Michelle Chae

Hello friends,


While taking a moment to write this letter...I'm led to reflect on what my involvement had been with missions thus far. In regards to actual 'hands-on-experience'...there is none...as I have never been able to physically go and rather have always been on the sending end. I never seem to come across any difficulties when making travel plans overseas for vacation. However, an unexpected obstacle always seems to rise whenever an attempt is made to go overseas for ministry purpose.

Upon finding out about the upcoming mission trip at church this Winter, I once again found myself contemplating about going. Few months ago, I ended up having to quit my job abruptly due to health reasons so it wasn't work schedule getting in the way nor were there any other issues to deal with. But still, I hesitated. I realized that this time, the obstacle...was myself.
"Am I going out of guilt? to make up for the past mission trips I couldn't partake in?"..."Am I going because I just have too much time on my hands?"...  After struggling through string of negative thoughts and questions, a thought came to me that perhaps maybe this was just about simply learning how to be available. And along with that thought was a reminder of a prayer I had received 4 years ago...few days before flying out to Korea back in 2006.

"Keep a bag unpacked."

Those were the words I had received from a pastor who last prayed for me at a conference I attended before leaving the States.
It's a prayer I had put on the back burner for 4 years. When Korea happened...just about everything but God, became too big – people, culture, money, work...which all eventually led me to a crashing point . But now that I'm in the effort to get back in pace with God...those four words of prayer I had forgotten about met with me often in my effort to search my heart. "Keep a bag unpacked"...could mean anything. But this time around, it was enough to be a push for me to move...to get out of my slump and do my part.

So!!! Here I am...joining a team to participate in a short term mission to China with Jubilee Church. The Mission trip will take place from Jan.9th to the 15th of 2011 and the team members will be serving middle school students in China through teaching and various activities. Much prayer support is needed for physical & spiritual protection, for wisdom & discernment to be on our lips and for flow of creativity and channels of communication to open with all the people we will encounter so that we may shed a glimpse of the gracious God who is on our side. And so I want to ask you to remember me and my team...in prayer and also in financial support if led to give...and GO WITH US!

God bless,
Michelle Chae