**very intimate and vulnerable story. Typing this story only to give glory to Jesus**
This story starts four years ago when I first met Bonnie at Trinity in Amarillo, TX. Bonnie is an amazing woman of God who is a walking definition of being a pure vessel for the Holy Spirit. This particular Sunday, Bonnie came up to me passing through the lobby of church and prophesied over me. She had no idea who I was or what I was going through. She told me “The Lord wanted me to tell you, do not give him your worth.” She had no idea that I was fighting an unhealthy relationship and giving a human being everything I had. I was chasing my false identity and giving everything I had to a false idol. (this was about 3 months before I had my dream.) (http://nicoletaylor.theworldrace.org/post/the-dream-that-changed-my-life)
Now fast forward to the last Sunday I was home in America (July 2016), I went to church in Amarillo with my mom. There, I saw Bonnie. I praised Jesus because I have been praying that I could see her again and show her the repentance and obedience I was finally walking in (or about to for the next year). I wanted to tell her thank you for being a vessel and doing the Lord’s work. After the sermon, she came to the front with the prayer team, so my mom and I went up to her.
She looked at me and immediately knew who I was. My mom was so stoked that she immediately explained me leaving in three days for a 11 months to spread the love of Jesus to 11 different countries. After embracing me in a hug, Bonnie started speaking.
Bonnie-I remember you perfectly. You thought you were going to marry him huh?
*instant tears streaming down my face.* Me -yeah. I did.
Bonnie-The Lord showed you that he wasn’t your future?
Me- Yes ma’am.
Bonnie- His plans are far greater than you can ever imagine. You are walking in His will.
*She then get anointing oil and anoints my head, hands, and feet. Blesses me, blesses my mind and thoughts, blesses my feet to wherever they may go, and blesses my hands to whatever they may do in the name of Jesus.
Then she prays over me. During her prayer, she prophesies. “I am seeing young girls running from afar yelling ‘Nicole’ and jumping into your arms. I see you wrapping them up in your arms.”
Fast forward 9 months later to Wiang Pa Pao, Thailand. I served the month of April at Sending Hope International Orphanage. I can’t even put into words how much I fell in love with these 30-40 girls. I will have to write another blog to describe the unconditional love and joy they taught me. Getting 30 hugs goodnight, 20+ handwritten notes telling me that they love me, giving my entire heart to these girls but getting them in return.
***(My favorite moment of this month, just to give you an idea of my connection with some of the girls.)***
Most mornings, we would teaching English, play games, and sing songs, and have dance parties with them. One morning, I noticed Amala was clearly upset and holding back tears. While we were all playing a game, I pulled her aside and just hugged her. She completely melted into my embrace and silent tears flowed from her eyes. As I held her, I felt tears coming from my eyes as well. I couldn’t stop imagining all the things this 12 year old girl has gone through. How much hurt she must bear and carry. How fast she had to grow up to deal with this broken world. Holding her in my arms for the next however many minutes, we became one heartbeat. I couldn’t ask her what was wrong due to the language barrier but it was such a beautiful picture of how the love of Jesus doesn’t speak a particular language. After this morning, Amala and I were best friends. I fell in love with this girl and she opened her heart to let me in also.
We left on the 19th to enter into PVT. PVT is the week we get to invite our parents to the field and share a week of ministry with them. We were all going to be in Chiang Mai. I knew I had to bring my mom here to meet these girls and thank you Jesus, I was able to. I spent three days away from my girls while I was in Chiang Mai (about 2 hours away), and I couldn’t stand it. I cried every moment I thought about being away from them. I knew I needed one more goodbye to be able to release them until the Lord could bring me back.
April 23, 2017, we were on our way to Wiang Pa Poa. I couldn’t be more excited. Pulling up to the driveway, my heart was pounding out of my chest. Getting out of the taxi, the girls were walking up. Jum-Ji was the first one I saw. Yelling her name, she recognized me, yelled my name in return with excitement, started running, and literally jumped into my arms. Yelling, “Nicole!” all the others came to follow, running into my arms. I knew in that moment, my heart was exactly where it needed to be. Being wrapped in 10+ hugs with huge smiles and open hearts, Jesus spoke to my heart and reminded me of the prophesy I had received the last Sunday in America. In this moment, my soul was fully satisfied and overflowing with the greatest feeling of love that I could possible describe. This can only be felt as a reward/blessing directly from Jesus.
It blows my mind that on this day, April 23rd, the Lord rewarded me and blessed me with the most loving hugs from Thai girls because one year ago, I said YES to him and to leave America. That 4 years ago, my Jesus used a woman to speak truth into me because He was pursuing me to repent and turn back to him. That my Jesus chased me down and gave me dream that completely changed my life that led me here in Cambodia as I type this blog. My heart is completely wrecked by the love of Jesus and will never be the same. Thank you Jesus for allowing me to serve you and never giving up on me. To bless me as you have to allow me to love these girls in Thailand and be loved back by them.
