The life of Jonah versus Elisha

According to the bible, a man named Jonah was called by God to travel to the evil city of Ninevah to tell people the word of God. Jonah did not want to go so he tried to run away, boarding a boat headed in a diferent direction. Most of you know the rest of the story-a fierce storm came up and Jonah knew it was because of God's anger, so he jumped overboard knowing that it would save the others on the boat. He thought he would die by doing this but God, in His mercy, sent a large fish to swallow him and spew him out on dry land, saving his life. Jonah then followed God's original call on his life to go and tell the people of Ninevah about God.
There was another man in the bible by the name of Elisha. He was very wealthy and happy with his life when a prophet named Elijah walked by him, and thew down his cloak, showing him that he was being called by God into following Elijah's ministry. Elijah put out the call, turned his back and continued on. He did not beg or plead with Elisha to follow him as he knew it would come at great cost-family, home, wealth-he just continued on with his own ministry hoping Elisha would come. Elisha did follow him, giving up all he had. He followed under Elijah's ministry for a full twenty years before coming into his place but stayed true through all those years. Then he received a "double portion" of God's annointing according to 2Kings.
Shannon and I have been discussing how we can express to those around us how it feels to "be called" into the ministry we are headed towards. God did not literally wake either one of us up in the night with a clear and loud voice telling us exactly what we are to do. On the other hand he has made it clear to us through our hearts that He wants us to do this. The call we are feeling is so strong that neither of us will be at peace until we have answered it. It is all-consuming and literally in our thoughts anytime we are awake. How can we ignore it? We can't! Would it be easier to try? Sure, it might seem that way. But of the two examples above, we know which one we wish to try to emulate and was easier in the end. We also know which brought many blessings.
Shannon has a sentence he uses a lot and it is quite meaningful in these circumstances. "We will be safer in Africa, within God's will, then we will be anywhere else, out of His will."