“What would you have me do and where would you have me go?”
That was the question Madeline asked when her door to the mission field using her aviation background closed. God was redirecting her path. But to where? And how? There was an Inbound team in Kilwa Masoko, but it seemed like the team was full and wouldn't accept another teammate. How could she follow God's will when she wasn't sure where He wanted her to go? On Tuesday morning my Appointee Coach called to say that the Inbound team leader, Shara, was inviting me to Kilwa Masoko, Tanzania even though she hadn’t met me. What?! I had spent many months waiting on the Lord, praying, and telling Him, “You must equip me for whatever you have in store for me. I have certain gifts and skills, but ultimately you must do the work in and through me.” Now, I asked God to be clear. He must make it clear if He desired for me to join the Inbound team. When the hard days would come, I knew I would need to be sure that He wanted me there, that I was supposed to be in Kilwa Masoko. I didn’t go looking for signs, and I left it in His hands. That evening as I was folding and putting away my laundry, I picked up a t-shirt and observed the words on it “I have learned to be content in all things Phil 4:11-12.” I no longer felt like I was lying when I wore it. I was content to follow God wherever, regardless of if I thought I was well-trained or not. Then I noticed the next shirt I pulled out. On the back was a Jim Elliot quote, alluding to Matthew 16:25-26, saying “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep” followed by a big picture of an airplane, “to gain that which he cannot lose.” I felt as if I had been slugged in the chest. I was no fool to give up airplanes to gain what I could not lose. The next and last t-shirt in the pile was an AIM shirt, with the continent of Africa on it and the words “HE IS WORTHY” referencing Revelation 5:9. I have learned to be content to give up what I cannot keep, and He is Worthy of it. Amen and amen. I called out, “God, is this you?!” But I knew He had just made it clear what I should do. I would head to Kilwa Masoko, Tanzania in July of 2025. Do you think that’s bonkers? Did God speak through my t-shirts? I believe so. He’s been known to communicate through speaking donkeys and lot-casting dice, so who’s to say He won’t utilize the words on a screen-printed tee?