The Office. Season 4. Episode 14. Minute 6:46. In this scene from The Office, Pam and Jim are officially together and are thriving. Pam decides to apply to an art school out of state and when she gets in, she and Jim have to decide on whether or not she should go. If she were to go, she and Jim would be apart for 3 months and because they were new to the relationship, this would put it to the test. Pam and Jim discuss it and finally come to the conclusion that the opportunity is too good to pass up. So, with a heavy heart Jim agrees and says,
“It’ll [be hard] , but it’ll be great.”
I understood what he was saying, but never understood the message that it conveyed. I understood what it was like to miss loved ones, but never for longer than 3 weeks. That’s why, now, more than ever, I relate to The Office. Jim was exactly right, this will be hard. I will have to push myself and solely rely on God to get me through it. I will have to be mentally tough. I will have to control my emotions because I can’t control my circumstances. I will have to choose Jesus everyday. I will have to fight. Oh boy, what a fight well worth it.
I have officially been on the field for about 4 days and I think I am now qualified to say that this will genuinely be the best 9 months of my entire life. Not because everything is going to be great all the time, but because it won’t be. It is going to be hard. I will want to come home. I will miss chick-fil-a, but because of everything I miss, I won’t miss out on anything that God has for me. Within the past few days, God keeps reminding me that I am here in order to find my place in His will. In John 1, THE VOICE, John (the Apostle) writes about how Jesus will soon be coming and rather than baptizing people in water, like John the Baptist , Jesus will be baptizing people in The Spirit. Many people thought that John the Baptist was the Messiah and some even praised him for the work he was doing. Even many religious leaders thought he was the “chosen one” but, despite all of the praise, not once did John ever take credit for the work that God was doing. Instead, the Bible talks about how because John KNEW his place in GOD’S WILL, John was able to point people TO the way; the way being Jesus. This is my prayer now and for the rest of my life.
Getting here was one of the longest and hardest journeys that I’ve ever experienced. No, I’m not talking about the 50+ hours of travel to get to Chang Mai, I’m talking about my walk with Jesus. Before I left, I made a deal with my parents that after The Race, I would go straight to college, but at Launch, right before I said goodbye, they told me that if God calls me to something else next year, then I need to follow Him. Giving God complete and utter control; being at His disposal? Yeah, that’s incredibly intimidating , but how could I not want to follow a God that fights for what is good, pure, just, and right. At launch, one of our speakers, Bob Mudd, said,
“Sometimes you have to drop your shoulder and push back against oppression. It’s not romantic, you have to shove and be tough and ready to fight.”
Amen, Bob. And that is precisely what I am ready and called to do. I am ready to be the voice for others that don’t have one. I am ready to fight for what is good, even in the face of defeat. I am ready to know my place in God’s will.
Adonai, I am at your disposal and ready to find my place in Your will. Whatever You call me into, whatever adventure You have for me next, I am ready. I am ready, willing, and able.
It’s insane to think that God has revealed so much to me already. I hope you continue to follow my journey. I want to share a few more things that I have learned while being here in Chang Mai.
-
My team and my ministry is manual labor and to be honest, at first, it was hard for me to enjoy. We are working with one man, s/o to you David, and we basically unload these huge packets of books, count them and then reload them. In the beginning, it was hard to see how this was ministry at all, but then I had the realization that these books are going to people. These books will be in the hands of people just like me. I have been fortunate enough to know Jesus for majority of my life and if me working for 6 hours a day in the heat will help others come to know Jesus as I do, how more worth it could it be? I have so much joy in Jesus and the fact that these books have the potential to let others have the same joy that I have, now that’s what I call ministry.
-
Knowing that I am where I am supposed to be is the most fulfilling thing I have ever expierenced. Knowing that God called me and I was able to answer, I don’t know if I could ever convey how I feel in words. I was able to do this because I have so many supporters at home and holy cannoli am I grateful.
P.S. Chang Mai is amazing. My squad is amazing. My team is amazing. Jesus is amazing.
P.P.S (if you know, you know) If you are considering doing The World Race, do it. Take a leap. If you are waiting on God to give you a sign to go, this is that sign. He is calling each and everyone of us to follow him. John Piper once said,
“You are either a Christian, or God is calling you to be one.”
Thank you so much for reading and continuing to support me on this journey. If you feel lead, I am only about $3,000 away from being fully funded, please feel free to donate at the top of this page. Thank you for giving me something so valuable, your time. I hope that this encourages you to have a “YES” in your spirit when it comes to God.
Blessings, Presley.
