So I have been avoiding writing my first blog post like the plague becasue, quite honestly, I have been pretty nervous about it. So for those of you who are going to be following along on my blog with me, please be patient with me as I figure all of this out.
HOW I GOT TO THIS POINT…
I guess I can go all the way back to the beginning. When I was 16, I had been telling my parents how I wanted to go to Africa. It was just a small desire that I had talked about quite a bit, and my parents listened. I got home from a weekend school trip, and my mom had a package for me. It was a package about a summer mission trip to Kenya with Be Free Revolution.
I got so excited. I immediately made plans to go and begged my parents to let me do it. Of course, they were concerned about the finances; but they supported me. God poured into me from so many different people: strangers, friends, and family alike. My trip was funded so quickly and it was outstanding.
On June 8th, I boarded the plane that took me to the country where I discovered God’s calling for my life. In Raui, Kenya, I fell in love with missions. I knew this is exactly what I needed to do. I knew that I was made to serve Christ by serving people for the rest of my life.
Crazy though, I was not saved. I thought I was and believed I had been since I was a young child. January of 2017, I went on a believer’s weekend and realized that I wasn’t truly following Christ. I was saved this past January! (PRAISE THE LORD)
Amidst all this, my family was going through an enormous season of change. We had recently moved from a church that I had been attending my entire life and I was not excited about it. Quite honestly, I had a horribly rotten attitude about it. One of my families dearest friends got a job at the new church and was pointing out people to us. He pointed at the youth pastor and he saw us. It was super awkward and everyone around was embarrsed, but yet again God proved faithful. In that conversation, the youth pastor invited me to go on a mission trip he was leading to Nicaragua.
I went to Nicaragua in May. This trip was so different from my Kenya trip. I was still in love with the people and missions, but my heart was different. This time I was more in love with my Savior than just the actual idea of missions. It was better, it was right, and it was exactly what God had called me to do.
So as I was preparing for my future and planning out what I was going to do after I graduate highschool, I was not stressed or worried but I was not at peace about where I should be. I had been accpeted to two colleges and really liked them. I had plans to attend Union University, but I never really prayed all that much about it. One day, I was online researching some stuff about missions (because I planned to minor in missions wherever I went to college). I ended up on Adventure In Missions website and started really looking into what the World Race truly was. I know a couple people who have gone so it had always intrigued me, but I just started praying so much about it. It was constantly on my mind and when I felt God telling me yes, I applied right away. Throughout the application process, I was nervous all the time. I wanted this so badly and I was so scared. Then I interviewed. Let me tell you, IT WAS AWFUL! I stumbled over my words constantly and I was so nervous so I was shaking the whole entire time. After the interview I was crushed quite honestly. I just knew that I was not going to be accepted becasue I am the worst interviewer in the world.
BUT, God doesn’t need me to be an eloquent speaker. Moses had a speech impediment and God used him to SAVE HIS PEOPLE!
God proved himself faithful. I received my acceptance call and I was seriously over the moon. God has proven himself faithful over and over again in my story. I am incredibly thankful and am more than excited to begin this journey.
With love,
K
