I’m writing this from my hotel room in Prague.  Behind me, the open window lets in the noise of the city: traffic, work machinery, and the occasional siren from emergency vehicles.  From the 10th floor these noises seem distant and muffled.  Life is happening outside, but we could easily sit in our rooms away from the messiness of the world below and be perfectly happy and comfortable.

Perhaps you have felt the same way when traveling to another place.  It takes effort to leave the hotel and take the first step into the unknown.  It takes courage to enter a new culture where you know you don’t quite fit in.  Yet as missionaries, we are all called to go outside and interact with others in the world that God created.  And fortunately, we all have a good example – Jesus himself.  He left the comforts and majesty of heaven to enter into our messy world as an expression of the Father’s love.  He calls us to do the same.

So, as the Sandy family steps out today into ministry outside, I encourage you to consider doing the same.  Enter into the messiness of the world around you.  And let those you meet know that the love of Christ has arrived.