We were asked to write a blog about how we were called to this mission trip, here’s my story…
I got “the call” to missions in high school. I was happily plugging along the path to culinary school when God rocked my world. (doesn’t He always?) I attended a Christian college in Ky and did some work in Central America gearing up for what I thought would be a career in missions in some spanish speaking country. Little did I know that God had other plans for me. About half way through my junior year of college God corralled me into a program called Cafe 1040. It was Intense! We lived in a closed country in North Africa and trained to take the gospel to the difficult places, places my cushy American life had not prepared me for. But when you’re in day four of caravanning in the Sahara…being broken takes on a whole new meaning. God ruined me for the ordinary during that time. He changed my heart and mind into one that longs to see His glory in the nations. So after I got back stateside I transferred to a big secular univeristy and started studying french. And after a while God blessed me yet again with an opportunity to be a part of the World Race!
I saw the add on facebook a while ago and it looked AMAZING. But, I had put missions up on the top shelf until graduation. (I have this lovely habit of taking good gifts from the Lord and making them into idols. I had done that with missions and was letting it go for the time being.) Anywho, I was doing this thing with my church called “Living Leviticus” where seven members lived by the levitical laws for 20 days. (my church is awesome)
During this time of wearing 100% cotton clothing, not lying (it’s harder than you think…do you like my dress?…. um, no. no i do not.), and eating kosher foods, I began to hear from the Lord. I started getting random e-mails from missions agancies, mailers, and even phone calls. I began to ask God if he wanted me to go, specifically to go on the World Race. Feeling very Old Testament I asked the Lord directly. I had this candle on my nightstand that I had lit to burn a “sacrifice” (list of the days sin) and I covered my head and asked God to let it burn through the night if he wanted me to go on the Race. At about 3:30 am I woke to a loud popping sound and looked over to see the poor 2 inch candle holder spilling out about 5 inches of flames. Immediatley I shouted okay okay Lord, I’ll go and then proceeded to try to douse the flames with orange soda. (you use what you’ve got)
After my own burning bush experience I applied and found out that my sister, her best friend, and my best friend had all decided to apply without telling each other. Funny, huh? I just love how good God is to me and I’m excited to see what God has in store for the rest of this experience.
