Looking back over the past 22 years of my life, it is amazing to see how God has not only prepared my heart for The World Race, but my parents’ hearts as well.
From as early as elementary school, I have always felt called to long-term missions. Looking back to eight-year-old Emily Ann, I’m not sure at the time I completely understood what that meant for my life to come and neither did anyone around me. All I knew at the time, there were all of these places around the world, filled with children and adults that needed food, water, clothes, but more importantly they needed Jesus!
I remember vividly walking around a big white tent set up in the parking lot of my church filled with missionaries from all over the world who each had a different story.
I remember being amazed, thinking to myself “I cannot wait until I am old enough to do something like this.”
I remember being confused when I learned of families with children the same age as myself on the mission field in another country.
One Sunday afternoon, I asked my mom why were we not missionaries in a third world country. Through the eyes of a little girl, I thought so many people all over the world are starving and ill and more importantly need Jesus.
We don’t have time to waist.
We need to help.
We need to do something.
Fast forwarding to my senior year of high school, this desire in my heart had still not gone away. At the time, I thought my calling to long-term missions would look a little different, such as I would go on the mission field after I became a nurse and got married.
Fast forwarding to my senior year of college, God has completely wrecked all of “my plans.” But I know one thing to be truer than ever, God wrecking “my plans” is one of the best things to ever happen to me.
Every time I think I am not brave enough or even really good enough to do what God has set before me, I think back to eight year old Emily Ann who was fearless and eager for the day she would be given the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus all over the world! One thing God has really been teaching me over the past few weeks is to be BRAVE! I am learning being brave doesn’t always mean not being scared, it just means being willing to say yes to what God has set before you, even if it does make you scared and nervous.
Joshua 1:9 says “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
God always provides.
And He will provide peace and comfort if we just ask!
He has brought me this far and I know without a doubt as long as I lean on Him, He will carry me through the rest!
Chasing after Jesus,
Emily Ann
