H E L L O and W E L C O M E friends.
First of all. You don’t understand how many times I’ve watched myself pressing the delete button deleting everything I’ve thought out a billion maybe a trillion times. I’ve been searching for the perfect words to share with you, but golly Its never going to be perfect. so, here we go.
My name is Olivia Fluhr, and I am currently a senior at South Oldham High School in Louisville, Kentucky. One of the many joyous things that comes with being a senior is the constant questions like “Where are you going to school next year? Whats next for you? Do you know what you want to do?” and man oh man, let me tell ya what the Lord has planned for me.
As many students graduate high school, college is the next step for them, but God has allowed me instead to take a different route. Crazy enough, I feel jumping straight back into school in the fall is not what God is calling me to do.
Come September, I will embark on The World Race Gap Year, a nine-month mission trip run by an organization called Adventure In Missions. The mission trip consists of a team of fifty-five missionaries, split into eight “squads” to go out and spread God’s love to four countries for nine months. We will remain in Costa Rica and Ecuador for three months each, and Thailand and Malaysia for one and a half months each. In those squads, we will stay in host homes of fellow believers who live out passionate lives for God in their countries. Our host home parents will have different jobs for us around their communities. The tasks assigned may range in kind and difficulty in what they will require from us. From aiding clinics and teaching English, to disaster relief, street evangelism, and prostitute outreach. Ultimately, we will be jumping in heart first to serve people to bring Jesus’ name into the light.
Ever since I got back from my first mission trip to Kenya, there has been this constant whisper that continues to say, “there must be more.” There must be more in this life for me. There must be more in store for this plan God has for me. While in Romania, on my second mission trip, I felt a peace from the Lord in knowing that I was following where he was leading me. I remember the feeling I can only describe as an unmeasurable amount of joy as I was serving children and their families around their community. I prayed over and over, “God use me, send me, in any way you can.” He has made more for me, and He is leading me through my journey. My heart had been shaped and molded while in Kenya and Romania, and that sweet taste of loving others and serving them to further God’s kingdom changed my heart forever. There is no better time than now to aid in the opening of heaven on earth. There’s a feeling of joy for serving people in my heart that I will can not shake loose, and going on this nine month mission to learn how to walk as Jesus walked is all becoming possible by the Lord.
The backbone of Adventure In Missions (AIM) is Matthew 10:8, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” Encouraging us to live our lives with open hearts, open hands, and open minds to pour love and grace into people all across the globe. That is how Adventure in Missions seeks to serve, and I couldn’t agree more.
Man, some of this actually seems kinda crazy, actually super crazy. I’m leaving all things comfy and all things normal for nine whole months. I’ve had this insane dream to go on this mission for so long…anyone who is friends with me knows that. I might talk about it too much…OH WELL.
I do have to say I’m going to miss a whole lot of things while I’m gone. My family, amazing friends, my home, my dogs, and the comfort of life here. But who is to say all of that won’t be waiting for me when I get back? No better time than now to jump into serving people heart first. The Lord has paved this path for me and is making all things possible. My emotions are all over the place, but I am choosing right now to be obedient in this, and trusting that God has it all in his hands.
God uses everything, and everyone, to make all things possible, and I know that he will use every ounce of support and love I receive from you to send me to serve. Anyone, anywhere is more than welcome to contact me with any questions you may have or if you just wanna talk, I’m soooo down for that too. Conversation, hugs, prayers, thoughts, donations, don’t be afraid.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, for taking time out of your day to read this and hopefully understand exactly where my heart is in this great journey that is to come in September. Dreams do come true…dream dream dream.
