When I was about twelve years old, I went to a summer Christian camp called L-Bar-C with my youth group. It was there that I first knew I was going to do something in ministry. As they had an alter call for those who felt called to be in ministry, I refused to go.. That would be entirely too embarrassing! However, God had other plans for me… as a physical push shoved me down the aisle I fought every step of the way only to fall on my knees at the altar. I had no idea what God had in store for me. All I knew was that I was scared to death.
I never thought another thing of it until I was in college. I went to go pick a career path and I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do. I knew I loved sports so I picked Athletic Training, which I really do like Athletic Training! But one day I was driving with my best friend and I told her that I was supposed to touch peoples’ lives with God’s word. She proceeded to tell me that I would definitely touch people’s lives through athletic training. I tried to justify it saying that I could reach the athletes by posting scripture on the wall and praying with each injured athlete, which sounded like a great plan! However, I just knew it wasn’t right. God still had other plans for me. Turns out, this is His plan. J
Also at college, I played basketball. Now the college that I went to was a junior college so I could only stay there for two years. I knew that after those two years, I would have to go through the entire recruiting process again and pick a school based on basketball. I had no doubt that I would go ahead and play. As the basketball season went on, I wasn’t getting recruited like I thought I would. I was absolutely brokenhearted because of it and couldn’t figure out why God wasn’t opening doors. Well now that I know The World Race is what God wants me to do, it only makes sense. If I would have committed to another basketball team for two years, I would never have been able to participate in this amazing mission trip.
Last spring, my best friend and I were sitting in my college apartment brainstorming for summer jobs because it was nearing the end of school. I attended a church camp called Dry Gulch, USA for most of my childhood years. So I mentioned to Megan, “Let’s work at Dry Gulch. It will be a blast and we don’t have to stay at home all summer!” It took some convincing but she decided to apply. We both were hired and completely excited to go work there. While I was there, I heard about this mission. Immediately I knew I was supposed to go on it. I don’t know how I knew but I did.
I won’t lie; I fought God over this deal. Let’s be honest.. 11 months is a long time. So I remember laying in bed one night literally arguing with God saying, “Nope sorry God, I can’t go on it. I don’t have a passport; I’ve never been on a mission trip before. I’m underage. They would never let me go.” While I was trying to convince God that I couldn’t go, He responded with, “I AM GOD.” Talk about hitting me upside the head. Of course I knew He was God but I wasn’t buying into the part where He can do absolutely anything. So I proceeded to call AIM and ask if there was any way I could go being so underage. They said my best bet would be the July trip and that I would be wasting my time for applying for the January trip. However, I really felt led to the January trip so I applied anyway, knowing that if God wanted me on the trip, He would make it happen. So I had my interview and I talked to her a little about it saying I know I’m underage but I really feel like I’m supposed to go on this trip. She was very sweet and said she would pull for me, but informed me that she only knew of a couple people that had gone underage and they turned 21 within the first 30 days. I was a little bummed but kept on with my faith. I mean I don’t turn twenty-one until May 21st, 2010…five months into the trip! But to my astonishment, just a few hours later I received an e-mail for me to call them. The next day I made the nerve-racking phone call… They informed me that I was accepted!!! I knew immediately that God had opened their hearts to me and made everything possible.
I know this blog is a little scattered but so is my lifeJ. I feel like I am right on target with God by going on the mission trip. These were just a few examples of how God opens doors but also shuts them if it isn’t His will. I am so incredibly blessed that God chose me to go on this mission trip. I never would have thought this would be His will for me, but once again He completely blows my mind and all I can do is stand in awe of His wonder, beauty, and love for me.
