I leave this evening for Venezuela. I remember seventeen years ago when I first made my first trip to what I now call my second home-country. I was part of an evangelistic campaign from Harding University in the summer of 1996.
When I first talked to my parents about going on the trip, they were supportive, but not initially. My mom’s response as to why she didn't want me to go was, as she put it, "Because you'll never come back."
At that time, I did not understand her answer. I remember the conversation very clearly. We happened to be standing at the bathroom sink at their house in Charleston, South Carolina, while I explained all of the logical reasons why I should go. It's only four weeks. I can work when I return, because I will return. I'll be able to get credits for a Spanish class... The list continued.
When I stayed an additional three weeks after the initial four, my mom's fears were becoming a reality, but I was still blind to what God was doing and my mom was seeing. I look back on all of that now and laugh. I guess this is a most-definitive case of mom being able to say "I told you so." However, her initial fears and feelings of losing her daughter have been set aside by a joy in seeing me answer God's call and allowing Him to use me in any way He can. That is at least my prayer and what I am reminded of on this Throwback Thursday on my way to Venezuela.