2016 was the weirdest, most exciting, awful, and upside down year of my life. With it, came some of the greatest joys and the greatest pains the world has to offer. I got to experience the joys of graduating high school, finding the best friends of my life, and watching my sister marry the love of her life. But all of that joy was put up right against the pain of watching as my mom’s body gave into to the cancer that had been with her for over five years. There are no words to describe the feelings of watching as the strongest, most joyful, loving, and radiant woman I was so blessed to call my mom passed from this world into the presence of the Lord.
During the last days with my mom, along with all the support of loving friends and family, the Lord’s words through Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:17-5:10 gave me the comfort and hope I needed in that time. It reads, through verse 1:
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
We are both mortal and eternal beings. Our fleshly bodies are only temporary, but our spirit is eternal. Paul goes on to say he’d rather be at home with the Lord, than at home in the body (v5:8). But while we are on this earth, “we make it our purpose to please the Lord” (v5:9), to testify to his grace, to further His eternal kingdom, and to live a life worthy of our heavenly calling. We live a life with the perspective of eternity. With that new outlook, we aren’t tied down by the expectations of the fleshly world, we are free to live the radiant, full life God has called us to.
It’s the hope I found in that Corinthians passage that has kinda reshaped my view of the world and the life I live. I have gained a new perspective and have challenged myself to live each day with the perspective of eternity in mind, not to get overcome by worries and ways of the world.
So going into college was hard; everything was new – the people, the place, the culture, the lifestyle, even my perspective on life was all totally different. I tried to find my place among the crowd- I was living the life I thought I wanted when I looked forward to college, but in the moment I was left feeling totally empty and out-of-place. I was longing for a weight to be added to my life, something to give it substance, and help me move towards living a life worthy of the kingdom of the Lord.
This is where the World Race comes into this story. One day, as I was sitting in my lecture hall, I came across pictures on Facebook of one of my best friends (shout out Kendall) who was on a nine-month long gap year program. I saw these pictures of her watching the sunrise on side of a mountain, mortaring a school, serving the people of a Guatemalan village, and forming friendships that will last beyond this lifetime; I automatically heard a voice in the back of my head saying “that is what you should be doing.” After weeks of that persisting thought and thinking I was crazy, I finally gave into the Lord’s gentle whispers, and here I am now, writing this blog.
So I am so incredibly excited and blessed to say that starting in September, I will be setting off for my nine moth journey of traveling to five different countries with the World Race and Adventures in Missions. The time will be spent not only serving, but also in growing discipleship and fellowship with a group of about fifty-five other people who are just looking to see what living for the eternal is really about today. I am so looking forward to being surrounded by a new loving support system of people who just want to live and travel and serve the Lord together. I have the amazing opportunity to be traveling to the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Botswana, South Africa, and the Philippines. By partnering with local missionaries, churches, ministries, and communities around the globe we will be able to work, walk, and serve alongside them, amplifying and glorifying the Lord along the way. It will be a year of leaving behind the comforts of home and living as hands and feet of Christ, testifying to God’s grace, and trying our best to expand the kingdom of God on earth.
As I go forward, your love, support, donations, and above all prayers are so welcomed and immensely treasured. Missions have always had a special place in my heart and I am filled with so much joy and anticipation regarding this upcoming year; I know God has so much in store for me and everyone included on my squad! I will try my best to keep anyone interested in my journey up to date through this blog. Thank you all so very much for reading and I can’t wait to share more in the future!!
Love always,
Camille
