Hey, so my friend, Joshua Robinson (http://joshuarobinson.theworldrace.org) set forth a challenge for me to come up with 11 people/events/things/whatever that I am thankful for in honor of the 11 month mission trip we will soon be embarking on to 11 different countries, so here lies the 11-11-11 challenge! In no particular order and not written amazingly (I apologize, I just wrote it as I thought it), here are my 11:
11. Music. I am thankful for music because I don’t like silence. Music speaks to me and is where I often find inspiration and peace. Though I am not musically inclined, I still love to sing praises.
10. Books. I am thankful for books because I have a passion for reading and re-reading books. Books are my escape, they allow me to learn more and just become absorbed in a world that I can only dream about. Books lift me up and break my heart all at the same time. Writing is a beautiful art form that I admire.
9. Women’s Retreat. I am thankful for the NC Baptist Campus Ministries Statewide Women’s Retreat in November of 2009 because that is where I felt my call to Full Time Ministry.
8. The World Race. I am thankful for the opportunity to go on The World Race because I am going to be able to pursue my passion for ministry, especially mission work. I have found what I love to do, and I get to spend a year doing what God has called me to do. I am thankful for the challenge of support raising because I will have to finally learn to fully place my trust in God to meet my needs.
7. College. I am thankful for my college experience, because throughout college I was given so many new opportunities to learn and grow. I am blessed to have had a scholarship that allowed me to travel to New York City and internationally. Even though I know my degree is not the future I want to pursue, the people I have met and my life in college was phenomenal overall, even amidst all the papers.
6. Baptist Student Union. I am thankful for the Baptist Student Union because I would not be the person I am today had I not gotten involved in this great campus ministry organization. This group has challenged me to make my faith a priority and not a convenience. Through my time on leadership – local and state, I gained confidence and lifelong friendships with fellow students. Now as an intern, I am able to give back to a group that started me on my journey into Missions – with this group I went on my first of many mission trips and helped with many mission projects, locally.
5. Low Country Ministries (LCM). I am thankful for the two summers I spent as a missionary in Beaufort, SC as part of Low Country Ministries because each summer God revealed more of Himself to me and more of His plan for my life. My first summer – my faith was shaky and I wasn’t even sure what I was doing there, but that summer I experienced God in mighty ways. This past summer, when I was at my lowest God revealed to me (I know this in hindsight) The World Race and began to break my heart for the nations and His people. Both summers I worked with amazing God loving teammates who challenged me and a fabulous supervisor, Larry Leming who encouraged me and who is so very selfless and an amazing missionary himself. I was also blessed to work with many great churches and communities that will forever have a piece of my heart. Plus I discovered a love for the town of Beaufort, SC.
4. Northpoint Baptist Church. I am thankful for NPBC because that church has been my home church all throughout college and I am blessed to now after five years finally be a member of a church that is so very mission minded and family oriented. I am thankful for the College and Young Adult Sunday School class for being such a great place to connect and get recharged with God’s Word, and for Vollie Barnwell who is always there for all the college students. I am thankful for my Infant/One Year Old Sunday School class that I “teach” now, and how much joy the babies bring to my life each week, and for Brandy Barnwell who does such a great job as the director for all the preschool department. I am thankful for the AWANAS program and my 5th and 6th grade boys that I get to see learning and growing in their knowledge of the scriptures each week. They are my inspiration. Also, I am thankful for Jennifer Fulmer for her friendship and all that she does as the AWANAS director.
3. Friends. I am thankful for all my friends and all the joy they bring to my life…
Amber Reeder – I am thankful for how amazing of a BFFL you are, for all our laughs and adventures, for all the times you let me crash in your apartment, and for your tech smarts and your willingness to take pictures of me and create my World Race video. I love you and you are an amazing woman of God.
Joshua Robinson – I am thankful for your race knowledge and for your patience with me the past couple of weeks. You are always there with some God inspired insight when I am having a rough time with the devil getting me down. Oh and for that time you so calmly dealt with my miniature panic attack regarding my blog issues.
2. Family. I am thankful for my family, though we don’t always see eye to eye, you are there for me. Sometimes I forget that, but God has given me my family for a reason and I love y’all, especially with how supportive you’re being with my desire to follow my call to missions, continuing with this trip. Y’all have shaped me into the person I am today in different ways, but I am thankful for where we have made it to.
2b. Mom. Sorry for the large clumping in “Family” … you can have your own section add on! Thank you for being there for me growing up and how you’ve always been there to help me. Thank you for working so hard to provide for our family, and even when you don’t understand some of my choices, thank you for letting me make them. I love you forever and always.
1. Jesus. I am thankful for Jesus because He saved my life and has given me a reason to live. He is the reason for everything I do and I am blessed to know that I will spend forever in Heaven one day. Even when I mess up, He never leaves me nor forsakes me, He always forgives me and He loves me unconditionally.
