God is in the business of confirming what He has spoken, and making dreams come true…
Let me tell you my story.
As a child I can remember hearing about teams from my church traveling to help build homes, and asking my mom if I could go. Of course she explained to me that I was much too young, but when I was old enough then I could certainly do something like that. Much of my childhood was filled with imagining in my head what it would be like when I was finally old enough to go. Visions of Africa filled my thoughts, from running in the red dirt, to dancing with kiddos, to living alongside the locals; I longed for the day when I would be able to join a team and go serve and love.
In my 8th or 9th grade year as my family and I looked for a new church to call home, we spent 2-3 weeks at one particular church and they announced an informational meeting for a mission trip happening later that week. I told my parents how much I wanted to go, and they came with me to the meeting. As we left, I was absolutely ecstatic at what I’d heard about. I mean, I was ready to pack my bags and head for Costa Rica tomorrow! We discussed and processed some of the details as a family, and even had a private meeting with the leaders of the trip. But after another couple weeks my parents sat down with me and explained that there wasn’t a way for me to go. The finances weren’t there and neither of them could accompany me since I was a minor. I went home a re-read my book ‘Kisses From Katie’ and dreamt more of the day when I could go somewhere… anywhere.
After high school, I began attending Destiny International School of Ministry where my school director shared about his home country of India and how he would take teams there for missions trips. I’d never really thought of India much before, aside from one of my middle school youth leaders sharing photos of a trip he took there. I was pretty set on feeling pulled toward Africa. But the more I learned about it, the more God moved in my heart for India and I told Jeshu that I was going to go with him. Three years later in 2017, I spent three weeks in India and I’ve never been the same. India captured my entire heart so deeply that to this day I am still unable to put it into words.
Now as I am preparing to take my World Race journey, things have been shifted and moved and adjusted due to Covid. In the midst of the uncertainty, God quietly but strongly spoke to me that my team and I would head to Africa. My heart leapt at this but I didn’t know what He meant. However I wrote it down, and I held it near to my heart without sharing to anyone what I’d heard. My original route was scheduled to begin in Costa Rica; a fulfillment of the trip I couldn’t take in early high school. When I chose last month to defer to the January 2021 classic route, it meant letting go of Costa Rica, which wasn’t all that difficult honestly. The new route I chose travels to Africa though, and I knew God had used what he spoke to me about Africa a month prior to confirm my choice. Later after I had committed to this new route, I found out that, again due to Covid, we’re taking a more regional approach to traveling and we will be starting in Costa Rica! When I tell y’all I CRIED. Wheeeew!! I was blown away. Wow Jesus, you’re fulfilling TWO dreams in one for me. How do I even deserve this?!
Little did I know, He wasn’t done yet. Just the other day while talking with some of my squad mates on a zoom call, I found out that we are also going to India on this route. Maaaaan, when I tell y’all I cried again and still cry just thinking about it. He knows me so so well. He knows my heart and when I start to doubt that this trip is for me, He is SO FAITHFUL to confirm over and over again what He is asking me to step into. I couldn’t have ever in my wildest imagination pictured that this World Race trip would be a fulfillment of 3 dreams that are so near and dear to my heart. But what an incredible God I serve.
I’m honored, humbled, and delighted to embark on this journey with Him, with my squad mates, and with AIM.
With love,
Laina
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading! I hope hearing this aspect of my story has brought you joy and encouragement. There are times when it can be really hard to believe that God wants to fulfill your dreams and desires. I know it’s often easy for me to slip into thinking that “these kinds of things” only happen for other people and not for me. However, I’m living proof and a walking testimony that He loves to bless His kids. You are fully known and loved by the creator of the universe, and He made you with specific and unique dreams and desires. Your identity isn’t defined by anyone around you, by the world, or even by your parents. Your identity is a child of God and He loves you so much that His son died so that you could live in eternity with Him. So remember that you’re loved, chosen, and highly favored even when everything in life feels like it is the opposite. Blessings!
