**Disclaimer: I love acrostics, and there were 8 questions asked for the “About Me” section, and there are 8 letters in my name. . .you can figure out the rest.**
Been on this earth for 22 years, and I’ve spent the past few years going between university and part time jobs. I’ve just been trying to figure out what steps to take next and what direction God wants me to go.
Rarely in trouble and often spoiled, I am the youngest of four, and the proud aunt of 9 growing munchkins ages 3-13. My daddy is a retired Marine, so we grew up in several states until we settled down in good ol’ Texas. My mama is lovely, and I’ve been her little shadow for most of my life. My oldest sister is 29, and the proud mother of 7. She’s one of the hardest working women I know, and watching her raise her lovelies is amazing. My second oldest sister is 27 with 2 kiddos of her own. She’s currently serving overseas with the US Army. She’s the most glamorous soldier I’ve ever met, and she’s more determined than most. Her strength and beauty remind me of one of the wonderful attributes of the Proverbs 31 woman. “She is clothed is strength an dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future” (Proverbs 31:25). My broseph is 23 years young and in the Army Reserves. No matter how opposite we are, he was my buddy when we were kids, and I know he will always and forever have my back.
I am a disciple. . .At least that’s what a t-shirt I got at the Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Convention. It came from the booth of an organization that was bringing systematic theology to youth ministry. That ministry spoke to my heart more than any other during that week. I have a huge heart for youth ministry, but I am convinced that we can go deeper with them. Spending time investing in their daily lives and teaching them the hard and true depths of the Word of God is the key to discipleship. Sometimes I feel like we simply are trying to figure out how to entertain them at the expense of the true depth of the Gospel.
Teaching, learning, singing, leading worship, cooking, baking, spending time with people. . .all good things, all good things. If you ask any of my friends, I am the walking definition of an extrovert. I thrive in groups of people, and even when I’m tired or down, I seem to come alive when I get in groups. However, if you ask my mother, all I want to do is sit and be away from people, so I can watch Netflix in peace. I think with my heart more often than not, and follow my gut for the most part. That comes with its drawbacks though. Sometimes I doubt my heart and my instincts, and I end up in these random tailspins trying to overthink things.
Trial and Error: the summation of my spiritual journey. I grew up in church, so I’ve been trying to figure out this “Jesus” thing. It wasn’t until the death of my grandmother that things finally started clicking. Just a few months after her home-going, I fully committed my life to Christ and accepted my call to ministry. My youth pastor at the time was phenomenal. Words cannot describe how much that man influenced me. He had all the spunk in the world with a heart fixed on Jesus. He and his wife truly invested our lives and went beyond the “entertainment” aspect of youth ministry. I graduated from high school the next year at the age of 16, so the majority of my spiritual journey was spent at a university studying ministry and doing life with a bunch of millennials in love with Jesus. Yes, college had it’s ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world. Honestly, I could type/talk for days about how much growth I’ve had on this journey, and as I type I feel my heart swelling with all of the love and joy and peace and encouragement and pure investment that has been poured upon me. There were so many bumps and hiccups getting to where I am today, and I am eternally grateful to everyone who has been a part of my journey.
Anxiety has this crazy way of creeping into my life and taking over. The constant chanting of Philippians 4:6-7 has been and forever will be how I get through my darkest moments. I’m a really chill “go with the flow” kind of person, but sometimes, I get into my head, and it begins to consume me. Sometimes, I get it in my head that I’m not doing enough, so I get to planning and re-planning and re-planning until all that’s left is torn up scratch paper and my spinning brain. I don’t like being out of control or not knowing what’s going on, so having some sort of a plan provides me comfort. I constantly have to tell myself that I am not in control and that God is handling everything. My hope is that during the World Race, I learn to let go and let God be God. I want to learn to cling to the peace that God brings instead of the worries and anxieties that I too readily hold on to.
Nights spent dreaming of incredible places and adventures I’d never seen before led me to the World Race. During my freshman year of university, I spent several nights waking up from a dream of traveling to different countries doing mission work over the course of a year. I didn’t think such a thing existed, so I did my best to ignore it until I finally caved and started searching. I finally found the World Race, but I hesitated to apply because I began thinking too much about the logistics of it all and how it worked into my “life plans”. It took years to finally listen to God’s probing, and here I am. My hope is that this will help my learn to trust God fully, so I can continue following His direction for my life. I still haven’t finished university, and I don’t know how things will play out after the Race, but I am trusting that God knows, and that He’ll guide my steps forward.
You can pray for me by praying for peace. If you’ve paid attention to anything I’ve said, you know that I struggle with anxiety, and a trip like this is a huge undertaking. Not being in control of my life for a year is a lot for me. Preparation for the trip is hard, yes, but I can still plan for that. I still know what’s going on, and I have some sort of control (even though I know God is in control. . .it’s a process). However, on the Race, I completely surrender every plan I have to God. He is the only one calling the shots, and I’ve got to learn to listen. So pray for peace and patience and joy in this time of growth and learning.
Well, there it is. That’s me. . .and my name. . .but I’ll leave you with a song. YES! A song! My mama would sing it to me as a kid, and I share it with everyone when I get a chance.
I am Miss Brittany Le’Ann
The one who does all she can
‘Cause she’s Miss Brittany
Yea she’s Miss Brittany
