“God, Reorder my life, take away my foolish plans, and restore them with your divine purposes. I want to be your vessel today. Here am I. Send me”
This has been my prayer for the last several months. In July of this year I went on a week long mission trip to Guatemala. I experienced joy for those coming to know Jesus but also a deep sadness that I would be leaving before being able to share with more eager ears. I had mentioned to my mission leader that a good friend of mine was leaving for a long term mission the day our Guatemala team was returning home. I was explaining how neat her program was and how excited I was that she was going. My mission leader must have sensed a slight interest in my own voice towards a long term mission. Little did I know the Lord was going to use that opportunity to plant a seed and a desire in my heart to pursue something along those lines.
I NEVER wanted to go on a mission trip for more than 3 months because I have never been willing to give up my comfortable and easy going life. I did not see the need to share Jesus with others outside of my communities reach or a week long mission because I was blind to the dire need and lack of missionaries in countries among the world. During this week in Guatemala the Lord really changed my heart on what missions is. Missions is not just leaving the country to go spread the news and get some good photos while there. The mission field is everywhere, every time you leave your house you are entering a place where people are experiencing hurt, joy in things other than Jesus that will later leave them empty, judgement, guilt, sickness, etc. So why you may ask? Why do I feel the need to leave the country to do missions when I have a mission field within arms reach?
In order for me to truly experience losing myself and finding Jesus I need to be separated from the things that make me feel entitled. I feel entitled to the typical American Dream of going to college, joining a sorority, graduating with my masters in Business, getting married, having children, and serving as a worship leader in a church. While all this is great, (and please if that is you don’t feel like I am calling you out because this may only be true in my heart) I see a calling in my life for more then what my small mind can fathom. I don’t want to live a life where all I desire is the things of this world. I want to live a life seeking so earnestly to bring God the glory that he deserves that I lose myself while doing it. I also want to go into the Nations because nearly 7,000 people groups have not once heard of who Jesus is. That is quite the contrary to places in the United States that have a church on every corner, millions of christian published works, websites, and podcasts. I want to bring good news to those who have no way of finding out about Jesus. Several places in this world have little to no translation of the Bible in their language. So where do I begin?
When I got home from Guatemala, I immediately started researching mission programs. Several seemed like travel agencies. Only out to get your money and send you to vacation spots. Some seemed like boot camps with no spiritual foundation just lots of building but no spreading of the Gospel. I prayed that God would just show me the perfect program that was spiritual and deeply rooted in the ultimate purpose of our time here which is The great commission. Then I came across the World race:) and I was totally blown away by the peace that had come upon me. I watched and prayed for nearly 4 months that when they posted the routes for September 2015 I would have a heart ready to commit to missions. Applications opened October 6th and on October 10th I had received a call saying “You have been accepted to the World race Gap year!”
I am still in prayer and listening intently to make sure this is where God wants me. I would ask that you would do the same for me as well. I love the reassurances I receive through my quiet times with the Lord, songs I have heard a thousand times but now see the true meaning, and messages at church. Yes, it will be difficult to leave so many great people like you who are reading this, but I know that the reward for being a faithful servant will be greater.
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