Before setting out on The World Race I had a love for China. Many of you are probably laughing at the understatement of that sentence. But for others, lets just say that if you spent more than 10 minutes talking about missions with me, you’d probably hear me talk about China.
In the beginning I was confused as to why God would call me to an 11 month mission trip that didn’t include China. Why would I leave a place I love in the states for a trip that doesn’t include what I feel most called to? I was confused, but knew the Lord was speaking. So I stepped out in faith that God had a plan that was better than mine.
While in Thailand I felt at home. I was back in Asia and I felt closer to China than I had in a long time. There’s a problem with this however. I love China. Thailand is not China. What’s happening? How can I love 2 different countries so deeply? I’m not saying that I just enjoyed Thailand. I’m saying that I fell in love with Thai people, the youth in particular. I learned a lot of the language because I just wanted to talk to them. I spent time with them, loving them, serving with them, praying over them, seeing God move in their lives, and trying to give them everything I could possibly give. In a word, I gave them my heart.
Needless to say, I was a bit confused. I can only handle loving one asian country at a time. God, my heart can only handle so much. As I vented to God He began to speak. He created me, and He knows my every desire. Lets be honest, He put the desires there. It shouldn’t surprise me when He is able to make sense of what seems to be complete craziness.
Thanks to some of my M squad friends I was able to see some of what God is up to. I began to realize that God didn’t give me a heart for China. (It’s ok I haven’t lost my mind.) He gave me a heart for the youth of every nation. In every country so far I’ve been trying to find youth to pour into. Thailand gave me that opportunity, and I fell in love. I got to hang out with teenagers who were seeking the Lord above all else and it blessed me beyond belief. In their eyes I saw joy and passion that I long to see in the eyes of youth all over the world.
Youth in The Philippines, Thailand, and New Zealand.
Many people may think that teenagers are crazy and hormonal, but there is so much more to them. They go all in. They have a lot of energy. At times they are crazy, but then again so am I. What I see in them is a generation that is going to turn this world upside down for the gospel. The passion and joy they contain is something that I pray will be used to share the love of Christ with the nations. Their energy will be used in some way, and I want to help direct it.
If the youth of the world were to catch the vision of bringing the gospel to every square inch of the globe, the world would be changed. It’s no longer about the man in a tie standing behind the pulpit. It’s about living out passionate love for God in every step we take. It’s about losing your life in order to truly live. Youth will do it, and I will give my life to show them how capable they are of changing the world around them. I have a heart to see them use the passion God gave them! It doesn’t matter what country they’re from.
