Of course, by no means would I think that I'm equipped enough to respond to the call "to make disciples of all nations." If anything, I feel I'm the least equipped due to my selfishness, introvertedness, to name a few. But, He calls ALL of us really. There are some who refuse to answer, others are in denial, and some more who are fearful. I am all of the above yet I am an less-than-ordinary 20something responding to Jesus' call out of obedience. And because of my response, He has and still is equipping me to do the work that needs to be accomplished for His Kingdom.
So, how did it all begin? First, the when is in summer 2011 after watching Eat Pray Love and a shallow weekend out on the city in Dallas.
I should also start off with I've alway wanted to…
-travel extensively outside the U.S.
-work with orphans
-challenge myself with adventures
-live and share life with a tight-knit community of believers
-live outside of America
-really see and experience God in a different context especially globally
So, at the end of July last year, I decided put in action a plan to live my life with fulfilling purpose which significantly included serious traveling outside America and living out my faith and not being hypocritie about it. My mentor Courtney gave me a required reading assignment: Radical by David Platt. She said it will step on my toes, and it surely did while slamming some fingers as well.
This book is the catalyst for me doing the World Race. While I was reading this book or nearing the end, I discovered The World Race (on October 2011) on an Internet search for teaching English abroad in conjunction with mission trips. I thought "This is so crazy and awesome, but I don't think I can handle this kind of radicalness." But, the more I thought about it, the more the Lord was saying to me, "This is exactly what you're secretly looking for and what I want you to do." However, after reading the blogs and talking a WR representative, I decided nope and moved on with life.
Fast forward to April 2012, I revisited the World Race website and got all excited again. I talked to teacher mentor and compadre Natasha who was also joyfully supportive of this endeavor. After prayers last fall and again this past spring and now summer, I applied out of obedience, hoping I would be rejected. But, I was accepted.
I even tried to sabotage my acceptance. But, my World Race admission counselor still said (or God said) my acceptance is still in place. WHAT?!
So there you go. That is how He has called me to the Field for 11 months.
Let the journey commence.
