“Missionaries have to be flexible.”
Flexibility isn’t my strong suit. I like control and when things are out of my control I feel helpless. I feel frustrated. And you’re thinking “well, you should probably find another calling.” The Lord is working on me and it isn’t fun. So last Wednesday my beloved squad that I have come to love so much got an email preparing us for another email that would be coming. Of course, we all freaked out because who sends an email to warn you about an email unless it’s bad news? Later that day we got the dreaded email that confirmed all of our fears. The Adventures staff informed us that after much prayer and discussion they had decided that our route would be cancelled. Our hearts sank. I went on to read the email and it said that I would now have less than 24 hours to choose from the remaining routes leaving in July or if I chose to I could wait to leave in September. This meant that my squad would all be dispersed to other squads. Everyone should know that I prayed for almost a year before deciding on which route I would go on and here they were asking me to make a decision in less than 24 hours.
I got real honest with the Lord in my prayers. Prayers that were selfish. I texted my family and closest friends to join me in praying and was blown away by the encouragement I got back. Encouragement that was God breathed and straight from His word. To be honest getting an email like that was heartbreaking for many reasons. I had grown to love my squad. I was forming a heart for the countries I would be going to. I had excitement for the places I would go and the people that I would meet. For crying out loud I had just gotten business cards to pass out with all of the countries I would be going to. Ha! The Lord laughs at me. The Lord reminds me that this is about Him and only Him. While my prayers were selfish I knew deep down that there was a reason for this route change. I knew deep down that the Lord is sovereign and that there were reasons for this route change that only He knows and a year from now I will be able to say “wow, thanks for this.” I have to say that the next few days were stressful and I had a lot of different emotions. I prayed about the route and sent in which one I requested but wouldn’t let myself get excited about it until I knew for sure if I would be on the one I requested or not.
My sweet teammates and I had to wait TWO days to get another email telling us if we got on the route we felt led to. After much prayer and discussion with teammates, friends and family I am SO BEYOND EXCITED about my new route. A lot of people have been asking and yes, I am still leaving at the end of June! The Lord is already working in my heart and giving me such a burden for the people I am going to meet and the places I will be going. The excitement for July is building and I am so PUMPED about this trip. I’ve skyped with some new squadmates who had me laughing the entire time. Just over skype and our group messages I can see their love for the Lord and I cannot imagine what all God has in store for us over the year. I am blown away by how welcoming they have been. I hope that you guys would take some time to go on over to the “Meet My Squad” tab and checkout their blogs because they are really something. The Lord is teaching me so much through this entire journey even before leaving US soil and I am excited and full of anticipation about what all He will do throughout the next 11 months.
My new route is now:
India
Nepal
Cambodia
Thailand
Malaysia
Botswana
Swaziland
South Africa
Dominican Republic
Haiti
Jamaica
Financial update: About $4,000 more to go!!! I cannot thank everyone enough. Really. I don’t have words, only tears. I still have t-shirts or if you feel led to give you can click the “support me” button at the top. Also, don’t forget to subscribe over there on the left so that you can receive emails whenever I do update my blog. Training camp is less than two weeks away and my squad and I would love your prayers because we have no idea what to expect but we are ready! Thank you again to everybody that has been part of this journey with me!
