Its been 2 years in June since I’ve been home from the World Race. I like most didn’t get some big epiphany on what the next step was. All I seemed to be getting from God was to just, “Be with Him”. My thoughts on that line were unclear at the time, but now I get it. Being with God, serving Him, loving Him, In your own lifestyle. In the lifestyle of the ordinary day to day life. That is SO needed, especially in America! Every day I get up with my morning coffee and head to work. I listen to K Love to give my my motivation. I interact with my co-workers always trying to be positive and joyful. I live an ordinary life and THAT’S OKAY! Some people think, “Wow I did the World Race and now I’m just here.” That’s it, there’s nothing left for me to do?? I know I felt that way for a while. The transition to being back home, serving, and loving where I am, took awhile. Since I’ve been home, I’ve been in and out of 4 different churches, each time God calling me to different things. Some of you have gone back to your church that you’ve been raised in all your life and THAT’S OKAY! Your home church wherever it may be might need a youth leader, a children’s church leader, an out-reacher coordinator, or someone who comes in every week to clean and pray over the Church! Remember we are the body of Christ, each role is equal to another, and we need different parts to do different things so it will work!
On the World Race I was never much of a blogger. In fact I even wanted to write a blog that said I hate blogging, so having a desire to write this down is new to me but here goes.
God calls us at different times to do different things in our life. Like the many seasons we have. For my dad, He took a 3 year break from being a pastor to have some healing and restoration. In January He was chosen to Pastor Papago Assembly of God in Sells, Arizona. It’s on an Indian Reservation a good 1 1/2 away from Tucson, kinda in the wilderness and really close to Mexico. My parents now commute 3-4 hours a day for work (factoring in up and back). I didn’t understand why until I went there. The people are amazing they are so friendly and willing to work and help the church grow. They are hungry for something more, they want to learn about God and walk with Him.
For me like I said I’ve been Church hoping with the Holy Spirit. My last church that I fell absolutely in love with was Eastside Assembly of God, talk about some wonderful Pastors! I never felt more like I was home, where I belong. Recently I’ve been feeling a little off, I’m 26 years, old no kids and no husband. I don’t fit in with the college category because I’m out of school and I have a career that I love. I don’t fit in with the young party crowd cause that’s just not me. Everyone my age or older is married either with or without kids and they can’t always hang out and if they do it’s always hard for me to connect with kids or husband around simply because I cant relate to them.
A couple weeks ago my mom asked me if I could help out on Easter Sunday with the Kids. I was helping out a lot at Eastside with the kids, so I felt like I could manage and do a Sunday Children’s program. I stayed up late on Good Friday making cross cookies that they would decorate. These crosses were to remind them that’s why we celebrate, because Jesus died for us so that way we could live for Him. I found a video of a song a dance of John 11 verse 25 for us to do and the winner would get a prize. We had a Vegetales movie telling us that Easter was not about the eggs but about Jesus.
I had it all planned out and ready to go… and then I felt like I was on the mission field all over again. I even ate Menudo (which I found out later was cow intestines) —-fyi it actually didn’t taste that bad. So it was me and 38 beautiful kids and 1 helper. We got up and danced to the song, they ran up to me saying,”Teacher, Teacher” they all wanted to show me what candy they got. The kids were all over me and they loved my necklace and jewelry, pulled on me wanted to know my name. In short it was adorable and so much fun. Even the older kids were having fun and one of them won the verse prize! I don’t think I’ve ever had so much pure fun in one afternoon like that. Then it hit me…….. I didn’t go to the mission field the mission field came to ME!!!! I wasn’t looking I just followed my heart… I learned how to tell when God was tugging on my heart and here it was again. Each of those kids need a strong guidance. They need to be taught the truth in a fun way that they can understand. It was amazing. God used me, He showed me that I can and that I do have the potential and its up to me if I want to continue. If you don’t want to do the task God has placed before you, He will find someone else. And in the end it will be YOU missing out of being a part of something great. I don’t want someone to take my place, when He calls I want to do it cause He called me.
We each have our own field whether it’s in America or half way around the world. Don’t wait for someone else to do what God has called you to do yourself. You don’t have to wait till your married to have your husband to lean on. You don’t have to wait till you have kids to be able to help kids. You are enough just as you are RIGHT NOW for whatever He has laid on your heart.
*With Love*
Elizabeth
