As I write this, I’m sitting in Hobby airport about to board a plane to nanny for the same family I did before leaving for the Race. The words I type can’t possibly convey how excited I am to see their little faces and smother them in hugs and kisses. It will certainly be a tear-filled reunion.
A driver picked me up this afternoon (job perks- super cool, I know), and before long, we got to talking. It came up that I just got back from this year long mission trip, and of course, he asked if I was Mormon. I replied, “No, I just felt the call to share the love of God with those that usually don’t get it”. He was thrilled to hear that, and shared that he also is a born-again believer. He converted from Islam to Christianity when he was 19 because of the girl he loved (you go girl), and he’s been living a life for Christ ever since. We talked about God’s faithfulness, how he uses hardship to shape us and grow us, but ultimately just wants us to look at Him long enough to hear His voice, and receive His love. It was a conversation I desperately needed to have.
You see- life after the Race isn’t all glamor and sunshine. A lot of it is, yes! I have been so blessed. The Lord restored the relationship with my sister, blessed me with two beautiful nephews, and gave me a Dad that loves me more than anything.
But it’s also a bit overwhelming. At times, I felt like I was ripped from this wonderful and uplifting community and thrust into a dark and hopeless place. The enemy certainly would have liked it if I stayed there, I’m sure.
But I didn’t. I lifted my eyes to Jesus for just a few seconds and realized yet again how faithful He is. How he uses hardship for good. That He’s shaping me to be the woman He created me to be. That He has so so much more in store for me.
So here’s what that more is:
-I’ve moved back in with my dad and have spent the past two weeks transforming my childhood bedroom into that of an adult. It’s a process, I’ll tell ya that. I’m living at home because—
-This August, I’ll start my internship at Mission Centers of Houston, where I’ll be mentoring inner city youth, visiting the elderly, working food programs, helping plan their annual gala etc.. It’s full time and unpaid, but they always say the best things in life are free, right?
-I’m taking the LSAT on September 16th! The Lord has put it on my heart to go to law school to fight for the little babes of the world- the orphans, the sex-trafficked six year olds, the child soldiers. I want to be and will be their advocate.
-Hopefully (assuming I can stop drinking the Dr. Pepper I so dearly missed!) I’ll also start modeling again.
The fall is certainly going to be a busy time. Between a full-time internship, studying for the LSAT, modeling, and applying to law school, I think I might need to learn to live on less sleep. The one thing I know though, is that I won’t be living on less Jesus.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7
I would say that this is my last blog, and that I’m signing off, but I don’t think that’s the case. I can’t quite say just what is coming next, only God knows that, (plus there’s applications and what not), but I’m hopeful to say this won’t be the last blog I post about the Race.
Thank you for all of your support, your prayers, and the sacrifices you made to send me around the world. Through you, literally only by you and your generosity, lives were touched. I’ve been so radically transformed that people notice when I walk through the door. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
