As most of you well know, it's been a wild ride figuring out what the next steps for my life are and listening to what God has planned for me. It's been such an amazing experience actually listening to the Lord's plans instead of just taking it all on my own strength (and planning obsession). Although, there has been quite a few times when I would go stir crazy planning things, God would real me around in another direction, I'd head that way for awhile and then start making my own plans and so forth. A big thing I have been learning while on this race is to take time in my planning, pray about it FIRST, sit at His feet and listen to Him. I've actually found running to be a really good prayer time for me each day and each day the Lord uses it.
The roadmap to my destination is confusing, but it goes a bit like this. I found CGA (a World Race ministry school in Georgia), which lead to me finding G42 (a World Race affiliated ministry school in Spain), but I started to feel called to Seminary for a spiritual grounding and found Denver Seminary. Through Denver's affiliates I found tons of outdoor ministries and emailed a few for more information. One, a ministry for rock climbers, put me in touch with a friend of his who is doing backpacking ministry in Argentina and looking to start a hostel. I contacted this guy and right away we hit it off! Him and his family have been down there for 6 months, hiking the trails, meeting people in the refugios (mountain huts) and preaching the Gospel. They are having their first short term missions teams come this January and have been looking for a female who can come down and hike with them, because that is a demographic they haven't been able to reach well. I have felt called to open my hostel in Argentina, so working with them is a great chance to get a feel for the country and it's residents!
As soon as I heard about this idea I was excited, but I knew I needed to pray about it. Every new bit of information I get about their ministry gets me more excited to serve with them! I decided to apply a few days ago and as of yesterday I am officially accepted to work with their organization as a long-term missionary! January 1st I will be going to the Patagonian Andes to work with Shelter on the Lake for 4-6 months!! I will be meeting people on the trails, sharing the gospel, spending time with them and leading short term teams. I am so so so excited for this trip and I know this is exactly where the Lord has me.
I am now back to the fundraising grind, wahoo!! I will need to raise $6,000 by January 1st, which isn't much time, especially since I won't be home until August 24th! I am running the Chicago Half Marathon on Sept 9th as a fundraiser and will keep you updated on how to support me through that. I will also create a PayPal account to support through my blog and you can support me directly through the organization to make your support completely tax deductible!
Thank you all so so much for your support and prayers throughout this whole process!! God bless!!
The BEAUTIFUL Patagonia
Edit// You can now support my mission trip to Argentina online! http://bit.ly/M2AsLb
