With the new year beginning I thought this would be a good time to share my story and share what I hope for the year of 2020 to look like!
So lets start from the beginning. I was raised in church as a kid. Super involved in church up until the last year or so. My family was super dedicated to going to church and they always made sure we were there for everything: Awana, Sunday School, morning worship, revival, etc. During college I experienced some really difficult things. I continued to go to church but was less involved due to me attending schools outside of where Ive grown up.
My first year of college I attended Gardner-Webb University and thought it would be home to me for the next 4 years but the Lord had other plans. I went through a time of partying due to poor choices of friends which led to lots of disappointments and loneliness. So after my first year I returned home and went to CVCC (community college in Hickory) for a semester. I had never planned to attend CVCC and honestly it was a hard semester. I was living back at home. Working 40+ hours a week all while doing school. For anyone who has made the transition to live at home after being away knows how difficult that is! Not only was that aspect difficult but community college is SO different than University. The community is much harder to find so I spent that semester unhealthy pouring myself into work and school. I then transferred to Appalachian State. I was there for the spring semester of my Sophomore year. Anyone who knows App State in the “Spring” knows that it snows a TON at the beginning of the semester. So this was another hard transition. When transferring in the Spring it is hard to find community because most students are already established. So my semester at App State ended up being my hardest semester yet. I spent a lot of time closed up in my dorm room- which of course became super unhealthy. So at the end of that semester I came home for the summer with plans to return there in the fall, because I was NOT transferring again, well once again the Lord had other plans. Financial aid fell through and I was not able to return to App State. This all happened late July and classes would start in August so I was completely unsure of what to do. So I applied to Liberty University Online and that is where I have been since my Junior year. I have finally attended 4 consecutive semesters at the same college (YAY). BUT through all of this I am still graduation on time! I will graduate in May with a Bachelors in Christian Ministry. My time at Liberty has grown me in many ways! I have had to be pretty discipled to be able to do all of my schooling online.
During the fall semester (2019) I went through some major trauma. I was sexually assaulted by someone that I do not know. This has now become a big part of my story and even had an impact on my journey with the World Race. I am still learning to recover and leaning on special resources and the people around me.
The past four years are a huge part of my story because I have been stretched, grown, and been through some super difficult things that have made me who I am.
Before college my life was pretty simple. I was the nice girl from a small town that attended church every chance she got. When I was 15 I went on my first mission trip to Canada. I knew then that the Lord was calling me to the mission field. Through all of the transition and change over the last several years the one thing that has remained is my desire and call to the mission field.
This is a fairly short version of my story but I felt I should share with all of you so that you can know my heart more. The last year the Lord has spoken to me to be more vulnerable. Be more open with people so that I can learn to trust people. So here I am being super vulnerable with all of you who choose to read this.
I want you to know my heart so that you can know Jesus’ heart. The last four years were difficult and made me who I am but have most importantly shaped my relationship with the Lord. Through all of this Jesus has been constant. Each day I learn more of the heart of Jesus. This is why I want the rest of the world to know His heart too. So I am choosing to spend 11 months on the mission field so that others around the world can know the heart of Jesus and experience His love and grace.
So in the start of the new year I hope to continue to be more vulnerable. I hope to be open to receiving the grace of Jesus more and more. And I hope I continue to grow. I am excited for all that the Lord has in store for 2020.
Thank you for reading! Check out my other posts as well! Please continue to be in prayer for me and my squad members!
