For those of you that don’t know this is the third time I’ve tried to go on this specific trip. So here’s the summary.
Attempt 1: It was spring of 2016 and I had just graduated college. Just getting settled into the new world of a life without school. I had known this trip was something I wanted to do for years and it seemed like a good time to do it. So I began the application process. Long story short it was not the time for me to do it and I never finished applying. I was considering grad school, was in a new community of people, and my walk was growing in a way it never had before. I was not feeling confident about uprooting my life at that point when I was finally getting comfortable. A feeling I never felt in college.
Attempt 2: Its now spring of 2018. I had been with my current company for a year. I was new in this profession and saw myself potentially growing with this company long term. Figured, best to take a break now while I’m young and before I get in to deep. My passion for this trip never went away and I was feeling fired up that this was my time. I applied for January 2019 Expedition, and was accepted!!!!!!!! Long story short my company did not take the idea well and told me it was not going to work. I was extrmely discouraged and was just trying to figure out if this was a closed door or just an obstacle.
Attempt 3: After I updated my trip advisor on the situation she offered me the option of an extension. Allowing me to transfer my acceptance, and a spot on hold for a August 2019 route. I was extremely conflicted with things still not being resolved with my job. Asking myself, “Risk it all and lose a stable job with great pay and benefits, or go on this trip and come back to nothing?” Everyone in my life was genually telling me to stay. People kept using the words, “Logical”, “Smarter”and “Safer”. Still unconfident I went on a mission trip to Uganda in December. Long story short, God slapped me in the face on this trip telling me that my faith was POOR! I came back with a new persepective and stepped out on faith with my job, and God showed up. Over and Over again.
Needless to say its been a long time coming. Now im trying not to be stressed by the fact that im super behind and still have to raise about 18k in 6months. But after witnissing the way God undoubtably showed out for me in the past 3 months, im going to try and stay strong in my faith that he will work it all out. When I announced that I was going earlier this month the response was really overwhelming. Sure I had to be accepted but I wasn’t expecting people to congratulate me. I don’t know what I was expecting actually lol. For so long this trip was a possibility. Now its actually real and im still mentally preparing:)
Moral of this blog is:
Gods timing is everything and having faith in that is key!
No amount of money or stability this world tries to convince you is important in your 20somethings (or ever), is worth the spiritual strain of not walking in your purpose. I may come back to the states with “Nothing”, but as long as I have the Lord I will have “Everything”.
-Jewel<3
Special Thanks To Everyone Who:
Reached out with such kind words, who are reading, who have donated, who commited to donate on a monthly basis, who have shared my post and people who have told others about me and what im doing. It means more than you know!
