Do you ever wonder if God really fashions our steps? In His sovereignty, does He truly orchestrate our lives from beginning to end?

In 2020, I was all set to go on a mission trip to Ethiopia. It had made sense. I had a Compassion child in the region and was so excited at the thought of getting to meet him, experience his culture, and better understand his world.

Then COVID happened and the Ethiopia trip was shelved.

I prayed over the next couple of years that God would show me where to go on mission (all the while secretly still hoping that He’d make a way for me to go to Ethiopia).

Last year, my husband and I revisited this desire of mine and looked over the mission trips that our church was going on.

Ethiopia, unfortunately, was not on the list.

Other places were but, for a variety of reasons that aren’t necessary to go into here, Anthony and I were only able to agree on one – Italy.

In my mind, Italy didn’t feel like a mission trip at all. It felt like a vacation.

Still, I signed up; attended the team meetings; bought the necessary supplies; and boarded a plane last month bound for Italy.

As our team arrived and began our boots-on-the-ground orientation, I still had no idea why God would have “called” me to Italy.

Our team’s mission was to support a local, evangelical sports camp for children. In my mind, I didn’t have much to contribute to the volleyball, baseball, soccer, or flag football that would be happening.

Two days into our trip, we attended the church service that would kick off our week of camp. Volunteers from all over the globe assembled together to worship the Lord in a service that can only be described as heavenly.

Afterwards, benches and tables were lined up, end-to-end. We ate lunch together, casually made introductions, and got to know one another.

I had the joy of meeting several women who, over the course of the following week, I would serve alongside of at the camp. The heartfelt encouragement and fellowship that developed from these connections in such a short amount of time was nothing short of divine.

After a few days, I realized why God had opened the door for me to go to Italy.

It was for these women.

Paul said in Romans 1, “For I want very much to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” (vs. 11 – 12 CSB)

These women shared with me how meaningful my encouragement was to them. My smile, my joy, my words were like oxygen to them, they said.

It was mutual.

(I don’t think they realized how much life and faith they poured into me.)

Signing up to go to Italy on mission very much felt like a process of elimination initially. But, after getting there and meeting these women, it was abundantly clear that I was there for them.

God knew all along.

God saw these incredible women; God heard their prayers; and God sent me (even when I didn’t realize I was “being sent”).

Being obedient to God and “living sent” doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to fundraise, cross an ocean and navigate language barriers, though.

It only takes holding your day loosely before Him as you willingly yield yourself to be used for His glory wherever you may be found today.

Whether it’s at a coffee shop or the office, a camping trip or a mission trip, if you are in Christ, you are on mission and living sent!

How might God be using you on mission today?

Until next time, Grace and Glory!