So with the race coming to an unbelievable end in just 46 days, I have some exciting news to share about the next season of my life. The race has been such a incredible journey where God has dug out the useless or harmful areas in my life, walked me through forgiveness in all ways, shown me the true meaning of daughtership, and so much more. I look at who I was when I first signed up for the World Race, to then the person I was at training camp, to the person who stepped on the first plane starting this adventure, and now to the person I am now and it blows my mind. I truly feel and am a whole new lady and part of me is still figuring out walking tall in this new identity, but then I look and I see God standing right beside me holding my hand and saying ‘Don’t worry I have you and will never let you go. You are so worthy and stunning because I made you. I have huge plans for you and will guide you through them.’ And this is exactly what God has shown me for this coming up season after the Race.
As far as my next season, God has been speaking to me since the beginning of month one about a program that Adventures in Missions has for alumni racers. At first I did not think too much about it because it was too early on in the race and I had no clue what was to come and whether He would call me into something else. Throughout the next months He would mention this program and I would just question Him on whether it was truly a part of His plan for me. Then there were two different programs that presented themselves to me where I could volunteer with two places, one in Bangalore, India and the other in Chang Mai, Thailand. So I started to pray to God and laid all of the options at His feet and told Him wherever He wants me I will go and I trust that His plans for me will be the best. Well here I am in month 10 and God has clearly shown me what the next season/year of my life is going to look like. At the end of last month I interviewed for the program at Adventures in Missions called CGA, Center for Global Action, and I have been accepted into CGA for 3 semesters, which is a year long commitment. I cannot explain to you the excitement and peace that fills me about this opportunity.
God has shown me so much during this journey and one of those things is giving life into an old and forgotten dream of mine. He has shown me that He wants me to pursue the dream of owning a coffee shop named Hebrews that will focus on creating a place for community and fellowship/discipleship like the book of Hebrews speaks about. It will also bring together the different cultures that I have been so blessed to experience and allow others to have glimpses into those countries and how they uniquely enjoy and make coffee. This is so exciting to me but also very scary because I have no clue about how to start or run a coffee shop.
This is where CGA comes into play with this vision God has given me for my future. Adventures in Missions describes CGA as a community of radicals dedicated to activating alumni in their calling while strengthening their identity and relationship with God. AIM believes God designed us uniquely to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the world. In this program I will be taking courses provided by Adventures in Missions that will help guide me into the calling God has for me, along with others who have the same passions to do what the Lord has called them to. Along with the courses in the different tracks (like leadership, worship, story, or missions) I will also be discipled and disciple others in the community. I will also have an apprenticeship that will allow me to learn from someone in that field. It is a season to help assimilate the things I have learned on the Race into life back home while guiding me toward the calling God has.
In just saying yes to this program God has challenged me in figuring out what is more important, spiritual responsibility or earthly/financial responsibility. One of the ways He has challenged me in this is deciding whether to start in January or wait till September; going in January is being spiritually responsible by diving into what God has for me and being in a community that will help me stay focused on what God has been doing and is continuing to do in my life. The Lord has made it clear that this would be more responsible than waiting till September and getting a job to save up money before going to CGA, which would leave potential to fall backwards and not grow the way the Lord wants me to. I really prayed about this and listened to God to see what He felt was the best. He has helped me realize how much spiritual responsibility is way more important than things of this world because we are only here for a short time compared to eternity. He has been helping so much lately in facing fears of mine and this is really up that alley. But I am realizing why He wants me to go through the process of fundraising again because I need to learn and fully understand that I can depend on God to be my provider. This is hard for me because when I think of raising funds again I feel like a burden to my family and those close to me, but God is speaking so much life into the fact that this is what community is and I just have to solely depend and believe that what He sets before me He will also take care of every detail of it. With CGA I will have to raise $10,950 for the whole year and this will cover all cost as far as courses, living accommodations, food, and more. AIM has set up on my blog the fundraising bar as a place for anyone who would like to donate.
First I want to ask that you pray about this opportunity that I have before me and hear what God has to say. Second pray for the support to come together and for me to solely depend on God to take care of the money. Third if you are feeling led to help support me then I invite you to donate to on blog. Fourth, join me in praying for what I consider an impossible prayer: that someone not needing a car is willing to give to me or sell for very little. God has been teaching me to pray for the impossible, that in Him all things are possible, and this is one of those prayers.
I just want to say a huge Thank You to every single one of you for supporting the Race and making this past year a reality. I would not have been able to do any of the things that have happened these past months without your support and prayers. I cannot wait to sit down and talk with each and every one of you about what is going on in your lives and tell you about what your support has allowed me to experience. I am truly grateful for each and every one of you. God has been teaching me many things but one of them is about what we may consider impossible and allowing Him to answer these dreams. I want to challenge all of you to write out an impossible list and start praying big prayers and see what God does for you. If you feel called to share, I would love to come along side and partner in prayer with you. Dream big and let us all believe in a big and great God.
