Following the Lord’s voice and direction is so freeing. I have grown to a place that I am laying everything down at the Lord’s feet and following whatever He tells me. I want to be fully obedient to God, because if I’m not, what am I doing? I am giving the Lord my plans, my future, and my comfort. I know that the Lord is going to ask me to turn certain ways that I won’t fully understand in the moment, but I am here to give the Lord my yes, no matter what it is. I am confident that I hear the Lord’s voice, so I am going to follow Him wherever He guides me.
For a long time I was confusing comfort with peace. I thought that if a decision made me nervous or uncertain that there was no way that it could be something that the Lord could be calling me to. Back when I was in Myanmar, the Lord put on my heart CGA. CGA is a discipleship school for after the Race. It is a place for intentional discipleship, self growth, and taking everything I have learned on the Race and learn how to put it to my life. CGA seemed like something that would be really great for me. Throughout the Race I had the thoughts of “I’m not done growing and I know that the Lord has more to change and develop in me,” and I knew CGA could be a place for that to happen. As I was processing what I wanted to do after the Race, I was so nervous about the idea of CGA. I was all set up to go to Texas Tech University in the fall. I had a dorm room, roommate, orientation date, it just made sense to go there. CGA is some program I had only recently heard about. I knew that it could be good for me, but I was so scared to not meet everyone’s expectations and to not follow the plans I had set up for myself. Everything pointed me to Texas Tech, so out of fear of messing up my plans and expectations, I chose to not do CGA and follow through with Tech in the Fall.
A couple months went by and I had told people that I felt peace about Texas Tech, and that it was the right decision for me. But the truth was that it was comfortable for me to go to Texas Tech. It was normal, perfectly set up for me to carry out this path. Then I went to an event Adventure in Missions puts on when two different squads are in the same location called Awakening. Here God really worked on my heart and told me clearly that I need to go to CGA. I was so scared because I had already made the choice to start college in the fall and I really didn’t want to change my plans. I like college and I am truly excited go. I know I will love college ministry and following my passions for the medical field, but I heard the Lord clearly tell me to go. I was filled with the fear of telling my family of my choice. It didn’t make sense, and how was I going to explain this change of heart? Once I finally was able to say “Ok Lord, I am giving you my yes, even if I don’t completely understand it, I will follow you wherever,” I was able to feel the true peace of the Lord. Peace from the Lord is more than comfort, it is His overwhelming presence and confidence that this is what He has called me to. If we only do what is comfortable we will never grow or join the Lord in the amazing adventure that He has for our lives.
When I called my family to tell them of my choice I was met with wonderful support and love. I told the Lord, “I know that you have called me to CGA, but if my family could be supportive I will know even more that this is what you want me to do, but if they don’t, I still know you have called me there.” So hearing them fully support me, I 100% know that this is what my next steps should be.
CGA, center for global action, will be a time of activating what the Lord has for me. I will live in Gainesville Georgia, where Adventures in Missions is based out of. I will volunteer in the community and attend classes everyday of the week. Where we will be poured into and learn how to bring Kingdom wherever we go. CGA has a saying, “Learn yourself, Lead yourself, Lead others,” and that is exactly what I want to do. I want to be the best version of myself, so I can lead others to Christ and lead them to live Christ filled lives. I will have to raise $5950 but I know that the Lord will provide because He provided the money for the Race and I know He will do it again. My plans now are to start college the spring semester of this next year, where I will major in Biology to eventually go to PA school to become a medical missionary.
As I go through this time please pray for me and that God will grow me into the person He wants me to be. Thank you for each and everyone of you and for the support you have given me.
