Sometimes it takes me awhile to put things together…this is one of those times.
Month 2 of the World Race I was in the wonderful country of Cambodia. My team was kinda struggling (pretty sure most of them would admit this) and we were doing construction at a children’s home. During Training Camp, I was introduced to Listening Prayer and I was still trying to figure it out. One day a teammate made us draw names in team time, they had us go and pray for this person WITHOUT looking to see who we had drawn and see what we heard from the Lord for them.
To say the least, I was majorly frustrated with the task at hand. I had no confidence in hearing from the Lord, I didn’t even know whose voice I was listening to in prayer: mine, His, randomness?!
So this was my prayer:
Dear Jesus, please give me something for this person! I can’t meet back up with my team and not have something. Please, please, please, please. Let me know it is YOU and not me. Please give me something, PLEASE!
So, I waited. And waited and then, some words and pictures came to me. Those were: love, continue on My path set before you (though it may be scary), keep you head and eyes open (it’s a song), joy, and
A VIEW OF A GREEK MOUNTAINSIDE WITH HOUSES FROM THE TOP TO THE SEA (similar to these)
AND I WAS SO EXCITED TO SHARE ALL THE THINGS I HEARD FROM GOD WITH SOMEONE!!!!!!!!
My team gathered back together to open our pieces of paper and share. Guess whose name I had? You probably just need one, especially if you don’t remember my team. Yep, I had drawn my own name. AND I WAS PISSED! I was so frustrated, none of it made sense, what was God telling me, I am not capable of doing all these things. These were my thoughts for a few days, and then I completely forgot about it.
Then sometime this past weekend I was reminded of my vision. And I FINALLY put two and two together. I never thought God would take me to Greece. I thought it was more about the lives that would be touched (by others, not me – remember I was not happy when I found out I had drawn my own name.) I have wanted to visit Greece, but that is about it. It took 15 months from the time I heard the prayer to make the realization that God wants to use me in Greece. And He is!
I leave in less than a week to go to Lesvos and work with the refugees. I have gone back and forth often about being ready, excited, not wanting to go, wanting to help, being prepared, not being prepared – a whole wide range of emotions. But after sharing this realization with a few people and with you, I have a new peace about going. God has already been to Lesvos, He is there now, He has prepared a way for me to go, and apparently He has been preparing me. It is crazy sometimes how He works – to me it is always crazy because I am still surprised He wants to use me and uses me!
I hope this encourages you in some way. Please pray for my team and I* as we travel and serve.
*My team is still in need of funds, if you feel lead you may donate here, http://give.adventures.org/campaign.asp?campaignID=1072
