Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

—Matthew 6:19-20

Dear God,

Mommy told me that she called grandma the other day and mentioned to her that I was going on this mission trip. Grandma, a kind of stubborn traditional Chinese lady in her 80s, was apparently incredulous at the idea. She’s doing what? Is she getting paid? What about her job? She has to stop working and she’s not getting paid to go? She has to pay to help? Who does that? Where? Africa? Why Africa? It’s so uncomfortable there! Is anyone going with her? Someone should go with her. Someone should really go with her. I don’t think she should go by herself. She might get really sick. What happens if she gets sick? Who will take care of her? 

For whatever reason, it surprised me how strong her reaction was, and how she just couldn’t understand why I would give up a stable job and comfortable living and pay money to do humanitarian work with no monetary compensation. Grandma is worried about me in the worldly sense. I realized I’m worried about her in the eternal sense.

She’s is not a believer. She is the last living grandparent I have left; I don’t think any of my late grandparents believed in You before they passed. I want very much to share with her what I’m doing and why I’m doing it and to know why I don’t build up a kingdom on earth. But… every time I think about it, the task just daunts me. I know I can’t do it by myself. My Chinese is terrible, and grandma is, you know, kind of stuck in her ways. I know you can do it though. Just show me what to do.

The martyred missionary Jim Elliot once wrote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” I think it sums up Kingdom work really well, and it gives me good reminders along with the Matthew verse that this world I live in isn’t where I belong, nor is it what I should build up. It’s a temporary arrangement until Your Son comes again and then we can spend an eternity with You. Until that day though, You’ve given me the task to know You and introduce You to others. I hope I don’t get in the way of Your work! Show me how to be Your hands and feet.

With love and trust, Your daughter,
Jasmin