2 years ago, God set in motion in my heart, in the hearts of others, and in the world something to change the world. I have heard over and over again from my team something along the lines that 2 years ago God did blank…. And set something on my heart. For some it’s been longer for some shorter, but God has definitely been at work recently. For me? Just over 2 years ago, I was on top of the hill behind school pouring my heart out before my God. I cried out to Him Why? Where? What would you have me do? I was so ready to be done with school and to go wherever he wanted me to go. I had dropped all of my classes one week before the semester began and was ready and open to the Lords direction. In that moment, I heard God say “Go back to school. Finish what you started.” I wasn’t happy. I was ready to go anywhere! And it was “Go back” go do again what you’ve been doing the last few years. I returned to school with a new perspective, that now engineering wasn’t just about me but about living for the Lord on campus. It was a small perspective change, but changed everything. But only now, 2 years later, do I realize the beauty and the significance of that moment.
For the longest time my prayer has been “prepare me for your purposes. Teach me your ways” I see now that God has been faithful to do just that, and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. See, 2 years ago, God put it on the heart of AIM to start talking about expedition. To focus in on the 10/40 window and the area of the world where few missionaries would go. To seek out the unreached and begin to reach into those areas. At the same time, I believe God was laying on my heart the same call. But he said not yet, I know you want to go, but not yet. 2 years later, God has been at work in my life and the life of others preparing us for this next journey.
Coming to training camp I had a very cautious heart. I was unsure of Adventures in Missions, unsure of whether or not I was getting myself into something over my head. Unsure of whether I could fully trust the leadership and my team or if I was going to be at conflict in my heart. I was confident that God wanted me to go on the World Race, but I was still wary of what I would find there. I came in with one request: God, win my heart. Win my trust.
Time after time this week, God has brought one area of concern I struggled with in the past and laid it to rest. One after another I watched as God took my doubt and my fear and bashed it against the wall. I felt walls one by one rise up in my heart when I heard words that have hurt me in the past about the Spirit and the Church and Worship and Mission and EVERY SINGLE TIME, I heard the words to put them to rest. I have never felt more Peace in the teaching and direction of leadership at training camp. I’ve never been more sure that God is at work and that His presence rests with our team. I have never been more assured that God is working and has been working for YEARS in advance to put this trip in motion. I have been praying with all my heart for this team for the last 8 months and to finally see, to finally talk with, and to finally live with these people, my new family, has meant more to my heart than anything. I’m not an overly expressive person but deep in my heart there is an overwhelming sense of Joy, Peace, and Love. I know there is going to be struggle, there’s going to be hurt, there’s going to be growth, there’s going to be hard days, but there is going to be so much fruit from the Lord working in and through our lives that there is no way I would want to miss out!
I’ll be posting multiple blogs over the next few weeks on the things God taught me, broke me, corrected me, and loved me at training camp. But for now, there’s only one thing that I want everyone to hear:
Going into training camp I was cautious. Then God won my trust, He earned every square inch of my heart. My team has my full commitment. Leadership has my full trust. God has my full attention. And this trip, this crazy awesome Journey to carry Gods name into some of the darkest and hardest places on the planet?
They all have my resounding YES!
I am absolutely on fire for what God is going to do this next year. He has done, he is currently doing, and he will continue to do remarkable and astounding things for His names sake.
There is a mission, there is a life worth fighting for and I want you all to know that we can be a part of what God is doing in this world. If you’re sitting at home bored and not really impressed with the religion or life you’re living, let me give you a small piece of encouragement. Do ALL that you can to seek the Lord. Do everything it takes to find Him, to grow closer to Him, and to walk with Him.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8
Seek, just do it. Search for the Lord and you will find him. He sets a call in all our hearts “Come find me”
Will you search?
With Faith, Hope, and Love
Nathan
Want to be a part of my journey and support my trip? You can donate right here on my blog at the top of the page ??
605-951-2751
