April 14, 2017, I was driving to Starbucks to get some paperwork done for work. As I was approaching Starbucks I began feeling overwhelming emotions. I did not want to write another document for my job, I was done. I decided to hook a right into a park nearby and have it out with God through prayer. Desperately, I began asking him to rectify my situation. I told him this does not make sense, all I want to do is love Him and share His love with everyone I am in contact with. At this point, I knew he was calling me to do missions but the vision was blurry. I remember saying, “I know you’re calling me, but where are you calling me and what am I to do? I’m ready now! ” As it became clear to me that I was more frustrated in my prayer than not, I began to thank Him for what He has done thus far and decided to trust His timing and the process. After my prayer, I picked up my phone and of course, Facebook is up. I start scrolling per usual and I see a T-shirt that looked very familiar. I’m not a T-shirt lady but for some reason this T-shirt captured my attention. I got off Facebook and moved to Instagram, there was the T-Shirt again. Now, I’m really intrigued. I realized that one of my random added “friends” was fundraising for a trip called “The World Race”. The T-Shirt read, “ACT. LOVE. WALK. MICAH 6:8.” I then googled, “The World Race” and I learn that it is an 11 months mission trip to 11 countries with the mission of Love. Immediately, I looked up, “God is that you?!” I copied the link and sent it over to a few close friends. Each one responded saying something along the lines of “Wow, your dream occupation does exist”. I decided to take the test. While I’m taking the test, I was in awe of how perfect this race aligned with the mission that was laid on my heart for months. I began reading a little more and I realized that this trip was going to require that I not only quit my state job but to also raise money to go, a lot of money. Then started the prayers again,
“I’m having a hard-time with this, I really don’t want to quit my job. Yes, I’m miserable at work but I can’t walk away from this opportunity. Morally I am not comfortable with leaving a job without having one lined up. This is a stretch…”
In the matter of minutes I went from, “God tell me where you want me to go, I’m ready!” to “Never mind, that is out of my comfort zone financially, my faith does not stretch this far!”
Days went by and I could not stop thinking about the race. I began looking up local missions, or paid opportunities that looked like missions. I even looked to others to see if they could help me figure something out, something in my comfort zone. April 18th, I was called into my assistant director’s office and I was informed that my position was no longer a need for my position at work; I was being laid off in a week. I’m not sure what my facial expression read externally but internally I was cracking up when I heard the news. I thanked her for the heads up and I walked back to my desk feeling relieved of a desolate place and confirmation about the race. I applied to the race and was scheduled to interview May 2nd at 10AM, my birthday.
This birthday was a big deal. It was my first birthday “single” in almost 10 years and for the first time I wanted to be selfish and do something BIG to celebrate me. I was signed up to move into my new apartment that Friday and I’d been planning on throwing a dinner party after I got settled in. Being laid off a couple of weeks prior did not help with my desired celebration but getting accepted to the race was going to be a great birthday gift! At 9:55AM I ran to my car for the interview. My car is my second prayer closet. At 10:02AM my phone rang and with a huge grin I answered the phoned, “Hello!” The interviewer greeted me back and asked about my name pronunciation and we shared a few laughs. She then delivered the news that she was not going to be able to interview me today because she was just made aware that I was legally married. My heart shattered. The tears are rolling and I’m trying to stay composed as much as I possibly can. I wanted to explain everything and I how I just knew God was calling me to do this race but I felt helpless. She was very apologetic to my circumstances but explained that there is an order to the applicants and I did fall under the applicant categories. If I was legally divorced and had been divorced for a year, I would qualify. We prayed before we got off the phone and I asked, “Please, if at all possible, can you see if they would allow an exception?” The interviewer confirmed that she felt lead to ask for an exception herself and we ended the call. Now I’m sobbing in the car. I began praying,
“God, I don’t know what you are doing but whatever you are up to, I will trust you”.
Four hours later I get a call from the leasing office informing that the rent was going up and considering that I had not physically moved in yet, my lease would be effected. She then asks me if I am okay with the new price. Considering that I could be paying a mortgage with the new rate, regretfully I tell her I am not okay with the rate and she advised that I will be receiving a refund for my deposit. I end this phone call yet again, arms lifted (metaphorically) praying,
“I do not know what you are doing but I will trust you”.
Friday is here and instead of moving into my new apartment, I am on my way to Lynchburg, VA to get an overdue legal divorce. I just knew something was going to go askew. Most things dealing with this process has been overly complicated however this process was rather simply and smooth and I thanked God for that blessing. I inform the race that the divorce was finalized and they made the exception with the earliest opportunity for me to go on a race being January 2018. The new interview was scheduled for May 9th. I interview and the interviewers advises me that the team will listen to the interview and collectively decide on my acceptance or not and that I should hear back from them within 5 business days. I also had to provide two references that would give an honest testament of me. Two of my spiritual mentors came straight to mind but I did not want them to be my reference. I thought, “They know my all my ugly!”, and that’s when I knew they were the two for the job. I gave their contact information over and I left it there.
I did not hear back from the race until the end of May. At this point I told myself, “I guess God just wanted to know if he had my “Yes”. One day letter I got the acceptance call! Praise Jesus! But now it is time for me to pick a route. I had in mind that I was going to go on a route that looked similar to the route that I originally chose for the August race, Route 1. I felt uneasy about picking that route. My emotions went from excitement to bothered quickly. I looked up and down at the list of options and nothing was jumping out. I started asking others again, “Which route looks good to you?” I started reasoning, “Maybe I’ll pick the third route with Australia, I’ve always wanted to go to Australia.” Realizing my methods of choosing did not feel confirming I decided to go with method one, pray about it. I prayed and I did not get an immediate answer at all. I even told my advisor that I would give her an answer by a certain date and that date passed and she had not heard from me. I incorporated intentional fasting for this specific need and there was a deadline. I began looking at the routes again and I said to myself, well I guess since Route 1 looks similar to my original choice I’ll tell her that one. I get on the phone with my advisor and I explain to her that I am still having a hard time choosing a Route but I guess I’ll go with Route 5! She explains to me that Route 4 is the Fusion Route and explains that the Fusion route is different than all the other routes as it requires a daily sensitive ear to God’s voice and direction and it is has an increased cultural diversity. Two things that I love, God and culture! She advises that in order to go on a Fusion Route, I may need to interview again and take a test. I felt this process was dragged on long enough and I explained, well if that’s the case put me down for Route 1. I don’t even think she heard me. A week later I was notified that I was officially accepted to the Fusion Route without needing to take the test or schedule a second interview because my first was interview was sufficient enough! Praise be to God!
So Friends and Family, here is my official public announcement:
In January of 2018, I will joining The World Race to go where God is clearly calling me! I am asking for your prayers as I prepare for this next season and if you can and feel impressed to help fund me on this mission (tax deductible). My next blog post will explain more about the countries that I will be visiting and the needs therein.
