Sometimes I wonder if I am doing what God wants me to do, or if I am doing what I want to do and just hoping that it's what God wants me to do. How am I supposed to know the difference?
I first spent time in Vietnam from May to August of 2011 and knew from the first day that I was where God wanted me to be. How did I know? I had previously visited Brisbane in February, when the weather was hot and sticky, and I hated it; there was no way that I could ever put up with the humidity of that city. When I arrived in Saigon in 2011, it was hotter and stickier than I had ever experienced, and I loved it. I worked hard, painting and landscaping and the hotter it got, the more I liked it. I met people from countries around the world and the one thing that we had in common, was our love for our Lord, Jesus Christ. I made more friends in that first three months than I had made in the first 60 years of my life, and they were real friends, not just acquaintances. When I returned to Adelaide after my three month stay, I could not settle down in my own home; I had a great desire to return to Saigon and my new friends and activities, and the hot, sticky climate. I knew then, that God wanted me in Vietnam to work for Him.
So, I have no doubt about where God wants me but there is still some doubt about what He wants me to do.
I believe that He wants me to teach English at the Company of Grace, because I feel so comfortable mentally and physically, teaching at the House of Grace. But, does He want me to limit my work to the Company of Grace??? Or is He leading me in a slightly different direction, towards working with orphans.
He has fulfilled my desire to teach by allowing me to teach TESOL. Is He now saying that my great desire to work with children can also be fulfilled? I know that there is a tremendous need for more volunteers to work in the orphanages in Saigon and other parts of Vietnam, and I have very good friends with whom I can work in this area. I have been asked to help them in the past and have, for some reason, declined the invitation.
I believe that God has used my time in Saigon to stretch me, or build my character into one who is no longer afraid to step out in faith. I know that He goes before me, preparing the way for whatever it is that He wants me to do. I know that if I venture into the 'unknown' and find that I cannot handle it, He will pick me up and put me where He wants me. Why should I limit my time to just one venture, when I know that I can easily handle more work than I am doing? There is no reason why I can't work in both areas.
I'm actually writing this to myself, so that I can work out what I need to do when I return to Saigon, but if you stumble across this blog and have any ideas to put before me, please feel free to add them . . . you never know; yours may be the voice that He choses to enlighten me to His good and perfect will for me.
God bless you,
Susiegee
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Hi dear blogger friend. I say "Go for it". How will you know if God is prompting you to work at the orphanage if you don't step up and accept the invitation to help? It sounds like you are being called. You'll know soon enough if is or isn't the Holy Spirit directing you.
ReplyDeleteGod has given you a servant's heart for just that reason. He wants you there. when He wants you to slow down, He'll make that clear to you also.
May you always listen to His voice as you are now. May He reward you richly for your willingness to go where He sends you to do the work He calls you to.
I'll see you in heaven some day and it will be glorious to meet you in person.