When most people think of what it means to take a gap year, they typically think of someone taking one after they graduate high school before they start college. I guess that makes me a little different. I have finished two years at the University of Georgia.
Before God called me to this upcoming 9 months of ministry, it seemed like I finally had “all my ducks in a row”, or so I thought. God had different plans. I had been accepted into my major, I’d joined clubs pertinent to the degree I was pursuing and I even had an internship at Athens Habitat for Humanity. From the outside my life looked pretty good. I was “going places in the world.” Beneath it all I still had an itch for more. I was involved in my student ministry, the University of Georgia Wesley Foundation and felt as though I was pursuing the Lord on a daily basis, but somehow it wasn’t enough. Serving the Lord internationally is something that has always been on my mind. I even had plans to apply to go on the World Race after undergraduate school. When I went on a backpacking trip back in October, it allowed God the space in my heart and mind He needed to speak to me. He made it very clear that despite my “going places in the world”, I was on a path upon which I would ultimately end up all to far away from Him. Even if I had the intentions of applying to the World Race (or partnering with another ministry program) after under-grad, He knew all of the internships, job hunting and commitments that would clutter and take over my Type A mind if He didn’t do something. I am so thankful He did, because it would have happened to me without ever consciously realizing it.
So, God called me out of my comfort zone and I couldn’t say no. There was no turning back. There was no pretending there was not a fire burning in my soul to go and partner with God in taking the gospel to the nations. There was no going “back to normal.”
I felt crazy. School had been my everything for 13 years. I (by God’s grace) had worked so hard to get into UGA and there I was considering leaving school. For weeks (and sometimes even still) my thoughts were torn. I would have moments of clarity where it made perfect sense to me to follow the Lord. Sitting in a classroom after the convictions I’d felt would be criminal to do. For every moment of clarity I had regarding this decision, I had about 5 moments of confusion and uncertainty, but God fought for me. He would not let me rest until I wholeheartedly surrendered and decided to trust He would provide for and change me in all of the ways He needed to. Every time I would have a moment of doubt there would be a rainbow (the biblical symbol of God’s promise), an out-of-the blue phone call from the World Race recruiting team, a phone call or a conversation with a friend who told me exactly what I needed to hear or a bible verse/ article about being bold and fearless on my Facebook feed.
So I stopped asking questions. I trusted my magnificent God and I took a step in faith. There have of course been trials thus far and I am sure there will be trials to come, but God has given me so much joy and peace despite all of it and He will continue to do so. God’s greatness and glory defies all circumstances. I am so thankful for this wonderful opportunity to serve in Thailand, Cambodia, Guatemala, Honduras and Ethiopia and for all of you who are choosing to partner with me prayerfully, emotionally and financially. I am so excited to experience and share all that God is doing and will do in my life, the lives of my future teammates and in the world!
