Buena Tupe, the first IHH Intern

Read Genesis 12:1-9, Hebrews 11:24-27, Hosea 6:3

Sometimes, we are called to step into the unknown so that we might behold God's glory.

Challenged by God's call for Abraham to be a blessing to the nations, I gave my life to the Lord for missions at a youth missions congress in 1996. Since then, I had gone on several short-term mission trips, but had yet to go on my first long-term assignment.

Dad saw my need to prepare for missions and challenged me to go to Bible school. In 2000, I chose to go to Bible school in Saskatchewan, Canada, thinking that this would be my opportunity to step out in faith as Abraham did. I only had enough money to buy a ticket. I had a scholarship, but I didn't have health insurance or finances for my living expenses. In addition, I would be living away from family and friends, and I wasn't too excited about Canada. However, something in my spirit was calling me and enabling me to take the journey.

On my way to Canada, I had a five-day stopover at San Francisco, California. There, friends and loved ones pampered me, making it tempting to stay. I then went to Toronto where relatives found it difficult to understand why I would forego the opportunity to earn a lot of money in the US with my credentials, only to "waste" my years in Bible school. And why did I have to be in the middle of nowhere, far from my relatives, when there were schools more popular and closer to them?

Still, something in me urged to go on.

In 2002, I finished two years of Bible school in Canada. God met my every need with people I did not expect supporting me. I was even able to join school mission trips to Europe and the US and visit family during breaks. I also learned to love Canada.

But more precious than any mission or ministry experience, I treasure my stay in Canada because I encountered God and came to know Him in ways I wouldn't have elsewhere. As I stepped into the unknown with God, I came to know Him more intimately and realize His sufficiency. He became a Husband to me. He taught me how not to live independently of the people around me, but to choose to establish and develop relationships even with difficult people. He enabled me to love how He made me and not hide behind the pressure of meeting people's expectations. He helped me overcome my fears, and became my security.

There is the call to "press on to know the Lord." Let us leave our comfort zone and press on to know Him who calls us!

Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him! Then he will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.
Hosea 6:3 NLT*

This article is from the book Walking On: The Best of Women on the Journey
Copyright 2006 Church Strengthening Ministry, Inc.
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1266 Makati City, Philippines
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Used by permission.

*The scripture marked "NLT" is taken from the New Living Translation, Copyright 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. All rights reserved. Used by permission.