Amidst our final preparations and packing (or I'm kind of starting to finally pack! haha), I sat down this morning for a final quiet time before going to Guatemala.  I was encouraged to read Psalm 121, and to meditate on how the psalmist characterizes God.  I love this Psalm, and several parts of it spoke to me more than ever before. -

I lift up my eyes to the hills -

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip - 

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you - 

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm -

he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

When preparing for a trip, I think it is easier to pray that God provides protection and keeps us safe.  While this may be true, we should also seek God to BE our Protector, to be there with us.  As missionaries prepare to spread the Word of God, they can rest assured that they are protected.  It will look different in every circumstance, but if they look to the Lord for help, then His Word says that they are protected, not by anything created, but by the Creator of everything.  I am going forward, confident of that, and confident that the Lord is with us, not just sending us as His laborers.

I think it's so beautiful when you have open hearts, just allowing God's Word to speak to you.  This morning was an example of that.  I'm constantly amazed at how God chooses to reveal Himself, and I know this journey has also encouraged me, again, to seek to know Him more.

Again, thank you for all of the prayers and encouragement! :)