Is anyone planning anymore? 

How’s your 2021 calendar looking? Lots of plans coming together? 

Probably not. It’s no secret that it is really hard to plan in the future tense right now. So many unknowns continue to linger with this pandemic. 

We are right there with you. Planning for overseas iGo trips (or any trips) in 2021 feels like throwing darts while wearing a blindfold. 

So what do we do, when planning is so challenging? 

It might just start with a change in our mindset. Here are two mindsets we can adopt during these times. 

The first is the “If the Lord wills it” mindset.  Check out this wisdom from the Epistle of James: 

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”    –James 4:13-15

At first it looks almost like James is doing away with planning altogether. After all, we do not know what tomorrow will bring. But that isn’t James’ prohibition. He is simply saying that  as we plan, we should remember that God is in control.  Our plans, even our best plans, will only come about if the Lord wills it. 

So plan away, but keep this truth in mind. And maybe have a backup or two as well. 

At iGo that means we are planning to be back to work in 2021  with teams serving in Japan, Honduras, Germany, North Africa, and the Middle East. If the Lord wills it, we will have students in those locations. 

We are  also planning backup stateside locations  in Fort Worth, Houston, Kansas City, and New York. Some of these backup locations might become the Plan A for churches that are hesitant to commit to an international trip as well. 

The second shift is the “Here am I, send me” mindset.  As you probably guessed, this one comes from the prophet Isaiah: 

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”   –Isaiah 6:8

Isaiah is ready to go wherever the Lord wants to send him even though he doesn’t have any details at this point. He doesn’t know when, where, or for how long. But he knows that God wants someone to go. 

The mission hasn’t been cancelled.  We know that God’s plan to be exalted in all the nations is right on schedule.  And we know that His plan is to send His people. We are already called to missions. We just need the right mindset. 

For more on this idea, check out the  Missions Moment  I recorded for our iGo YouTube channel: 

For the rest of 2020 and beyond, let’s embrace these mindsets. Let’s plan and see if the Lord wills it, and let’s say, “Here I am, send me.” Even when we don’t know the details. 
 

Speaking of YouTube…

After checking out that Missions Moment, take some time to explore our newly updated YouTube channel. You will find some great testimonies, highlights, and stories from our missionary partners.  The iGo YouTube Channel. Please subscribe while you are there.