This morning our oldest boarded a plane with lots of friends and is flying to another country. I love this and struggle with it all at the same time. She has worked for years to learn another language and now is her chance to put all her hard work into practice. However, the best part is she will be telling others about Jesus. The verse that comes to mind is, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (1 John 1:4). She is walking in the truth of who God says she is because she knows him as her Savior. She serves others because of this and desires that they know the truth too.

This verse is written by John, “to my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.” (3  John 1:1). John is praying for his friend and then says, “For I was very glad when fellow believers came and testified to your fidelity to the truth – how you are walking in truth.” (3 John 1:3). I know a little about what John must have been feeling. When someone comes and shares with me something about my children that I did not see, but brings God glory, I am overjoyed! What we pour into them at home is reflected outside these walls.

John goes on to say, “Dear friend, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, especially when they are strangers.” (3 John 1:5). I pray as Maggie walks on foreign soil, she acts faithfully in all she does, especially to the strangers she meets. I pray she offers them hope only be found in Christ. I pray she will be able to say after this trip, “You answer us in righteousness, with awe-inspiring works, God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth.” (Psalms 65:5). I pray she will continually “Sing about the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awe-inspiring are your works!” (Psalms 66:2). She taught herself how to play the ukulele and has been practicing songs of praise to play on this trip. Hearing the song “Reckless Love” spilling out of this 16 year olds room causes me joy. Can you tell I love this child?!

She will be going into a public school on this trip, moving from class to class, sharing the good news truth in her testimony. For this adventure, I pray she will be able to say, “Come and listen, all who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.” (Psalms 66:16). This requires courage and trust in the One who sent her and is with her. When she went last year, this was one of her favorite days. She has even more to share of what he has done for her this year and for that I am thankful.

For those of you who bought a t-shirt or cookies, sent money, are praying, spent time encouraging and working with her on her Spanish (thank you Robin), you are helping make the very name of Jesus famous! I think we are doing as the scripture says, “Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can be coworkers with the truth.” (3 John 1:8). We might not be on the trip, but we are coworkers in spreading the truth! That is so exciting and as her mom, I am thankful for your kindness.

And Maggie, if you get a chance to read this before your sweet head hits the pillow tonight, know this is my prayer for you, everyone on your trip and us coworkers here in the United States, “May God be gracious to us and bless us; may he make his face shine upon us so that your way may be known on earth, your salvation among the nations. (Psalms 67:1-2).

Vaya con Dios!