In His perfect timing, God revealed why he chose me for missions. I did say no, but he convinced me. It was a fast, but slow process.
Every Monday we start off our day at Adventures with worship. The second Monday of my internship I was standing in worship, soaking in the loud music, voices, and praising. I knew I was supposed to be exactly where I was. It was such a good feeling; God gave me his overwhelming peace, which he does so often in my life.
I was okay at that point to give him my future. I told him how sorry I was, I tried to take it for myself; I tried to plan it all. I did tell him I would go where he wanted me too, but I didn’t want to know anytime soon. I said to him, “I would rather know later than sooner.”
That night I went to a church service in downtown Gainesville and the Lord revealed to me how young and innocent I was. Why wouldn’t I do missions, why wouldn’t I travel the world spreading the gospel? I am 21 years old, no serious relationship, no school, and no commitments. What more of an adventure could I ask for?
Tuesday morning, I was asked to sit in on an interview. This was completely random, not planned, not in my foreseen schedule for the day. A guy from the Netherlands was talking with Seth Barnes, the founder and executive director at Adventures, and Laura, one of the first Racers ever, about the World Race. Seth began to explain what The Race was about and who it was for. The interviewer stopped him. “Wait, wait, wait Seth. You’re telling me that after parents spend thousands of dollars putting their kids through college, after they graduate with professional degrees, they go do missions around the world?!”
I love Seth’s reply because it was exactly what I needed to hear. “Well yeah. I mean they do need that kind of knowledge and an education, but they also need spiritual knowledge. And why wouldn’t they travel the world, they are young.”
He asks Laura what her parents said about her going on The Race. “Well I told my parents and they flipped out. We got angry with one another. By the end of our conversation I explained that I didn’t want them to write me a check. I wanted my parents to bless me and send me away so when I would hold an orphan baby in my arms, I knew I could call home and have a mom who tells me she loves me.”
It was completely crazy how God had that in store for me that Tuesday the second week of my internship. So, I asked God “when?” And then I started to plan, once again.
I knew that all the July routes were all full, so I wasn’t going to even be able to apply then. Plus I was going to be in my best friend from high schools wedding in July. That was out of the question. I could go in September, but I wanted to go to Epoch, an mission gala Adventures has in October. So January was the next time I would be able to go.
That’s what I sat in, waited on that confirmation. The January routes weren’t out, so I knew I would have to wait a little bit before I could apply. By January I would have plenty of time to fundraise and get the word out.
I once again had to learn that my plans are not his plans. Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, declares the Lord.”
