Preparing

Kat and I have been taking an online course on tentmaking (example of Paul in Acts making tents is where this term comes from), and I thought I'd share a comment I made after going through the lesson on stress. Does stress resonate with you at all? This course has been excellent in asking us some good questions, but the lesson did prompt this reply on the discussion board:

"My other thought was that preparing to do missions work and moving to another culture is a little like preparing for marriage. I think God gives us a lot of desire, enthusiasm and drive to get us there and shields us from over-thinking about all the problems we will face. For example, if I truly had known prior to marriage just all the challenges and struggles I would face and could see all that in advance, would I have had the courage to pop the question?! (By the way, I love being married!). In the same way, it's great to have preparation, planning and not to underestimate the challenges of cross-cultural ministry but we need also to remember God's grace, His planning and going ahead of us, and not lose the sense of excitement either! Otherwise, well I have a great life here in the States...."

Anyone have any thoughts on where I'm coming from?