The Three I's

I have really been praying about where God is leading us to travel in the coming year. Now that Stephen, Psalm, and I have our passports, the reality of next year's travel is dawning upon us.

It's not just a far-off dream or plan anymore. This is reality. It's time to make sure I do my part in putting this plan into action!

Right now, we have received no direct leading in where we need to go together on a missions trip. But we have decided, if we do not hear something otherwise from the Lord, to choose from the following destinations: Israel, Ireland, or Italy.

We are interested in going to Israel because it is where our Lord spent his time and ministry on this earth. We believe it is VERY IMPORTANT to go to Israel, if God leads and allows, in the coming years. We just aren't sure WHICH year we are supposed to go.

We are interested in Ireland because I went there last year and felt a REAL drawing to go back, to return, to invest in the lives of people there, to pray for the Christian churches there. And it's beautiful. I want Stephen and Psalm to get to see Ireland, feel it, experience the warmth of its beautiful people and culture. I cannot wait to return!

We want to go to Italy to see the Vatican, the artwork, the culture of the world's largest Christian church. We want to meet its people, get a feel for the culture. It is a great hope of mine to get to attend a mass at the Vatican, perhaps even with the Pope presiding. What a great honor and experience that would be. I have a GROWING & INTENSIFYING burden for the GLOBAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH, and the CATHOLIC CHURCH is a part of that burden. I want to go and PRAY for the Catholic Church and its people, that we all will be UNITED in our efforts to spread the Gospel on this planet before Christ comes again to get us!

Sunday after church, I gave Stephen and myself a paper and we wrote our Top 3 List of where we think we need to go next year, as a family.

Stephen's reply;
1. Israel
2. Italy
3. Ireland

My reply:
1. Ireland
2. Italy
3. Israel

All three responses started with the letter I, so I've been calling our next destination, "One of the three I's."

Because our lists were EXACTLY the opposite, we said we are leaning toward Italy, since we both chose it as our second option.

Ultimately, though, we will go where God leads us. If we do not hear specifically from him to go elsewhere or serve in another capacity, we will most likely be journeying to ONE OF THE THREE I'S.

AMEN.