PVT.Parent Vision Trip. Amazingly hard
My parents got to come to Guatemala in September to spend 5 days with my squad on the mission field. We got to go out and minister in the community and each other. It was an experience I will cherish forever.
So throughout the WR I have seen tremendous growth. It’s insane to look back and see that change in me, and the ability to share these experiences with friends and family through my posts, stories and blogs. But mostly with my mom.
My parents have always been great examples of serving the Lord but during PVT they got to serve In a different way, out of the norm for them and it was incredible. On the first day we installed stoves for homes in a small village. The stoves will help ventilate the smoke from filling the room and causing health issues with breathing. It also enclosed the flame so no child will be hurt by an open fire. While working that morning this woman Sat in a chair and observed the work being done. I noticed a large white spot in her eye and thought she was blind. She Just sat there and didnt smile regardless of how many times I shot her a smile of encouragement. When we were done, we were asked to pray for her eye sight and knee pain. So Jess and I bent down to pray while our parents observed. I was still hesitant of healings. I’ve seen them and know they happen but I was still holding onto some doubt. But we prayed and prayed hard.. Skeptical and feeling a little awkward doing this in front of my mom and dad I took it with a grain of salt when she said she felt a little better. But we prayed again. This time I invited my parents into it with us, and they joined!
I just kept telling Jesus I knew it was possible, I read about the miracles everyday when I open my bible, or hear stories of others who have been a part of them. I pleaded with the Lord to work through us, to heal this women if it was his will, to take away all doubts and hesitation I was holding onto. And he did. When I opened my eyes, I physically saw the white spot on her eye begin to shrink. She was asked again, this time with a test. Before we prayed she couldn’t see due to the cloudiness in her eye, this time our translator took a step back and held up a number with his fingers.. and she got it right. Over and over again with a smile on her face.
My mom stayed with Jess and I while we prayed again. After, I was shaking! I expressed how I have witnessed alot this year but I’ve never experienced a healing this remarkable. My mom replied with “He was waiting for me.”
And it hit home.
My heart fluttered and i knew she was so right! What a remarkable experience God CHOSE to allow me to share with the most important people in my earthly life. It was later in the day confirmed by AIM staff that they too saw her thinking she was blind when we first got there and then the difference in her before we left! How amazing!
So the next night I was asked to say a few words, share a story, a testimony or lesson. I had been talking to my mom about reading my blog I Am Chosen. I told her that the experiences mentioned in the blog about my struggle with hearing Gods voice really helped me open up to her. Honestly before then, I didn’t feel comfortable talking to her about a lot of what was going on because i just didn’t think she’d understand. But she did.
I opened up and and she spoke so much life into me. She told me about times the Lord has spoken to her in different ways. That it’s the little things he does, it’s honestly just accepting that it is him nudging you. It’s realizing when it’s him trying to speak to you. She told me a story about how he used others to speak to her which helped save her faith, which ultimately helped strengthen mine through her story.
While sitting at the table during dinner, my heart started to race. As I sit there reading my blog in my head, trying to gain confidence to be vulnerable in front of all these parents and racers, I’m thinking about the key that Austin had given me before launch. This key inspired my blog and helped me grow and heal. I remembered how it had impacted my journey, but also how I’m supposed to give this key away. I have come to acknowledge that I Am Chosen, but who needs to know that THEY are chosen!? Who needs to be reminded, who needs to learn and grow in knowing that God has always chosen them and always will?
Well that’s when I ran into my room to find that key. God was telling me that tonight was the night.
I read my blog about hearing and listening to Gods voice. I read about my doubts and my feelings of not being equipped for this job and my fears. But I also read about redemption, obedience, faith and growth. I ended with talking about that first day of ministry mentioned above and the amazing healing I got to witness. How much of a blessing it was to be able to share that with my parents, regardless of doubts, fears and skepticism.
I then told everyone about my mom:
“My mom is strong
She’s faithful
She’s a fighter
She’s curious
She’s open hearted
And she is so very much chosen.
GOD WANTS MY MOM TO HAVE THIS KEY AND KNOW SHE IS CHOSEN. “
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house that night. I didn’t mean to make a scene out of it, I felt bad bringing all the attention to my mom but the strings pulling on my heart would not give way till I did it! And it was beautiful.
I ran over to hug her and put on the necklace. She courageously stood up and explained how she felt chosen and knew God was fighting for her. Today she is almost 4 years cancer free after being told she shouldn’t have survived. He fought for her. He truly does leave the 99 and chose her! What an incredible testimony of God’s love and grace! I couldn’t think of a better person to receive that necklace. I’m excited to see what comes out of her prayers for the meaning of this key and at some point when she finds a person in need of knowing they are chosen as well..how impactful that will be when she gives that key away! She has a beauyiful testimony. She was chosen to have the story she holds, the experiences she went through, the hardships and joys she concurred to impact others, and help them understand how God has moved mountains in her life and brought her where she is today! Our story is not ours to claim, it is His!
The small key with the word Chosen on it is more than a word and isn’t for just one person. Being chosen is what the Lord wants everyone to know. We were all chosen, incredibly uniquely and beautifully made. We didn’t choose him, he chose us ! He wants is all to go and bear fruit.. to share his love, be his hands and feet and not stay stagnant (John 15:16)
No matter what path your life is taking you right now, no matter where you have been in the past, he has called you by name! (Isaiah 43:1)
You are Chosen.
PVT was hard. But it was beautiful and incredible and now we get to hold incredible testimonies we can share together for a lifetime. Who knows what the Lord has in store for us in the future, but I do know that PVT helped light a fire in all of us to do more!
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But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you O Israel, fear not for i have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1
Now the weird of the Lord came to me saying, before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you, I appointed yoi a prophet to the nation’s. Jeremiah 1:4-5
You did not choose me, but I chose you. That you should go and bear fruit and that you’re fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the father in my name, he bday give it to you. John 15:16
