I was so lost for a long time, wandering around, wondering who I was supposed to be. Hopelessness, bitterness, sadness, and hurt defined me. But then, I was introduced to the radical love of Jesus, and everything changed. I went to Haiti on a mission trip in 2017, but there was no good motives behind it. I was going just to say that I’d gone and to post the pictures on Instagram. But something shifted in me on that trip, and the person that went to Haiti and the person that came back were not the same. A veil was lifted. There was a dark shroud around me that was burned off when I came into the presence of the Lord one night in that country.
I remember knowing that night that everything had changed. My eyes were opened and I couldn’t stop crying because I was SO happy. It was nighttime when I got saved, but I felt like the sun was rising inside of me. A wave of peace and joy settled on me and haven’t left since.
On the trip back to America, I was reading the Bible for the first time in a very long time and this verse jumped out at me: “He called you out of darkness to experience His marvelous light, and now He claims you as His very own. He did this so that you would broadcast His glorious wonders throughout the world.” (1 Peter? ?2:9?) I remember squirming in my seat on the airplane and just wanting to shout that He saved me. He called me into His marvelous light and it is SO breathtaking.
And yet, sacrifice was required. That was something that has been evident from the moment He revealed Himself to me – sacrifice is necessary. I cannot be complacent. Right off the bat I had to give up things I didn’t want to give up, and it was apparent that a lot was going to be asked of me. And rightfully so – that’s why He pulled me out of darkness. He has big plans for me.
He immediately asked me to start loving people harder: Being kind, being gentle, but also stepping up and being bold in my faith. I heard about the World Race pretty shortly after being saved and knew that I was called to go. I didn’t (and still don’t) exactly know how everything is going to come together to result in me getting there fully-funded, but I know everything will work out perfectly.
I’m not afraid of what people think or what I don’t know or what I’m unprepared for or the finances that I don’t have. I want to run into everything heart-first, with a peace that surpasses understanding. I have so much faith that all things work together to make possible what God has called me to. In the meantime, I’m working on looking more and more like love – showing people the same kind of love that He showed me. I want to spread the good news here and now, and show people that marvelous light that was revealed to me.
