With the summer ending and with fall here, I am reflecting on the busy summer I had. I had the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua the end of June, Switzerland and Italy the beginning of August, and Hawaii the end of August. Phew!
I haven’t allowed myself to think of the World Race because I wanted to be present in my travels. And now looking back, I believe my travels this summer have prepared me for the World Race in some ways.
I lived out of a suitcase (much bigger than what I can bring on the World Race…eh), experienced many different countries and cultures, and experienced God in ways I have never before and was used by God in a way I would have not expected.
I also missed home. I missed my family, friends, my room, my bed. And this made me think if I miss all these things during my travels now, how am I going to be away for 11 MONTHS????? Only with God’s help.
God meets you where you are and God sure met me in Nicaragua and Italy. In Italy a crazy/awesome thing happened……. As soon as I walked into the house we were renting in Lake Como, I had a sense of darkness in the house. Something did not feel right. And I wasn’t the only one that felt this. My mom, brother, and brother’s girlfriend all felt something too (my dad went to sleep right away). Did I mention we arrived at night, in the dark? That didn’t help the situation. I walked through the house and walked up the stairs to the loft and that’s when it hit me like a ton of bricks, darkness and an evil presence. I went downstairs to find my mom and we all decided we needed to pray. The 4 of us headed up the stairs to the loft and I immediately started praying. I prayed Jesus would come and fill every corner in the house. That Jesus would sweep away any darkness. There is power in Jesus’ name, which I fully believe! Then my mom began to pray. She prayed Jesus would come into the house, and then she prayed for the family who owns the house. Immediately a wave of the Holy Spirit came over me and I began to laugh and cry. My mom said the Holy Spirit was speaking through her and it was confirmed when we saw me laughing (which is what happens to me when I encounter the Holy Spirit- HE IS REAL!!!) She then prayed for peace, and a rush of peace filled me, and the house. I felt so much better. The house felt like a different place. Jesus was present.
God sent us to that house for a reason. He wanted to use us to pray peace over the home and the family. God used us to stir something in that family. We continued to pray to the Lord every night and continue to pray for the family. We are praying for deliverance!
Looking back on the summer I had, I know God used it to ready me for what is to come. I had never experienced darkness like that before, but I knew what to do. Call on the name of Jesus!
Now I am home and it hit me… I am leaving in 4 months! A list of things I have to do ran through my mind. I have to get shots. I have to get more supplies. Need to raise funds. Raise a lot more funds. And with all I have to do, I can’t get myself to do any of it. I feel numb to the fact that I am actually doing this.
I have had my doubts about the World Race, and sadness about missing many of my friends getting married, my cousin’s wedding (which I’m supposed to be in, and pray God works it out somehow), and my best friend having a baby, but then I am reminded following Christ there are sacrifices. I know this is what He wants me to do and when I experience the Holy Spirit and I’m in the presence of God filled with joy and peace, I know I want to follow after His heart. I want God to mold me and shape me into the person He wants me to be and I know I will be closer to that going on the World Race. God will meet me where I am, in whatever country I am in, in whatever darkness I am in, because He is faithful and He loves me. I cannot wait to experience God in more ways, because there is always more of God.
Side note: I am having a sale at my parent’s house in Arcadia Sept 20-21. All the proceeds will go towards the World Race, and all the sales are tax deductible! Let me know if you want to stop by and I will give you the address! : )
Jesus loves you!
