We were asked to write a blog about how we were called to this mission trip. Here is my story…
myself along with 50 of my closest friends and soon to be closest friends boarded the rented grey hound bus one sunny day in May 2003. our junk crammed below in the stow-away compartments. tents, flip-flops, mosquito repellant . . . all the necessary items. The destination: random large field in Texas. The mission: Worship the One True God. After almost a day and a half of silliness on the bus, we were getting nearer. The vibe on the bus changed as our hearts began to focus on the mission for the last leg of the journey. Anticipation and excitement buzzed all around our heads . . . our hearts began to burst. WE WILL HAVE AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD. When we stepped off the bus, thousands of tents dotting the green hillsides was all the eye could see. Four camps: blue, green, red, yellow. One large field. No one walked on it. No one set a foot on it until the specified time. Holy ground. For two days leading up to the specified day, Scripture was read over the field. “Yes, Lord, walking in the ways of your laws we WAIT on you, for your name and renown are the desires of our souls!” Welcome to OneDay2003.
The entire experience was unforgettable. The days leading up to the “oneday” were filled with worship, teaching, and focusing our hearts on what God was going to do on the “oneday”. When all 20,000 of us were able to leave our specified camps and step on the OneDay field for the first time, it was incredible. From sun up until past sundown we worshipped the Lord; listened to powerful speakers as they spoke of what it meant to make disciples of all nations; and prayed for missionaries around the world. The next day was Tuesday. The Sending. This morning we listened to stories from missionaries serving overseas. At the end an alter-call, of sorts, was given . . . not for salvation, but for those to whom God spoke to and called to the mission field. The speaker announced a continent- if you had been called in your heart to go there, you were to stand and people would pray over you. AFRICA!! “STAND UP” said a voice inside my heart. I continued to sit. I let the moment pass me by. Then they said if anyone knows they have been called into missions but maybe God hadn’t led them to a specific place yet, stand up. “STAND UP!” said the voice again. I could not ignore it this time. Eyes watering, heart bursting, legs quivering, I stood. My mentor and friend at the time stood up next to me and prayed over me. “Lord, if this is truly of you, do not let this desire in Kristen’s heart for the nations be quenched, but only grow into an ever blazing fire.” . . . the fire has been burning brightly ever since.
fast forward six years. March 2009. college finished. nursing degree obtained. almost two years of nursing experience behind me. just returned from my 5th trip to Nicaragua discouraged because I thought that was where God was calling me as a missionary, but he had closed the door. As I opened my email there was a newletter for World Race. Last year I had looked into the World Race when God convicted me that I needed to quit my job and pursue missions full time. I had an account with AIM and a half-filled out application for WR, but had stopped the process- for fear’s sake and little faith more than anything. For the entire year following I had NOT received ANYTHING from AIM until this newsletter showed up in my inbox at this point in time when I was discouraged and wondering where it was exactly God was calling me. I started praying about it and decided this was something God was laying before me to pursue. I kept praying the doors would open if this was where he wanted to take me. I received the privilege of an interview and then a little while later was told I had been accepted! For those two weeks between acceptance and commitment I prayed and fasted truly seeking God’s will and at the end of it he gave me a peace and a release in my heart that this was indeed our next step . . . our next adventure.
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