9 days until Peru and the Amazon!

85 days ago by Julie Anne Osterhus

Dear Friends and Church Family,

Only nine days until my missions trip to Peru and the Amazon River! These past couple weeks have flown by! As each day passes, God continues to prepare my heart for what lies ahead in the South American jungle. He has given me a specific theme for my heart to focus on heading into my trip: “Find your complete satisfaction in me.” Through many different circumstances, verses, and people, God has been shouting this message loud and clear into my life.

When I first started praying and preparing to go, one of my biggest desires was that God would reveal Himself to me, break me down, and then fill me up with only Him. But as I continued to seek His face and pray about what He has in store, I realized that my focus was off. God’s been teaching me that I am already completely FILLED with Him! He’s given me so much, but yet my prayer has been that of an overstuffed Christian, “Lord, more, more, more!”

Jesus didn’t only preach, “If anyone is thirsty let Him come to me and drink.” (John 7:37. The very next verse He says, “Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” Jesus isn’t only about filling us with Him and quenching our thirst. He fills us so we can be poured out. We are most satisfied in Jesus and with Jesus when our hearts overflow to others and He is glorified through us!

“You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world…” (Matthew 5:13, 14) Why does Jesus say this? He’s put us here for a purpose- yes! We have purpose through Jesus Christ! Our lives are to overflow with Jesus in order to bring others to Him. Salt makes you thirsty. If we are the salt of the world, our purpose is to make people thirsty for Jesus. And, if we are the light of the world (a city on a hill), we must point people to a destination.

So, my prayer for this trip has changed. It’s no longer, “God break me down and fill me so that I can be a stronger Christian.” It is: “God, let me be the one you use to make people thirst after you, and may I point them to YOU, the only one that satisfies the longings of their souls.” I think that is the prayer that God is pleased with. And guess what? I know that when I pour my life out to others, God is going to continue to fill me because Jesus never runs out!

Would you pray with me that God will move in the hearts of those we are going to reach? 10 of us are traveling along the river in a houseboat and stopping at many different villages to preach the Gospel. I have no idea what to expect, but I KNOW that God has some awesome things in store!

I am $200 away from my trip cost, and today is the deadline set for all funds collected. I’m praying that God will provide a little extra so that I can get the supplies needed for the trip. He is so faithful, and He’s used many of you to help make this trip possible! Thanks for going with me and being obedient to Him. Love you all!

Julie Anne