"The destination is a life long journey." This is a quote from liturgy that we say with youth during their confirmation classes. It is so true, Christian lives are a life long journey.
When I am asked how did you know God was calling you to the World Race? all I can say is "Its been a long time coming,"
Let me tell you the story.
As a child I was a homebody. I didn't like to be away from home or my parents. I went to camp and was that kid that cried everyday. It wasn’t until highschool that something changed. I attribute this to starting my personal relationship with God. I had a great youth minister and I became best friends with his wife. I began going on mission trips every summer. I loved being away from home and doing work I normally would never get to do, like paint houses in Florida or volunteering in homeless shelters and soup kitchens. I began to journal, read scripture, go to bible studies and turn to my Bible for comfort. In exchange I received a different outlook on life.
A huge life changing moment was getting on a plane by myself after high school and flying to London to stay with a friend. I had never traveled completely alone. I think my parents were shocked. I remember sitting on the plane and taking a deep breath, thinking "Your will be done. If God wants me to die on a plane so be it." (Not that I think God would crash a plane)
"Cast your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7
This scripture was my mantra through college and on that plane. It helped a lot. The more I grew in my relationship with God the more people entered my life to challenge or question me about God. I always thank my roommate from college for asking the hard questions, because they ultimately helped my focus in on what I truly believe.
My first international mission trip was to the Dominican Republic. I went with a group of all ages: teenagers to 50+ years old. I learned so much about God's ability to use our gifts. I was the only member of our team that spoke Spanish and I only spoke un poco.With what I remembered I scheduled our meal times; interpreted worksite instructions; and got to know/flirt with the pastor’s brother, Jose`. I know, I know its a mission trip and you are suppose to focused on God but I was a 19 year old girl and he was a handsome sweet baseball player. I tell you this because God showed his sense of humor with Jose`. Before leaving for the DR I had prayed a silly but heartfelt prayer "God please let someone fall in love with me." Again I was a 19 year old girl who hadnt dated much so I really wanted some romance in my life. Well God has plans for that but not in the way I thought. By the end of our week in the DR I had worked alongside Jose. I don't think Ive ever sweated or worked so hard. The last night God answered that silly prayer. We had a potluck at the church and Jose's friends came over and said he wanted to talk to me but his English isnt great. I walked over and he shyly confessed in a thick accent " I. LOVE. YOU" I giggled and felt so awkward. I didnt know what to say. The whole church family got us to dance in front of everyone. I still have a picture of us dancing. I have sweat marks on my shirt, no makeup, wet hair and I look so happy. He later gave me a bracelet with his name on it and asked for my number. Ha I knew it would never work since we could barely communicate. On the plane ride home I sat back and tried to process the trip, God using my gifts of Spanish, working till I was exhausted, and Jose. Ha I laughed out loud as I thought back to that silly prayer.
In college I volunteered at homeless shelters and devoted a spring break to go do Katrina relief work. I struggled with local missions. I don't know why. I guess its easier to picture someone in a far off land needing your help more than your neighbors since in America we have so much, right? I guess its hard to think of people in our own country not being able to feed themselves or have shelter. I still struggle with this and often have to make myself serve those in my own community. I pray God will break my heart for the US when I am away and show me ways to love all people the same and see that the faces on the streets of Thailand are just as worthy of help as the faces I see on the streets in Charlotte, NC.
I was blessed to travel to all over Europe and to China in college. I got to see many sights and cultures but these trips were for education and leisure. I'll admit when I was in those countries I hardly ever thought of doing missions there. I did however always come back longing to be away again. Away from the expectations of society in the US. There was something about being in different countries that was freeing, you got to shed the social and physical stereotypes and pressures. You could be yourself and no one cared. I didn't know anyone there so I guess I didn't care what they thought of me.
After I graduated college I moved to Charlotte and quickly created a great life centered around church. I got involved in my church and made many great friends. However within a year or two I found myself feeling alone. A lot of my friends had moved away, a boy broke my heart, and my aunt died, who was one of my best friends. I decided I wanted to get out of here. So I applied to the Peace Corps. I wanted to get away and have to truly rely on God. I got pretty far in the application process. I pretty much just needed to be cleared for medical and dental. I found out I needed a lot of dental work done which was going to be very expensive, also at the same time a 20/20 special aired that told the story of a girl being murdered while in the Peace Corps. I started to reevaluate my motives for going. One night at dinner with friends we were talking about my motives. I had told them I wanted to go away to rely on God. A good friend and now roommate asked me a question that still lingers with me, "Jennie, you don't rely on God now?" I ended up not going in the Peace Corps and quickly threw myself into busying myself in church. I became a youth mentor, took Disciple classes, lead bible studies, was the social planner etc.
When a high school friend called to say she was coming into town a year or so later, I had no idea she would introduce a whole nother avenue to go abroad. She told me of how she went abroad on a Rotary scholarship. It sounded great so I applied for a Rotary scholarship to study Child Policy abroad. It was a lot of work but my sponsor was amazing and helped me get everything in on time! I was very confident that this could be my ticket to live abroad. During my interview, I was asked "If you don't get the scholarship, will it impeded on you accomplishing your goals?" I don't remember what I said but I guess it wasn't convincing. And deep down I knew I wasn't trying to go save the world, I selfishly wanted to go study and live abroad.
While I had been applying for the Rotary scholarship an amazing opportunity came in form of a simple email: "Would you want to go to Africa?" My minister of missions wrote those words and I quickly responded "Heck yes! When, Where, How much?" His answer left me in amazement. It was a two week trip to Kenya with an organization that sponsors orphans to go to boarding school. Total cost $3000 and the church was going to pay for $2600. What?! How could this be? God provided even more than I could imagine. Within in the next two weeks, two anonymous donors paid for the rest of my trip! I was going to Kenya for free, well I had to pay for all the wonderful shots.
I traveled to Kenya with a small group from Kenya Orphanage Project. The trip consisted of a 3 day camp for the kids that the organization sponsors to go to boarding schools. I had a great time getting to know them all and hear their hopes and dreams. The next week we spent time visiting the different schools that the children attended. We met with principals, teachers, and staff and got tours of the facilities. I had the job of writing up facility reports to share with the sponsors. I was amazed by the level of educational equipment. To US standards, the facilities were not so clean but had the necessities to teach efficiently. They had science labs, computer labs, and regular classrooms. My favorite part had to be a side trip to a small rural town called Bware, where we visited local schools and a hospital. At the schools the children would gather around you and all try to touch you. At one school I even was invited/made to participate in a exhibition soccer match. Ha I played soccer in high school and some of college however you would have never guessed. The terrain was a grassy, muddy, rocky field. I did everything from miss the ball, slip in the mud, and even kick my shoe off. But one of the best moments of my life came after all those things. I finally kicked the ball far and the crowd roared!! HA I have never laughed so hard at myself and not been embarrassed. I felt totally loved.
On returning to the states and getting the word that I did not get the scholarship, I took inventory of my life and turned to God for an explanation "Why cant I go abroad? I've tried in many different ways?If you know the desires of my heart you should know this!!!" I went on with my life again volunteering at church and various ways in the community. I continued to work on a teaching certificate. I decided my new goal was to get a fulltime job "a grown up" job with benefits.Well other people told me that should be my goal. It made sense. Then the year of weddings hit. Before I knew it my life was full of showers, bachelorette parties, dress fittings, speech writing and more. All my time and money was going to this joyous time celebrating friends. Then I heard about a trip to Rio de Janeiro. I had friend go before, my roommate had even lived there. I had the neeeeed to travel. I was saving some money so I thought hey its possible.
Well that year quickly became the most chaotic and expensive year. I was in 4 weddings, moved twice and was finishing up my teaching certificate. My mom told me "maybe you should wait to go on a mission trip next year." I was determined even if I couldn't pay for it all myself. I felt like I needed to be there. I needed to serve. I was determined. I learned a lot that year. I have friends and family that love me unconditionally and that want to help me no matter what. I have an amazing church family. I have a confession. I hate writing support letters or asking people for help.It literally makes me physically ill.The thought of imposing on someone made me uncomfortable. A wise friend told me though "There are people in this world who have no desire to go on a mission trip.But they want to be a part of something. You make that happen for them." She told me to ask and I did and was again amazed by the support that trickled in. For anyone who has ever suppported a missionary or just given to a cause. I can truly tell you every little bit counts.
My trip to Rio was so much fun. I had a hard time admitting that when I returned because I felt like people would think their money was used for me to go have fun. I would always preface it with "It was exhausting but so fun." It was fun, exhausting, eye opening, liberating, and just what I needed in my life. I met so many new friends and served a wonderful community. We worked hard till my muscles ached. I treasure the night games of futbol and frisbee in the dimly lit court with the local kids. After a day of hard labor, God always gave us more energy to play 🙂 I am such a kid at heart so I loved playing and I'm so glad God gave me the energy to do so. Again I came home wanting to go back. See the pattern. You know what's next….I went back to the same volunteering at a church but did step back from certain parts of life. I found myself not going out as much. I tried to be more fiscally responsible and tried to live with less. I've been trying to adapt to the thought of not judging and accepting everyone.
I did finally finish my teaching certificate and was offered a great job where I did my student teaching. I didn't even apply for it, the director just asked if I would come work for her. Praise the Lord I was so excited. Big girl job with benefits! This is what I had been working towards. I've been in this job 6 months. I love the children, coworkers, directors, and the families. Something is missing though. I find myself daydreaming of children in Kenya or Brazil that I could be shedding my love and attention on that just might need it a little bit more. Don't get me wrong, I love all my students and think they need my love and respect too. I just cant help think of those children that wander around all day looking for a meal or a place to play, without supervision or someone to care for them.
So you ask how or why the World Race. Well I can thank good old Facebook. I was scrolling my newsfeed and saw a girl I worked with at a camp years ago and her post said " finishing up my support letters for the World Race" I thought what's the World Race? I googled it, read about it and immediately my stomach dropped. I thought (gulp) I need to do this. I was terrified and so excited all together. For the next few weeks I was a mess: emotional, excited, scared, nauseated, etc.. I asked if anyone knew people who had done it and I got to talk to a few people. I heard good and bad things so I kinda thought well maybe I wont. Then I met a guy at the HUB, a new alternative worship service I have helped start. He had just got back from the World Race that fall. I talked with him after the service, told him I was thinking about it but here are my fears yadda yadda. He stopped me and said "I think you would be fine. You seem solid." I thought What? I just told you all my fears and you said I'm solid and I should go. We proceeded to talk more after the service when people all went to dinner. Every time he told me something he would speak in the future tense "When you go…." or "You are going to love ….." I went home and started the application.
It took me awhile to finish it because I wanted to be completely sure I was 100% certain I was going to do this. It wasn't until I was driving in my car having an emotional meltdown on the phone with my mom that it hit me. I was freaking out and told my mom I couldn't breathe. She said "Why do you want to do this if you are already so upset?" I finally spoke the words that were my release. " I think God is calling me to do this and I am terrified!!!" After I admitted what God wanted to hear, I had total peace. I took a deep breath and wasn't upset anymore. My mom said "Well there is your answer." Since then I have been sure, no looking back.
I had my interview and got the call to tell me I was accepted in a car full of friends road tripping to Pittsburg to see a buddy play baseball. I was is shock and kinda freaking out but was glad I had friends to share that moment with. So that's where I am. I told you it was a long time coming. But I think the real journey is just beginning!!! Thank you God for answered prayers!
