Bible and Passport

©darrengarcia

An hour left before I fly to Japan. It's my first time to go abroad.  I have mixed feelings about my trip. Living in another country alone for almost one year is no joke.
 

Going to japan means leaving my convenient student life in UP. I'm doing good in my academics, I might lose momentum. I'm making significant impact in my university, I might not have the same opportunity again. These thoughts have been circling my mind for a while.

Then I remembered a Sunday preaching about having a bible and a passport. I realized that God wants me to open a new chapter in my life.

When I decided to follow Him. I knew I had to stop chasing success. I no longer work to gain victory. I discovered that I am already fighting from the vantage point of victory. My definition of success transformed from a simplistic view to an eternal perspective. I no longer count accolades and achievements as victory lest it serves others and ultimately honors God.

All I wanted was to change my campus. I knew it's not going to be easy so I doubled my effort in my academics and leadership roles. When I was notified about my scholarship in Japan, it meant leaving what I started and heavily invested on.

I was supposed to leave August of last year but it was cancelled due to scholarship issues. So I thought maybe it wasn't for me. Then suddenly, when I was least expecting it, I was granted the scholarship. I didn't know what to do. I did not want to abandon the overwhelming opportunities to change my campus yet I also felt a strong tug in my heart to go to Japan.

After talking to people and hearing from God, I finally decided I that just have to go to Japan.

One of my friends told me how he sees me being used in Japan. He told me that he thinks God is promoting me to another level of wilderness because I became faithful in the things he put in my college life.  As I listened to his parting words of encouragement, I recounted the years of hardship I had to endure just to be faithful to God. From academics, finance, to my love life , honoring God was not easy. Several times did I had the urge to conform to my surroundings, but God just never gave up on me. And true to his word, His will transcends mine, it was good, pleasing, and perfect.

At this point, I know that God is sending me to Japan to change nations. I'll be interacting with students from different countries and different backgrounds. Who knows what they can do with the gospel when they go back home. This is what excites me the most.

The good news is that this calling is not just reserved for me or to few selected individuals. This is an invitation to all people who follow Christ.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations... -Matthew 28:19

I was told of amazing things how a bible and a passport can transform a nation. It's my time to experience this transformational power. It's time to go international. It's time to change the world!