Hello friends,
What’s the next step?
That’s the question I like to ask God a lot. Sometimes He answers right away, other times it takes a while. But He always answers, and He always answers at the right time.
I graduated college a year ago, I finished the race a month ago, so naturally like most normal people I’d be looking for a full time job, an apartment in the city, and maybe even a boyfriend (I’m 23 now and of marriageable age ya know). I’m realizing more and more that God didn’t make me to be normal –I’m not saying I’m weird or anything, but He’s given me different passions than other people, and a different calling than most of my friends. He also made me so I wouldn’t mind being able to fit everything I own into 2 suitcases and not owning a single piece of furniture –unless you count my blow-up camping mattress which serves as my bed.
I know God has called me to the nations –not just because I went on the World Race, but because even before the World Race he gave me a heart for the Middle East, specifically Israel. I was in Israel for 6 weeks during the summer of 2010, and I can tell you –after seeing a lot of the world, there really is no place like it. The last 3 months of the race I asked God, “What’s the next step?” and He answered, “Israel.” Then He confirmed what He had been speaking to me through 2 prophetic words from 2 different pastors. I know without a doubt in my mind that God has called me to go back to Israel this summer. While I was in Israel in 2010, I became really good friends with 2 other volunteers my age and together we went all over the West Bank meeting college aged Palestinians and building relationships and sharing the hope we have in Jesus with them –God has called both of them back to Israel this summer as well.
I believe that God has not called me to join a group this time, but to form a group. As of right now, including the original 3, there are 5 of us planning on leaving for Israel May 1st. I’m planning on staying for at least 3 months, maybe even longer. Since being home I have been able to e-mail and set up ministry contacts all over Israel working with both Palestinians and Israelis. Also, there is a huge possibility of us being able to volunteer for a couple weeks in Jordan helping Syrian refugees.
Another thing is… I need you to pray for me –now, and when I’m in Israel! I can’t tell you enough how much comfort it brought me knowing that people were praying for me when I was in that Cambodian hospital. It was all I could do to tell my teammates to let my parents know so that they could have people praying for me. I don’t anticipate getting sick like that again, but I know that we are going to be going into areas that are not exactly the safest, so I’m going to need a lot of prayer!
If you want more information/details feel free to e-mail me at [email protected], I’d love to share them with you!
