“Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!” (Psalm 80:3)

Show us your face Lord, as we fly across the world to stand before your children in another land, children whom you love dearly. Let your presence be reflected in us, your expression of love and peace, your countenance of joy, your faithfulness filling those rooms because we stand there as your servants entrusted with a sacred task to teach, to love, to care.

We have written our talks, we have planned and prepared and packed because we want to bring your children gifts from your Word that you have planted in our hearts and minds.

We are unaware of their distinct challenges, what they may be precariously handling right now. But you do, Father. And we ask that you open our mouths and have your words spill out, the words you know will bring encouragement their way.

Lord, help us to represent you well, to listen carefully, to lay aside our own pressing concerns so we may help them bear theirs. May our presence with your leaders in this foreign land be enriching to their souls, strengthening to their hearts, meat and bread for those who are hungry, a cool wind of refreshment for the ones who are languishing beneath the strain of their concerns.

Father, as we go to share your wisdom and your grace, we bow before you simultaneously and ask for you to fill us to the brim with yourself, to make our time in that place sacred because we will encounter you while we are there.

Saturate us with yourself, so when we fly home, we return with a fresh perspective of who you are and how you are at work all across the globe.

For your honor and for your glory we pray.

Elizabeth A Mitchell

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