I’m here, guys! I can’t believe the time that I’ve prayed and dreamed about for so many years is actually being lived out. My high school heart was desperate to travel, my college heart dreamed of missions, and my current heart is now living out a life that brings both together in a way I never thought possible. I’m surrounded by a joyful, genuine, vulnerable community that speaks life and calls you out to be the person God created you to be. I’m working at a home for teenage boys, where 11 boys who have grown up in some of the worst living conditions, are being raised up as Men of God with life skills that will be used to benefit their future lives and their communities. I’ve always known that God moves in ways we never imagine, but to be sitting on the concrete floor here in Africa typing away a blog about my travels and experience with missions, I’m brought to my knees. Thank you, God. Thank you for giving me a dream and a vision and thank you for seeing through to your promises. There is a part of my heart that has been awakened since the moment I stepped foot in Africa. To see a God-given dream fulfilled, and a prayer answered… it’s bringing life.
God showed me such a simple truth today while watching the boys of the home play soccer with my team, all these people coming from polar opposite backgrounds. My teammates, and the 11 boys that live here in this home, are all searching for identity. Who at this age isn’t? We dabble with arts, music, school, jobs, careers, friends, and relationships to discover who we are. But there is something about this community of teammates and young boys that is so different than anything I’ve ever experienced. It’s a group of people who aren’t trying to “find themselves,” as most are, but instead, they are focused on finding God. Isn’t that where every answer about our identity lies? God has brought me to this group to show me the importance of searching through His word, and seeking His face to know who I am. I can’t look to my culture, Hollywood, or friendships to find out who I am. My identity will only be at it’s truest form when I’ve learned how to die to my desires, and to give up my dreams and pursue God and his dream for me.
I couldn’t be more excited to be living in tight community with people who have decided to radically go after God and leave behind their old lives. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
My prayer for myself, and for anyone else who feels like they aren’t confident in their identity, is that God gives us the capability to abandon our self-searching attitude. Lord, I pray that you would give us the strength and grace to go after you whole-heartedly. Help me to not turn to anything of this world to find out who I am, but to continue to seek your face. Renew my mind, God, and take anything from my heart that does not bring me closer to you. Amen.
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SIDE NOTE!
My time in Africa so far has been unbelievably amazing. I’ve struggle with sharing what I’ve experienced so far because God has been teaching me so much in just this last week. I will post again soon with details of what ministry has looked like so far, but for now, this is what I felt led to share! <3
