It is quite wild to think that only three days ago I applied to the World Race. All I can say is that it was the Lord’s doing. And here I am now…planning, preparing, and praying to get ready and GO. Here I am sharing with you how the Lord led me to this place. Yes, just three days ago I prayed a serious and somewhat not thought out prayer to the Lord. I was getting ready to go out the door to work. And like many times before over the past several months of my life I wondered if missions was calling my name and leaving for overseas was a door waiting to be opened.
Except this afternoon I decided to ask. It went a little something like this, “Ok, Lord if missions is still on the table…will you bring it to mind or to my attention today even if it is a random connection through social media?” A seemingly random yet specific prayer to pray. About an hour later I am out the door to work and I see a follower request on Instagram from a user whose content was missions related. I scroll through their feed only to find picture after beautiful picture of someone serving in the World Race.
On my way to work I get the overwhelming, adrenaline pumping, tears about to fall feeling that this was not a simple accident. So I cried it out with the Lord then and there. Because this hasn’t been the first time within this past year of my life where I have a felt the Lord ask me to “hold on, there is about to be a huge shift in your life plans. But you can trust me.” At the same time something about that shift brought on a deep peace and sent a sweet life giving excitement through my bones.
So I went home that night to look up the World Race. Only to find the specific expedition that got my heart for the 10/40 window was about to be closed that day. At 10 pm Feb. 1st, the day of the deadline, I decide to fill out the application and send it in. Only to find out the next day after calling the offices that I did not complete all that I thought I had. In which case I had not met the deadline and wouldn’t be able to apply for this route.
Then the Lord made a way somehow. I felt prompted to tell them what had happened the day before and why I decided to apply. I was put on hold and asked to finish the portion I had not completed the night before. I was given another shot at being considered for the team! The very next day is when the team for this route would be finalized. They informed me that I would need to be ready to put down a deposit the next day if I were to be accepted. To be honest, I was not ready for that. Moments later I get a voicemail from a dear friend telling me that she felt prompted to go ahead and pledge the amount of money needed for the deposit if I were to get in. All of this could be nothing short of God’s hand. I was overwhelmed and speechless.
The next day I got the phone call that I was officially accepted and invited to join this year’s April 2016 team for the 10/40 route ! I have to admit my mind was spinning quite a bit. As I couldn’t believe all that had taken place the days leading up and now hearing the news. I admit that coming on late in the game is slightly intimidating as there is much to be done. But I believe that none of this was by accident. I believe that if the Lord opened this door that all of the loose ends and even fears that I have will not hinder His plan. I know that I am being asked to step out in faith and trust that He will make a way if this is His will.
Here I am three days later and I am so excited to see how much He will move in these next several weeks. I am not only excited to get to our first location as of March 30th and see what the Lord has in store. I think I am learning that when God asks me to go He doesn’t expect me to also be the wind that pushes my own sails along. I think that He also promises to be the wind that pushes me forward. I am just simply called to be the sails willing to be carried wherever His sovereign wind wants to send me.
