Right around this time last year, I was sitting on a strangers back porch, taking in the rolling tea fields of Kenya. As I sat there and reflected on my time on the World Race, I realized that the Lord was shifting my attention. I had decided to go on this trip to eleven countries in eleven months so that I could minister to “the least of these”, the poorest of the poor, the abandoned, and those most desperate for love. Although God broke my heart over and over again for these people, my biggest ministry very quickly shifted to my squad—the 50 people I was traveling with. My journey became one of learning to disciple and encourage those who are living to see God’s Kingdom come on this earth. In that moment in Kenya I realized that discipleship is more a part of my calling than I had realized. And I had to ask God, “What about the orphans? What about my dream to teach in an orphanage someday?” He was very clear with me, telling me, “Don’t settle.” The Lord explained to me that in the place where I don’t try to settle the passions and desires of my heart into my own understanding, He is not limited in what He can do with my life.
So I have spent the last year in a very uncomfortable place. A place that is hard to explain when people ask what I am going to do next. “Not settle things into my own understanding,” is not the kind of answer they are looking for! This time of uncertainty has been stretching and ushered me into a deeper place of intimacy and trust with the Lord. It has been worth it!
I have been invited to move to Guatemala to lead a discipleship course for those who feel called to orphan care. Even typing out that last sentence leaves me in awe and wonder at God’s perfect plan. The Lord has shown me how perfectly He works things together, for He has given me a place to minister where I can share all the passions that He has placed in my heart.
I have committed to leading one semester of this Center for Global Action (CGA) course where I will be helping young people discover what it looks like to begin to walk out their calling to love on the fatherless and motherless of this world and to show them who they are as sons and daughters of God. This course starts in January, but I will be spending the Fall semester in Gainesville, Georgia, training with Adventures in Missions and also beginning to disciple young people who are enrolled in CGA courses there.
I just returned from leading 23 young people on a mission to Guatemala this Summer. This trip was more of a confirmation of what the Lord is asking me to step into. I watched these young people exchange hard hearts for soft ones. I watched them give up control in exchange for true freedom. I watched them learn to receive love from the Father so that they had it to give. I am in awe at the thought of what God can do through these 23 young people who now know what it is to live lives of worship in Spirit and in truth. And everyday I found myself thankful to be walking that journey alongside them. It is where I am supposed to be.
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In grateful excitement,
Marielle
Antigua, Guatemala
