Once upon a time I was sitting next to my friends in church on a Sunday morning, like I had every Sunday morning for my whole life. But this Sunday was different, a video was projected onto the screen and it immediately drew me in. The video was put up by my friend’s dad. His dad had just made the announcement that his son was going on a nine month mission trip and I was shocked, yet so intrigued.
I was in my sophomore year of highschool so naturally, I hadn’t thought of my future after high school to such an extent. Except that I knew I wanted to go into the medical field, and possibly become a nurse, because everyone else in my family was a nurse, so why shouldn’t I be one?
The video played and the words “those who are set apart” rang through my ears. I immediately started crying while the video played but didn’t know why. Why were tears streaming down my face? Why did I get goosebumps up and down my arms when the words “will you go?” came through the speakers? I didn’t know exactly, but I knew God was trying to get my attention. I quickly wiped the tears off my face so my friends wouldn’t notice, turned to my mom sitting behind me and we gave each other the same look. The look that only a mother and daughter understand that’s between just them two.. A look that says “let’s do this.” Little did I know that during our glance of agreement, just sitting a few pews behind me, my little brother whispered to my mom “Kaylin’s gonna go on that isn’t she?” as he shook his head, (not in disapproval, but more in disbelief). After service I immediately walked up to my mom to about looking more into the program.
So when people asked me the stereotypical question that any junior/senior in highschool gets asked “Where are you going to college? What are your plans after high school?” I’d respond with “yeah I have no idea, I might take a gap year and go live in foreign countries for like 9 months or go to college who knows”. That answer always threw people for a loop. But I still had no idea what I was going to do after high school.
Fast forward to the beginning of senior year. Soccer had been in full force for about a month, friendships were great, senior year was looking as if it was going to be the best yet. I had a free 7th period, therefore creating a “nap time” before practice where my friends and I would go into the locker room and nap on the couch. That was always the best. But then a teacher yelled at us once she found out and told us to go to the college and career center to apply for college scholarships. So we did that for a couple weeks, and then I thought.. “why am I not applying for the race during this time too? It couldn’t hurt, right?”
During this time, our coach and other figures in the school were on our heads to take the SAT, ACT, apply for fafsa, apply for colleges, and to apply for as many scholarships as possible. After one of our pre practice study sessions/college prep meeting we all felt sososo overwhelmed. Why hadn’t they told us all this stuff last year?? I felt like I was drowning in stress and work.
For several days I felt like I was praying non-stop, asking for guidance, asking for a simple sign from God to show me what I needed to be doing. I was so lost to what I should be doing with my life. Was I really just meant to go to college like everyone else? I didn’t want to be like everyone else. I didn’t want to be stuck in Troutdale forever, going to Mt.Hood Community College or as we like to call it Reynolds Community College hahaha. There is nothing wrong with community college, I just didn’t think it was right for me at that time. I needed the confirmation to either continue with these college applications and scholarships or continue with my gap year application. I left it in God’s hands, which eventually made me see God’s hands in everything through this whole process. I used the song Oceans by Hillsong as a prayer through the days of questioning and even today as he leads me in this whole process:
“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders,
Let me walk upon the waters,
Wherever You would call me,
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander,
And my faith will be made stronger,
In the presence of my Savior.”
After only two days of this constant questioning and asking God what he wants of me…he spoke to me. It was definitely not in the way I expected but man did I get the message.
After one of my soccer games, my boyfriend and I picked up some panda express (I know super great healthy thing to be eating after a game) and drove over to watch my friend in her water polo game, ironically, it was at Mt.Hood Community College. After I finished my food I opened my fortune cookie, because of course, you can only open it after you finish your food or it doesn’t come true.The fortune read “ YOU WILL STEP ON THE SOIL OF MANY COUNTRIES.”
My brain while reading the fortune: AHHHHHHHHSJCBREIUBURIWVUREBVUPGVBREUIRIHRVHERVHVBREUW WHAT? THIS IS IT!! AHHHHHHHHHH THIS IS REALLY IT AHHHHHH
Yeah I’m not kidding I really just freaked the heck out. I was so happy!
It seriously makes me laugh when I think about it. Like, OKAY GOD PLEASE BE MORE CLEAR. Hahaha.
So, that’s how I knew this was God’s plan for me… through a fortune cookie. He spoke to me through a fortune cookie from Panda Express, like how cool is that?! That leaves me here, today. Now that I have been accepted into gap year I have so much to do and it’s all been so incredibly great yet overwhelming. I get to be a traveling beam of light in this dark world. I will be living the life I have been dreaming of so so soon and that is seriously so incredible to me. God is so, so good.
Please keep me in your prayers as I prepare for this journey. I look forward to keeping you all updated as I prepare and will keep you informed of fundraising events coming up. If you feel called to contribute to this incredible journey I’m embarking on you can click the “donate” button here on my blog, or even sign up to make monthly donations. So far I have raised a little over 1,000 thanks to you amazing people and I could not be more thankful for it. Stay tuned for my March fundraiser!
Thank you friends!!
–Kaylin
