Like having my first baby

You can always tell the new, first-time moms. They are so excited about their pregnancy. They think they can do it all, and in fact at first they talk excitedly about the birth and how fast they will be getting back to work. Unlike others, they are absolutely certain they will be keeping all the balls up in the air. Husband, job, church and charity will all continue on unchanged.
When I started this journey back in March, I too was so sure I could do it all. Now that I'm nine months into the pregnancy, I'm getting a lot more realistic.
What started out a "The Decade of the International Student" in my mind has now become "The Decade of the International" ... much larger in some ways and yet more focused in others. I now am cultivating 12 (count them 12!) special interest groups I see essential to reaching All Nations -- including not only the students and misionaries but also ethnic churches, indigenous mission agencies, sponsors, mentors, advisors and layers upon layers of prayer partners and supporters.
Now that I'm "big with child" I realize that I can't along without others. In fact, I can barely move without others now. Even getting up out of my spiritual chair is a chore. I am so much more dependent. More humble -- mostly on my spiritual husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, but also on the rest of the family...his body, the church.
Things are so bad, that I wish I had never taken this on! How did I ever think I could do this thing. I'm not a president or leader any more than I'm a mother! Without the grace of God, this will never happen. However, it will happen because our Lord said his Gospel of love would be taken to all nations. That keeps me going. When will this baby ever come?