Faithful in the Fray

I’ve been home from my recent trip to Uganda for 33 days now. There isn’t anything magical about this number, it just signifies the number of times I’ve gone to sleep and woken up. I haven’t stopped going since being home. Jeremy, Sandy, and Liz all came to Georgia on December, 27th for our friend Megan’s wedding. We then had an epic game night with 25 of my best friends in the world. I rang in the New Year with a few close friends and family, then went immediately into Passion Conference for four, crazy, epic, God-filled, days. I had two days to try and get as much rest as possible before Jeremy and I flew up to Pennsylvania to be with his family for a week. I started online school last week, while in Pennsylvania, or should I say… attempted school. I flew back on Saturday, went to church Sunday, and had a meeting with the doctors office and my manager on Monday. Tuesday I said goodbye to my baby brother who is off on his very own Kingdom-Filled journey to Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda for the next four months. Today, I worked my butt off in school, and packed. Tomorrow, I fly to California and then Hawaii for 16 days. I return on February 2nd, and start work on February 4th. 

Are you tired yet? Because I am.

I don’t mind keeping busy. I’ve spent 231 days out of the past year in East Africa, doing insane things. Things that sometimes I look back on, and ask myself if they really happened. Did I really sleep in a tent, not shower, and live with the Masai tribe in Kenya? Did I really see demon-possessed people in Uganda? Did I really meet the most incredible children in Tanzania? Did God really speak to me so often that I didn’t have to know which voice was mine, and which was His, because we were so in tune? Did I really see Angels worshiping with us? Did I really fight, fight for something with all that I am because I knew that we had to do what was right, no matter what? Did I really cry out to God, asking that He strip everything away, until all I had was Him? The answer? yes. I did do all those things.

I’ve had the honor to live, to live with so much resposibility that sometimes I don’t even know what to do. I’ve led 18 amazing students this past year all over East Africa. Me, Sara Elizabeth Burks. I’m just a 20 year-old. But, God allowed me, to go out, lead, to disciple, to encourage, to speak life. I failed, daily, but His grace is sufficient. His constant reminders, His whispers in the times where I felt completely alone, His arms wrapped around me when all I wanted was to be home, that is what kept me going. Seeing someone change right in front of you, walking into the person they were created to be, oh- it is the most lovely of things. All of the tears, heartache, frustration, pain… it’s all worth it when you see transformation for the Kingdom.

Yesterday as I was walking my brother down the steps and into registration at training camp, I felt peace. It was almost so overwhelming that I couldn’t say anything but I quickly saw my friend and the moment was gone. The presence of the Lord was still all around me as I met his leader, and talked to new and old friends. No longer was my heart beating fast for leaving and going out to do missions. My heart was beating fast for going back home and doing missions. I know that my season is over with overseas missions at this point in my life. I’m still fighting for those going out and being on the front lines. I will continue to fight for them. But, it’s time for a new season. A season that includes investing in my community at home, being a light at work, kicking butt at school, and anything that He might throw my way.

It’s time. And I couldn’t be more excited.

sara.

Baby brother and I the night before he left.