Ashlin Summer Mission Post 1 – Jonah

Well, I’m in the final countdown to the launch of my summer mission with Cru. Tomorrow (Friday, 6-1-18) will be headed out to Chicago where I will stay for 10 weeks! While I am there I will have the opportunity to share the Gospel with the people of Chicago, specifically college students. This summer mission will be an extension of what I am already doing through Cru at Ball State University, where I attend college. I have been raising support for two months, and I am very happy to report that through all of your support and partnership, I have reached my goal of $3,775!

Some of you may be wondering… “Why Chicago?” So, I wanted my first blog post to be real and honest. To tell you why I’m headed to Chicago.

I chose Chicago very apprehensively, actually. A staff member from Cru encouraged me to go, and I told her I would pray about it, but we all know that we use that phrase for an “out” WAY too often. Guilty. I had made up my mind already, from the 5 minutes I talked to her… absolutely not. I had planned on spending a lot of time with Tyler this summer, in preparation for the future. I already had two vacations planned with my family. I had planned on living with my grandparents for the summer. I had planned on working at the summer camp I had been at for the past two summers with the kids and staff that I loved.

Along with all of my plans I would have to abandon in order to go on this trip, I was scared out of my mind. I was scared of being away from everyone I know for 10 weeks in a city that has been notorious for shootings, kidnappings, and everything you could imagine. I was scared that Tyler and my family would feel abandoned. I was scared that I would feel lonely, make absolutely zero friends. I feared failing at evangelism, not having enough energy, skill or knowledge, the list goes on and on. But God would not leave me alone. That weekend he kept putting Chicago on my heart over and over. The Sunday after Bridget talked to me about going to Chicago, I heard the Lord’s voice so clearly. “Are you obedient”. Not even “do you trust me” Just straight up “Are you obedient”. Ouch. I broke down in tears, and Veggie Tale Jonah popped into my head. Even though Veggie Tales Jonah is an absolute classic (and definitely my favorite), the point of the story from the Bible is raw, harsh, and REAL. I realized that I had been acting a bit like Jonah. “Chicago, haha God. Have you ever BEEN there?!” “Maybe I heard you wrong God.” These were the real conversations I had in my head while lying in my bed at night. I was running away from God’s very clear call for my summer. I’m honestly really glad for God’s grace because if I was living in the New Testament, I’m pretty sure that God would have struck me with lightening right then and there for being so silly. Just kidding. But really, I wasn’t listening. Not because I wanted to be disobedient to God. Not even because I didn’t want to share my faith, and not because I didn’t know how. It was because I was scared. Scared that I would not have fun. Scared that I would be forgotten at home. Scared that I would let people down. Scared that people would not want to partner with me in support. Scared that I wasn’t good enough for God to use me. Scared that I would be uncomfortable, unhappy, and regret my decision. But even through all of my fear, I decided that I needed to be obedient. So I applied, and started my journey raising support.

But the thing is… and the thing I want you to most understand, is that just because I said “yes” to going on summer mission to Chicago does not mean all my fear has disappeared. It just means that God wants to use my fear, to meet me, and to show me His love, character, and what He has already promised in His word. And what he promises in his word, is that he will be with me wherever I go. He will fill in the inconsistencies, and the incompetency that I have, and use me for His glory. He honors my “yes”, and has honored the “yes” of so many people that chose to me vessels of his message. Unfortunately, Jonah didn’t really get it, but God used his story to show me what not to do. I believe that this summer, God will be able to break down my need for comfort. He will address my fears, and provide in ways I have never seen before. And most importantly use my team, full of ordinary, sinful, imperfect people for His glory, that the people of Chicago might know and follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Jonah 2:2

He said: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.”