So I'm learning that I'm really not good at this whole blogging thing. I've never done it before, but I'm hoping to get better at it as I blog more often. I quickly jumped to The World Race and didn't even tell you how God called me to the missions field! So this is my "How I was called to the missions field" blog 🙂
I always grew up in church. I cannot remember a time where I wasn't involved in church, but that doesn't always mean I was living the right way.
I was saved and baptized at a young age, 7 or so. I knew all the answers, I knew that Jesus was my Savior, but as I grew older I wasn't living like He unconditionally loves me and He had died for me. In high school I was so easily influenced that I found myself not doing the right things. I was partying, I was drinking, I was smoking, and all that other stuff that goes on at "high school parties". I wasn't proud of myself and to be honest, I still have a hard time telling people about the things I have done in my past. I fell into depression and had a really hard time forgiving myself. But I know that those things happened for a reason and they have made me who I am today, and Jesus helped me through it.
I was doing those things and only living for myself until Thanksgiving week of 2009. A friend of mine had gone on missions trips to Haiti a couple of times in high school and sparked my interested to go. And in 2009, after I graduated high school and my parents said it was okay for me to go, I went. I had no idea that my life would be forever changed.
Flying into Port-au-Prince, Haiti was an absolute culture shock. You could see the shacks and huts and little tiny house these people live in even before the plane landed. I was fascinated with the people and how they lived their daily lives. On the 6 hour bus ride to Gonaives, I don't think I stopped looking out the window the whole time. I saw children barely clothed making toys to play with out of rocks and sticks. I saw pregnant women carrying huge loads on their heads. I saw houses made of mud and clay. Back home I was so consumed with me and my problems that I had no idea that people lived this way. But this wasn't even the start to how God was going to change me.
Our group did a bible camp with 2 orphanages that our church sponsors. All through out the week I got to loved on these kids who don't have parents. These kids who probably knew more about the Bible than I did. These kids and adults who everyday thanked God for everything they had. These kids who made me happy. God whispered to me all through out that week, "Look, Molly. This is what you could be doing. Why are you living for yourself and making decision you know are going to hurt you? Why aren't you living for Me? Look, Molly. This is what I want you to do."
Anyone who was on that trip knows I was an absolute mess every night at devotion time, but they have watched me grow. They have watched me blossom into a girl that I never thought I could be. I girl who wants with all her heart to follow God's plan for her. I continued to go to Haiti as often as I could. I usually went with my church, but in July 2010 (The week of my 19th birthday) I took a trip to Carrefour, Haiti with Adventures in Mission. This was another amazing trip and I got to meet equally amazing people. This is how I found out about The World Race, and this is when I started thinking about it. It took me a very long time to actually apply for it because, yes, I was very scared. But the more I thought about it, the less I was nervous. And for me to not be nervous about this trip as a pretty big deal (I'm a big worry wart) God has given me an absolute peace about everything with this trip. I swear He started preparing me for how many bugs and spiders and creepy crawly I will encounter the day I was accepted. I have not seen an many bugs and spiders in my room and car than I have within the past 2 months!
The World Race is no doubt God's plan for me. I have such peace about being gone from home for so long, living out of a backpack, not showering whenever I wanted, raising a crazy amount of money and all the hardships that are inevitable while on this trip. That peace, I know, is coming from Him.
One of my favorite worship songs is "Because of Your Love" by Phil Wickham. One line gives me chills every time I sing it.
Lord, You gave your life for me
So I will live my life for You
Lord, I know that You love me and You gave Your life for me. So I am giving my life to You.
