We are missionaries

We are David and Jill Sweet and we are missionaries. I wrote that more to inform ourselves than the world. The truth is still sinking in. The truth that God ordained a plan so far beyond what either of us could have even dreamed is still unbelievable to my brain.

Over the next few months, as we tell you more about us, you will hopefully learn that we are just ordinary people who made the choice to respond to God’s call on our life. God gave David and me a burden for the hurting. We both know the struggle to feel loved, significant and valued. Our hearts ache for children, especially, who live in slavery, poverty and abuse. And there is so much in this world that overwhelming does not express the emotional burden.

I would say that it didn’t surprise either of us that God called us to the mission field. But what did surprise us is the way He called us that left no room for doubt. In August 2015, Al Mellinger was sharing a mission update with our church about the work in Bulgaria. It was the second time David had heard the update, since he was managing the sound board in the first service that morning. I was moved to hear what God had been doing in Bulgaria. At some point when Al was talking, something happened to me that I have only experienced a few times in my life. God spoke clearly to my heart. Everything else faded and He said, “you are going to Bulgaria.” Later that night, we would discover that God told David the same thing at the same time!

In the next few weeks, God answer our prayers for confirmation over and over and over again. Al and Diane Mellinger had been praying for people to join Team Bulgaria with our exact skill sets. Our church was behind us. Even our families and friends, although sad, were excited.

And so, we prepare. But our preparations are minute compared to what God is doing to make our time in Bulgaria fruitful.

I was traveling for work this week and had some time in the car alone with Jesus, listening to some worship music and praising God for how He had moved this week in our journey to Bulgaria. I am so humbled and excited to see how God is going to use us, but I tend to be the one to get overwhelmed with details more than David. There was a line in the song that really spoke to me: “it’s Your breath in our lungs…” It reminded me that as we follow the required steps in this process, even this part is not in our own strength. He wants to strengthen us with His breath in our lungs with each document we complete. No detail is too small to surrender to Him.

Walking with Christ turns the world’s definition of weakness upside down. Webster says weakness is “a quality or feature that prevents someone or something from being effective or useful.” But we know that admitting our weakness means we are relying on God’s power: “But he said to me. ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV). Like Paul, I will gladly “boast about my weakness” so that God will strengthen both David and me. His breath…His strength…Working in us to make Him known.

This week, we are finishing our budget. Please pray with us for wisdom and discernment.