Has there ever been a time in your life when you are running full force towards what you thought God was calling you to, just to have what seems like everything fall a part? Yeah… I have one of those stories and I feel like it is about time I share it with all of you.
Just about a month and a half ago some of my family came into town and we decided we wanted to go to a trampoline park to have some fun and just bond since we haven’t seen each other in a while. I was feeling very excited to spend some time with my family (if I’m being honest I was ready to get my ninja warrior on as well!), but I also was a little sad because I know this could possibly be one of the last times I get to see them before I would leave to go on the race. Little did I know that one simple trip to a trampoline park would change the way I view life entirely.
We got into the trampoline park and started having some fun jumping around, but I wasn’t doing anything too crazy out of fear of hurting myself… not even 5 minutes later I jumped onto a trampoline and felt my knee pop twice.
The few things that followed were a tremendous amount of pain and fear… I knew from the moment I first felt my knee pop things were going to be different. I was lying in the foam pit (wondering how I was going to get out of this thing because I can barely move… talk about scary… I could have died in the foam pit haha) and all I could think about was the World Race.
I had no idea the extent of the damage I had done, but I just knew I wasn’t going to be able to launch in August… a few doctors visits came and went and I found out I tore my ACL, MCL, and also have multiple meniscus tears. If I’m being completely honest I was wrecked…
It took me a few weeks to realize that this wasn’t something God was doing to me… he didn’t abandon me, but I wasn’t really willing to listen to the things he was trying to show me unless things in my life changed (I want to be clear I don’t believe God caused this injury to put me in pain or to hurt me, but this injury has allowed me to hear and listen to him in completely new and amazing ways I’m so grateful for!).
Super long story short, I will be needing surgery to repair my knee in July and the recovery is very long (usually around 9-12 months to be back to 100%!!)… because of this I will not be launching on the World Race in August, but I know God is still calling me to go on the race and serve him in a life of missions.
I am eagerly waiting on God’s timing knowing that his plans are more perfect that any I could come up with. My prayer is that I launch in June or August of 2019, but this time I believe I will view the World Race and ultimately view the “mission” completely differently.
In the meantime my plan is to continue serving God where he has currently placed me because I know he is not done with me here yet. The most valuable lesson I have learned during this time is that your missions field isn’t where you are going, it is where God has currently blessed you with being.
There is so much ministry to do everywhere you look, and I think I was missing out on so many opportunities to minister to others where I am because I was too focused on looking ahead. I encourage all of you today if you feel the same was I do, knowing you are called to a life of international missions, not to be so focused on where God is calling you that you miss what God is doing through you where you currently are placed.
I’m super excited for this next year… I know God has some big plans for my life and I’m ready to serve him in whatever ways he calls me to. Will you join me and serve him where you are?
