Friends family and all others!!! WOW hello! I have never considered myself a blogger kinda gal but I love to share experiences and talk so whatta thing to try out while in India with the World Race! Also, i can’t even make an instagram story without spelling errors so im going to proofread but bear with me hehe I’m excited!! About once a week I will posting on this blog my journey, what Jesus is speaking to me, & any funny (& typical) things that happen to me while on the field to the nations! WAHOO it’ll be a little long this time hang w me !
So I mean I am not quite in Manipur, India yet but lemme tell ya there has been SO much that has gone down between training camp and on to travel day(s) that is wild!! As I’m sitting on our plane from Tokyo (yeah I know what the heck) to Mumbai so many things are coming to mind to share so if it sounds like my mind is going in circles, it is !!!!
Saying goodbye to my family & friends before heading to Georgia was a little exciting I’ll be honest! It never really has felt real that I’ll be doing ministry in India! But saying bye to my mom & tis made things sink in a little bit! I haven’t been away from Maddie for more than 10 days so this will be a stretch in so many (good) ways!! Training camp was not what I expected! Not only was I getting to know the amazing and fun and dedicated and faithful girls on my squad but I was really getting to know the Lord’s voice better & learning so much about missions and ministry in general! Some things that I’ve learned that I really would love to share was about taking pictures on the field. A couple of rules that are great to remember on the field is, do you know the names of the people you’re taking a picture of? Know them! Another is, would this photo strip this people groups dignity? What an important lesson!! During training camp we had an opportunity to really sit and listen to what the Lord was speaking to us or showing us through images, words, or visions. As every group member had their eyes closed, one team memeber would be tapped on the shoulder and then we would let the Lord do His thing! Not knowing who was tapped, we all began to share words, images, phrases or visions of what the Lord was whispering to us. There were many tears shed as we began to explain the images or words we heard from the Lord that deeply resonated with that specific team member. It was truly the best confirmation that I DO hear the Lord’s voice & he IS speaking to me!!! Only Jesus can do that. Also HELLO I TOOK MY FIRST BUCKET BATH. Being in close community with my squad before going to the field was so necessary & oh have i mentioned we have an all girl team !! Girl power heck yeah
So here is where things get wild
So the night before our travel day, we were told that our itinerary was just cancelled. The rain in Mumbai the day we were arriving was too bad and the flight was cancelled so we were going to go to sleep and wake up (at a sharp 2:45 AM) and hope our route was figured out! Also, Adventures in Missions has a team of people specifically planning flights and scheduling arrangements and those people were up ALL night figuring this stuff out which amazes me, what servants!! So by the time we had woken up there were no flights nor plans figured out. We just got in the van to the Atlanta airport with the other Semesters teams going to the nations and hoped things were getting worked out. By the time we got to the airport there were no plans. I was disappointed, discouraged and I’m being transparent here, jealous of the other teams. We were aimlessly sitting and walking watching them check in and I was sad. But honestly I know the Lord was like Allie freaking Johnson I brought you here, provided the funds and opportunity, you really think I’m going to steer you wrong? But I didn’t want to hear it bc im a sinful human!!! There was some news that one option was that we stay in Atlanta for a few days and catch a flight then. Not what I wanted to do. I want to go!! The other option that came up was to get a flight to DC instead of Newark (original plan) which would also mean our team being separated. Not what Jeremy wanted, which is understandable. We were totally willing to split up if it meant we could get on a plane! So we waited and waited and I prayed and prayed & I’m sure so many of you back home were too, SO cool! But during that I had to realize and really did realize was if we are going to stay in Atlanta for a few days it’s not a bad thing. It’s the Lord’s provision, plan, and guidance and if it’s the Lords will, no way can it be disappointing!!! That was tough to swallow, but even if not, He is still good!!! Also, ministry doesn’t start when I step on Indian soil, ministry is life and life is ministry!!! BUT Jesus knew our desires and made a way to have us get on a plan to DC and our team split up (sad face bye Jill, Abbey, & Emma). They stayed back a day and are a day behind us! Which isn’t the worst thing!!! So yay we have flights and this thing is rolling!!!! So new plan!!! Fly to DC, then to Tokyo (WHAT WOW), stay a night, fly to Mumbai, stay a couple nights (WOAH WOW) and then a couple more flights, a drive and then we would be in Manipur!!! I’m so excited!! Thank you JESUS for planes and people finding flights, and Jill, Abbey, & Emma being so willing and flexible!! TO INDIA!
Yeah i said i was disappointed earlier, but the Lord gives in abundance (Eph 3:20). Not only did He make a way for us to have flights to India in a timely manner, we get to experience Japan ???? Never EVER did I expect to go to Japan in life so this is just a blessing and MORE than I ever would have thought!! So, I mean, I have to talk about Tokyo. Japan was something let me tell y’all. I used a be-day (wrong spelling I’m sure but no WiFi right now ya know) for the first time (WOW), saw the most Hello Kitty merch ever in my life, and ate at a Japanese Ramen restaurant! The hotel was so nice but the nicest part ever was the HOT shower!! Remember that bucket bath? That’s the only form of washing myself since I have been home (hehe whoa it was needed and amazing). After our 13 hour flight it was gold to me. We walked to the ramen place because our taxi drivers said we should haha how can I argue? Chopstick have never been something I’m super at but hey, when in japan. So much fun walking to a ramen restaurant with my team doing something none of us thought we ever would do!!! Also these times i am getting to know everyone so much better and i value that so much. We walked home, showered and got to lay horizontally on a bed for a nights sleep!!!! What a blessing truly. The next morning we are going to Mumbai wahoo India!!
Last thing, a little story time of how Jesus has humor and wants me to be confident in knowing it IS Him speaking to me. During the time of sitting in a circle and saying out loud what we heard from the Lord about the person that was tapped, (remember that story up there?) He made it so blatantly obvious that I do hear His voice. In a few ways really. So there were 3 specific times the Lord gave me visions & a word for this person. Each time I said to myself, “Allie that is you coming up with that, not Jesus.” HA HA FUNNY because RIGHT after i had say no to God about saying out loud of what i “thought” i had heard, someone else in the group would say the EXACT thing that I had heard. It literally happened 3 times. So that’s WILD. I heard Him. It was the confirmation and wake up call to be confident in hearing Him & be more bold. Also a reminder that when the Lord has a blessing for you to give to someone, if you say no, He will use someone else because His plans WILL come fruition. So hello Allie listen, be bold, and do what He says.
Okay another story.
I literally just discovered this as I’m sitting on the plane typing this so I’m still shook. During that same time of saying out loud what the Lord spoke to us, we had personal time to hear what the Lord was saying to each of us individually & we were able to write them down. I had a few things written down & after the above story, im writing down every little thing!!! When we got on the plane I’m on right now, i decided to journal to remember my feeling and experiences & I look back to my journal entry of that day & to the things I had written that I heard the Lord speak. AND THEN I literally saw the word “RAIN” written very first. Y’all remember why we couldn’t get on our original flight & had to have a completely different itinerary, arrival date, flights, and hotel arrangements? RAIN in Mumbai!! I do not even remember writing that down or anything which is nuts!!! So hello AJ God has a plan and He even kinda let you in on it!!!! As I looked back & saw that written I had to pause and remember why I’m on this plane. Why I am here right now. I was also freaking out and laughing and sharing with my squad mates but initially it was a pause. I am feeling so blessed right now. I’m also really excited to understand the reasoning behind getting to Manipur a day later & traveling this itinerary.
It may be just to teach me the lesson of not letting situations of what seem as disappointments to lead to me getting frustrated. I shouldn’t be shaken! It may be because God is actually really fun and loves to see His children have a good time and experience new things. He is such a good father and father’s love to see their kids have fun just because He loves them. It could be totally different lol stay tuned!
So thank you for reading all of that!!! I promise not all will be this long! I am beyond humbled to be able to minister to the people of Manipur & know that my family and friends saw it fit that this is the Lord’s will enough to support me financially and spiritually. I am so grateful for you all. So so grateful. So this is where you can get detailed updates of my month in Manipur and all of ways Jesus is moving in this ministry!! Subscribe to get it straight to your email! LOVE YALL! Also I have the best mom and sister cookie and family they r great can’t wait to squeeze y’all WAHOO MANIPUR INDIA we are comin!!!
