Have you ever taken the time to compare what this time last year looked like to where you are now? To the things that have changed? To the experiences that have shaped you? Well that’s what I’ve been doing the last few days. And I decided it was something I wanted to share with all of you.
Last year I was in Boston, Massachusetts on a Spring Break missions trip through the church I attend while at school, Midtown Fellowship. We were split into teams before we left and I was a part of Team Mayflower. For the week our team was partnered with the Boston Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter/feeding center. We cleaned up the mats that people slept on, hung out and talked with people during meals, and worked on designing a program to teach basic computer skills that would likely be needed in a job at some point. I was also in the process of deciding what to do when school was over and I knew that I was supposed to be involved in some sort of ministry.
The first choice that just seemed obvious to me was to apply with Young Life. I had been involved with them since I was in middle school and had been a volunteer leader and worked at camps for the duration of college. I decided that I didn’t think staff was where I should be headed at least not at that point and I knew of an intern program that was a year long at some of the camps. So a few months prior to going to Boston I had started the application and interview process.
It was after the process for being a camp intern had started that the world race started to pop up a lot I had several friends on it and thought it was cool but really not my thing. Yet, for some reason it just continued to come up in conversations and was just a small thought in the back of my mind at that point.
In the middle of our time in Boston I got the call finding out that I didn’t get the internship. And I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t say that I was pretty disappointed. I had the fleeting thoughts of well now what thats all I wanted to do? I really feel like I’m supposed to be in ministry yet the door just got slammed in my face. And after the initial shock of it all wore off I heard that ever present voice say “but there are other doors.”
This is the point when the world race was no longer that small thought in the back of my mind but the big sign flashing in front of my face. I had talked to some people about it and got a lot of skepticism. It was double the amount of money to raise and I wouldn’t have any opportunities to come home and I would miss weddings and events and did I really think this was what I should be doing?
So regardless of the opinions I had been given I decided to apply and just not tell anyone this time so that if I didn’t get accepted it wouldn’t be a big deal. But this time I got accepted and I was like oh crap. Do I go or not go? I talked with my parents about it and they were super gracious and took my being accepted as God opening that door. Without the support they have shown me throughout this whole journey I would never been able to do this. I am so thankful to them both.
So I fundraised and when deadlines drew near God always showed up and provided the funds. I have one more deadline at the end of this month and I am still about $1200 short but I have complete faith that God will provide. How I don’t know but He will. I’ve been to Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Philippines, Thailand, and am now in Malaysia. We are just about at our halfway point. I’ve had the opportunity to help build soccer fields, and churches, and go to orphanages and love on kids.
But this week. This week I am in Malaysia. This week I am on the island of Penang. This week I am working at the Kawan Center, a homeless feeding center. This week I get to sit and have conversations with people from multiple countries as they are fed both food and truth. This week I get to see lives changed.
It’s SO crazy to look back at last year I was working at a homeless shelter when God chose to close a door only to open another that would then put me across the world in a place I never would have gone to on my own. And I’m working in a homeless feeding center. The journey he has brought me through this past year has been a myriad of things. It has been good, hard, exciting, sad, painful, confusing, amazing, beautiful, and heart breaking. But I wouldn’t trade it for the anything. God has always known that this is where I would be right now.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
This is a favorite verse that my Mom and I share and it has proven true over and over and over again. So thank you all for your support both financially and in prayer. You are as much a part of this ministry as I am because I wouldn’t be here without you. I love getting feedback so please feel free to write a comment or send me an email. And if you are interested in supporting me just click the “Support Me” link on the left side of the page.
Be Blessed.
