Marilyn's Mussings

What an adventure! As we walked out of the airport in Nairobi, I immediately felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. My heart was full and tears came quickly. God had brought me there and I could not wait to see what He was going to do. I am excited about sharing my adventure with you but for now, I hope you enjoy the little book I made to share my adventure with my grandchildren, three little boys.

In March, I began telling my friends and family that I was going on a mission trip. Someone said to me, "So many people are going on mission trips. Is this just a fad?" I had a pain in my heart at the rather cynical question. The truth is, right now, there are many people going on mission trips. Why? There have been times in my life when I desperately wanted to go on a real mission trip. There was a family mission trip to Mexico that we were not able to join. The possibility of going to Africa came up for me. I prayed, full of both excitement and a little anxiety, but the trip was blocked. So I taught about missions to teenage girls and when I could I went with the church youth on their mission trips. This past year, God began stirring that desire in me again. I looked at possibilities in Atlanta where there is an international community. I thought about New York City where people groups from all over the world need Christ. I wondered about the possibility of going to

Apparently I am now middle-aged. I am not real sure when that happened because I used to think those people were old. But now that I am peering ahead at senior citizenship, I have decided I like it here. The term "middle-aged" is a little deceiving since I doubt I will live another 55 years, but I know that each day brings me closer and closer to seeing Jesus face to face. For now, the following question has been presented to me: How will you finish? For the last months in our small group Bible study, we have been focusing on finishing well. Scripture gives two contrasting models in Solomon and Paul. At a young age, Solomon followed his father David, as king of Israel and reigned for 40 years. God bestowed on him much wealth and he built many buildings, including the temple that David had wanted to build. However, "when Solomon was old . . . his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God." (I Kings 11:4) It is a sad ending to the life of the man who is remembered mo