I will need to leave my home, my family and the safety of Minnesota. I will need to leave my job where I know how to do my role with modern equipment and meds, and go to a foreign country, where I don't know the language. There I will care for patients without the modern tools and meds which I'm accustomed to using in my every day work life. And what about diseases I could get: malaria, lice and scabies just to mention a few? So after considering the risks I decided I can step out of my boat and start to walk on water.

But once I start planning, I look down and fear confronts me. Fears like I don't like to fly, what if my kids get sick while I'm gone, can we afford this trip with our budget and I haven't done post surgical nursing for years.

Then I cry out, "Lord save me," and Jesus reaches out his hand and says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt me?" The planning then goes well, as long as I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and my hand in his. The trip happens and on Tuesday and Wednesday we have too many patients for the number of cots we have. I start to panic and once more I cry out , "Lord save me," and Jesus gently reminds me of my little faith and again invites me to keep my hand on his and my eyes focused on him. Back an forth dialogue like this continues through the entire trip. After the final battle of trying to get home, having delays and cancellations of flights and a one night additional stay in Houston, Texas, I return home to my family and say to Jesus, "Truly you are the Son of God."

So if you have considered going on a mission trip and the fears assail you, remember just get out of your boat and keep your eyes on Jesus and your hand in his."