I get to Ethiopia and I get hurt or sick or (and my family hates it when I talk like this but I am a realist) even die, will people begin to doubt whether or not I was called to Ethiopia?  And for the people that truly believe, as I do, that this is a true calling on my life-will their faith be tested if they truly feel that since God is calling me that I will be safe the whole time?

If something happens to me while I am there I don't want that to dim the real reason that I went in the first place.  I am going because God showed me that Debre Zeyit is my home.  The impoverished widows and children that I met while I was there are my family and because I want to serve my Lord and Savior.