I thought it– God gives you the vision…
I had never heard of the World Race until I stumbled across the Facebook page of an old schoolmate, in May of last year.She was serving internationally on this crazy thing called ‘The World Race’. I was immediately intrigued and right away began to research what this trip was all about. And the rest- welp, it’s HIStory!
I caught it– You start to get excited about the vision…
I would be lying if I told you at that exact moment, I applied for the trip because I just knew God was calling me to go. In fact, it took me two whole months to even consider praying about it. And I don’t mean just two months. Those two months were the most exauhsting, sleepless months in a long while. I stayed up practically every single night past midnight (for me that’s late. I have an old soul.) reading blog after blog after blog, of current and future Racers. My daily naps? (yes I need my naps! old soul,remember?) Well those were gone too. I just could not sleep.
This trip was literally all I could think about. So I figured I should probably shush up my mind and just start praying about it. The more I prayed, the more I felt that I wanted to go, the more I felt that I should go . Boy,did that sure scare me. But at the same time, I felt like there was a dance party going on in my head. Woot Woot!!
I bought it– You consider the cost of the vision & pay the price…
I talked to two of my mentors about the trip trying to seek some advice and I’m pretty sure they just thought I was nuts. Buuut, On July 3rd, I went ahead and sent in my application anyway. Keep in mind I originally applied for January 2014 route 2. After I submitted the app. fear and anxiety clouded my mind (go figure,right?). I thought more and more about the daunting $16,285 that I would somehow have to FUNdraise fundraise, and even more about all of the things that I would have to leave behind.
I wasn’t sure what I was going to do about the brand new car I had just purchased 5 months prior. Or what was going to happen with the braces that are stuck on my teeth until November 2014. Or about the lease on the room that I was renting that was about to expire, and I wouldn’t be able to sign another year contract, so I had no idea where I would even live. And not to mention, I knew that it would be verrry difficutly to maintain a realtionship while being halfway across the world; and my relationship was the one thing that I was not at all willing to give up. No way jose!…So,I thought it would be better if I just didn’t follow through with the application process.
I sought it– Nobody can talk you out of it…
Now, God on the other hand,must’ve been laughing pretty hysterically at me and my dumb selfish thoughts. (in fact i’m sure He laughs at me often). Not going through with the application process seemed more bizzare to me than actually going through with it. So I prayed some more. And some more. Oh. And some more.
& God,doing what He loves to do, started answering my prayers one by one. He started with the one thing hardest for me to give up.Three days after I prayed, He took my relationship away from me. About a week after that my orthodontist starting speeding up my treament and braces will be off before July. After that, a room came to me (i didn’t even have to look), to rent AND they said I can leave all my stuff in my room while I am gone for the 11 months and come right back to it when I return home. PLUS, I would be saving $300 a month from what I was paying for rent at the other place! Tell me that’s not a God thing?!
I got it– You actually possess the dream & are glad you paid the price to get it…
My application was sent and I began the very long, humbling, interview process. Did I say long? After weeks of waiting for their final decision I got the phone call I had been waiting for. And they said NO. No for January route 2, but YES to July route 2!! After I found out their decision I then started telling some of my closest friends and family and began to get really pumped up! Even though most of them thought I was pretty nuts also. Oh well.
I truly know in my heart that the things that I had to sacrifice and the things that I’m going to have to sacrifice, will all be completely worth it. I’ve had my doubts, my pride, my earthly desires, my lack of trust and my impatience get in the way for too long. And yes, a lot of times these things do pop back up. It’s a constant battle. This process of preparing to leave is not at all a walk in Central Park. In fact, it has been the most challenging thing that I have done in a very long time- LET GO and FULLY trust God.
For once in my entire life I honestly feel like I am completely in God’s perfect will, and let me tell you, there is nothing more satisfying and peaceful than that.
I taught it– You pass it on to the next generation…
I can’t wait for the day that I get to share with my babies, and my baby’s babies, how faithful and loving my God is. I can’t wait to tell them all of what God has done in my life and how He has drastically changed it. How He has forgiven me. How He has renewed my heart and my mind. How He has rescued and reedemed me.
But until then, you are the one that I have the honor and privilege to share my life with. My prayer is that you would share your life with me also and that you would follow along with me on this journey, because we are in this together and I need you. Not for the sake of my life, because my life is a mess and not at all worthy of following, but for the sake of what Jesus is doing in our lifetime, in and thru us. Will you be my tag team partner?
Q: WHAT DREAMS ARE IN YOUR HEART THAT ONLY GOD CAN MAKE POSSIBLE?
Love,
