Somewhere along the course of my life, the Lord developed an adventuresome spirit in me.
I don't really know when it happened….
By the world's standards, I would say I lived a pretty ordinary, uneventful life. Not bad, just nothing too noteworthy. Not a traveler, same group of friends, same school, same house, pretty predictable and safe.
Sometime between my first year of college and now, 3 things happened that directly prepared my heart for the World Race.
The first thing is God began to develop an eternal perspective in me. He began to show me my purpose in life was to glorify and serve Him. He began to create a hunger in me to know Him more. I don't know when this first happened in my life. I can look back and see His pursuit of me from when I was little although I didn't realize it until much later. I guess I would say the first time I saw a drastic shift in my walk with the Lord was my freshman year of college. Since then I have been aware of his faithfulness as He leads me on this journey towards Him.
The second thing is that I developed a love of traveling. I began to have a desire to see what was outside of the little world that I had always lived in. I have this group of friends that I grew up with in the church youth group. They were a pretty adventurous group. I heard about the trips they would go on and the adventures they had and I decided I wanted to do that. So, in 2008, 13 of us flew to Nevada and backpacked in Havasu Falls (part of the Grand Canyon) It was absolutely beautiful and hands down my most favorite trip I've ever taken.
Since Havasu I have been on many more adventures and my love for traveling and trying new things has grown substantially.
The third thing He developed in me was a love for His people.
One night several years ago at my friends house (one of the ones I went to Havasu with) we watched a movie about human trafficking. I remember the silent ride home as the reality sank in that although this movie was fictional its plot was not. I had no idea that this was going on in the world and more than that, that it was barely receiving any attention as a real issue. That night God broke my heart for this injustice and showed me my life was to be about more than living the status quo.
He also gave me a heart for different nations and cultures. I grew up in a small town where I was rarely exposed to anyone that looked or talked any different than me, but a couple years ago I began going to a multicultural church. A church full of members (of different races and nationalities) that genuinely love each other. As I was exposed to people different from me in so many ways I began to not only appreciate their differences but to really develop a desire to learn about them and their cultures.
So that is how God began preparing me for the World Race long before I even knew something like this existed.
Then 2 years ago, I received a letter from a friend talking about this mission trip she had been a part of where she traveled to 11 different countries in 11 months. I remember getting excited as I read it. My spirit lept at the possibility. I knew right then and there that if God made a way that I wanted to be a part of this. So now 2 years later God has opened the door for me to go, and I am confident that this is His timing. I don't believe I would have been prepared at all 2 years ago. The Lord has done such a great work in me during this time. He used it to develop some necessary character in a few areas, to give me some confidence in who He created me to be and His call on my life, and He has begun teaching me to trust Him and rest in His word. He is trustworthy and I have no doubt that He will continue the work He has already begun in me during this next season on the World Race.
So this is my first official blog, and I'm pretty certain that blogging is not one of my stronger gifts. I feel painfully inadequate, but to quote psalm 34:2 "My soul makes its boast IN THE LORD, let the humble hear and be glad." So… since this isn't about me or about what I am or am not good at, I will continue to tell of the great things the Lord has done and is continuing to do in my life. Hope you are encouraged and blessed!
Shelley
