As the end is vastly approaching it gets harder and harder to breath. My mind keeps questioning everything that has just happened. In some ways it feels like I was just in the back of my parent’s car crying and hyperventilating because I was leaving for 11 months to never come back and I knew nothing would ever be the same. (In an unknown sense I guess I knew I wasn’t and nothing will be the same.) Then there are days when you think man with all that has happened it has to be longer than 11 months. (And in general it has been longer than 11 months because of all the life, world, emotional, spiritual, relational, etc. experiences that we have experienced.)
In 7 Days I will be home!!!!! 7 DAYS!!!!! That is a single digit number!!!!!!!! That’s a week!!!!!!!!!! This journey has been an amazing one that obviously I will never forget as a whole but on a day to day basis I am losing the memories of sadly. It feels like I am running forward just to keep running and know that I will be running into this next chapter.
I am overwhelmed and anxious right now however not sure why. I mean if anything I have learned over the last 11 months how to trust the Lord with my head and heart. To know that His plans are bigger than what I know and He does have the perfect path laid out for me already. I have learned that He will provide for me in any and every situation (For example giving us a home for a week for free, letting a local know when to tell us to get off the bus because we had no idea, random worship session when I need His presence the most, and random people buying or making us dinner when we are tight on budget, etc.) He has shown me in so many ways each month things that I didn’t even know I needed but provided them. (Like the beach for my back yard, people giving me flowers randomly, words of encouragement from strangers, hugs from a local mom.) He has guided people in and out of my life that have sharpened and encouraged me to keep going. (So grateful for these people) He has protected me in every way you can think of and even in the suffering that I did endure turned into good because I love Him and my peace is centered in Him. (For example being oceans away from my grandfather who went into the hospital 5 times in less than ten months while I was gone, my Back, The Attack at Kedesh, etc.) He has given me teachers and examples along the way to learn from. He has declared things over me and has answered prayers that I didn’t even know I really prayed for. He has spoken to me directly in many new ways but has strengthened the old intimately as well. He has shown me how deep His love truly is for me. And most of all Our relationship and the deep love & intimacy that it encompasses has developed more than I could ever imagined. Because of our intimate relationship He has shown me what He has made me for and has opened the door to walk in my fullness.
He has given me a Blueprint of my future!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This blueprint was downloaded to me in Thailand at lunch with my teammate and friend Melanie Heath. During our unexpected one on one lunch we talked about what our dream jobs would be coming off the race. I shared that I know my life is not my own and that I want to be used to make a mark on History for the Kingdom. As I shared how passionate I am about Supernatural Healing and Athletic Training I also shared that I was worried about going back into the Athletic Training realm because it wasn’t the best environment for a radical Christian. I talked about how I believe that the Lord has created many medical practitioners with the desire and gifting of healing and could walk in even more fullness if they understood their authority and power in Christ. I then started to talk about how I would want to combine the medical and Spiritual world and give the opportunity to other Athletic Trainers to understand their full calling. During our lunch the Lord whispered into my ear “This is it Heather! This is what I have made your for! This is why you are so passionate about these two worlds.”
After this lunch date so many things started to race through my mind. Could this be it could this be the answer to my prayer of what am I made for? Could this really be my calling, I mean it would make sense of everything. Could I really be a part of something that is bigger than me? God what are you doing? Could these two worlds really be combined together? Are you sure this is what I am made for?….Yes.
The past couple of months have been crazy. In the midst of praying about how to walk this out the Lord has opened many doors to make it clear to me what is next. He has guided me to a program called Center for Global Action (CGA) which is an Adventure in Missions program. CGA is a school for alumni world racers that have been given a Kingdom dream and would like to learn how to make it successful. They have several different avenues that you can apply for to tailor your specific Kingdom dream. After much prayer and verbal processing with some trusted people He once again made it very clear what He wanted me to do. So I applied, got accepted, talked to some important people, and made the commitment to start January 20, 2014.
I now know that this blueprint is comprised of 4 pivotal aspects: Research, Organization, Awareness, and Education.
Research
Research will be gathered, both on and off the field, through 1) personal and testimonial experiences, 2) scriptural knowledge and study, and 3) scientific research.
Organization
In order to connect ATCs with their colleagues and potential employers, I plan to create an online search engine. Through this interactive site, Christian ATCs will be able to search for jobs, conferences, colleagues, and other resources that will better enable them to walk in their fullness.
Awareness
I want to educate high school students on athletic training as a career path and to encourage them to pursue their Kingdom calling. I also want to connect with Christian collegiate athletic training students and talk to them about taking their education to a Kingdom level. Thirdly, I will reach out to practicing Christian ATCs in communities and churches and determine if any of them could benefit from the business. If so, I will encourage them to utilize our resources and to perhaps partner with the mission.
Education
Education is the last piece to my vision for this business. Eventually, I plan to develop training courses that could be implemented in a classroom or conference setting. Courses will educate Christian ATCs in understanding and walking in their full calling. This could potentially develop into a book used for additional educational purposes.
These are just some rough details of what these 4 aspects could look like. However, I know The Lord has a bigger dream than I do and I am just willing to be a vessel to orchestrate His Kingdom glory here on earth for Athletic Trainers. I am sharing this in as much detail as I can right now because I would like you to be part of my next chapter just like you have been with me this last chapter. I am closing this chapter of the race to enter a much greater one. I have finished the race with a Kingdom dream, a Kingdom mindset, and a Kingdom heart. I want to combine two worlds together to call Christian Athletic Trainers into their fullness! What better way to end the race????
I am so grateful for the prayer, dedication, love, encouragement, and finical support that you have given me. I would not be walking out this chapter into a new awesome one if it wasn’t for you and I want to thank you. Your prayers have strengthened and encouraged me more than you or I could even know. Thank you for your commitment and I pray that you are ten folds blessed because of it.
Since CGA is a missions based program they are asking us to fund raise money to pay for this program. It is a 12 month program that will help guide me in knowing how to combine these two worlds together. It will set me up with connections, teaching, and guiding me to develop this vision. Please consider supporting me again to continue my mission work that is not ending just because I am back in the states.
I have considered it an honor to see how and who the Lord has used to support me these past month and I am excited to see how He will do it again with this next chapter. I pray that you will be able come along side of me and support me in my Kingdom dream of combining these two worlds together for His glory. You made this happen! Thank you for support on the race and helping me find my BLUEPRINT!!!!
(These should look familiar 😉 )Here are 3 ways you can support my next chapter!
1. Mail donations directly to me Heather Miller 133 Nebo Walker Rd. Nebo, WV, 25141
2. Mail check donation to: Adventures In Missions, PO Box 534470, Atlanta, GA, 30353-4470 (Please make checks payable to Adventures In Missions and in the memo note please write Heather Miller #NSquad)
3. Monthly donation(s) and one time donations online: Visit my blog site at: www.heathermiller.theworldrace.org Just click the “Support My Next Chapter!” link in the upper left side of the page and complete your donation as instructed. You can set the beginning and end date for either option.
