I always loved the idea of going on a mission trip – being able to help and serve others while seeing and experiencing an new country sounded wonderful! In the summer of 2010, I finally got to go on a mission trip to Swaziland, Africa. Little did I know this is where the start of my calling would begin. I loved every moment of my time in that beautiful country. The people were amazing and so inspiring! Their love for God poured out of them. Although this trip gave me so much joy, it also left me broken hearted. I couldn’t stop thinking about all the horrible things these people go through. I couldn’t stop thinking how all the horrible situations left so many of them feeling hopeless. I knew I wanted to do something to change all of it, I just had no clue how.
I spent two years praying and dreaming until January of 2012. I was attending Passion Conference in Atlanta. Chris Tomlin and other artists had just done an INCREDIBLE version of “How Great is Our God” in multiple languages. Towards the end of the song Louie Giglio came out and started speaking about the importance of having a nation on your heart, I immediately thought of Swaziland and began to cry. He then asked us to pray out loud for that nation. I never got the chance to pray. The second I closed my eyes God gave me a vision. This is the only time I’ve ever been so blessed to have a vision given to me. I don’t think I can even explain it (but I’ll try). It was so overwhelming and wonderful. It was of a group of people (maybe 50 or so) and as I saw them I just knew they were joyful, and at peace. They knew God was going to take care of them and everything was ok. I can’t explain how I knew this, I just did. That night I knew without a doubt that God had called me to serve the nations.
Since then I continued to pray, not quite sure what my next step would be, but knowing God would reveal it to me in time. In May of 2013 I began to pray about going on the World Race. I received my answer on a Thursday night in November. I was at a college church service with my friends. The sermon was on building good, godly relationships (not just dating, but family, friends, etc.). I don’t remember the point the pastor was making but he used the phrase “If not now, then when?” My friend who was sitting next to me tapped my arm and said “I have something to tell you after the service!!” She then wrote Isaiah 6:8 on my notes and just smiled. I was so eager to find out what she was so excited about! At the end of the service she looked at me and said “You’re going on the World Race!!” She explained that when the pastor said “if not now, when?” The Lord spoke to her and told her that He was calling me to go and then he gave her that verse. I don’t think I could begin to put into words how excited I was to have my answer (it definitely helped the answer was yes!)
I was officially accepted to the World Race in December! I am beyond excited for this new adventure God has for me! I know He has some amazing things in store. He is already showing me to trust Him to provide for me, which I have to admit, isn’t easy! But in my heart I know He will provide and I know my faith and my passion will only be made stronger through this experience.
I hope that sharing my story helps explain this passion placed on my heart and why I feel called to do this. Please join me in prayer as I continue to rely on God through this process.
Isaiah 6:8 (NIV) Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
