** Disclaimer**I feel obligated to state that I always feel out of place behind a key board so sorry if my posts seem forced or vague. I will do my best to capture my very rapid and random thoughts.
Hmm let’s see Im Amanda, im 21 born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri (as in not Kansas). I worked with a nationally recognized organization Young Life for 5 years as a youth leader for high school and middle school students. Every bit of that 5 years was a dream.
-If you have never worked with students before I highly recommend it! They are smart, funny, passionate little punks that are dying to be known and noticed. Dying to hear that there is something more to life than what they have seen so far. Then again isn’t that all of us. –
Back on topic…….. I dont really know where to start from so I guess I will just take it from the top and move forward.
I grew up in a christian household then the cliche family disfunction really kicked in around middle school. My home church (Graceway) was quite a distance away so I really clung to the Young Life (YL) ministry we had in my town because it was more accessible. After my experience with the ministry at a participant I couldn’t wait to start giving back what had been so freely given unto me. Truth and love in the rawest most honest form. Jesus, as a friend, brother, dad, comforter, creator and provider. My involvement with YL and later my youth leaders at Graceway really protected me from typical high school party scenes or getting involved in a relationship. I was so “kingdom minded ” that I didnt have time for it. I skipped some details but that basically sums up my life before January 2014.
Ahh 2014, I like to call it “The Lost Year”. Christmas 2013 I announced to my fellow leaders that the Lord was calling me away from YL. It was the most difficult to obey this command because for the past 8 years or so it had been my whole life. Unfortunately along the way I had strayed from the original mission of serving Christ and his Kingdom to leading because I knew how to and it was comfortable there. Jesus really wanted me to rediscover why I had originally fell in love with him and the ministry in the first place.
2014 was devastating, enthralling, awakening, alarming, entertaining, captivating, exilerating. As fall was approaching I finally allowed myself defeat and told God ” OK, I’m done. What’s next?” See I had spent my whole year (or at least 3/4 of it) jaded because I couldn’t stay right where everything was great and safe. I couldn’t wrap my mind around the thought that he might actually have something bigger and better awaiting me. This defeat was what finally lead me to apply for the World Race. I had recently rejoined my local church communtiy and listening for his voice again. I began to realize that I was no longer attached to grounded commitments. I was free to explore and travel with out just skipping town on some major responsibilities. WHO KNEW ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR HIS GOOD??
Upon noticing my upcoming freedom I returned to the World Race site and requested more info. I say returned because I first came across WR at 19 while watching a spoken word entitled So I Go! via youtube. I was enticed day one but didnt’t meet the age requirement and had way to much going on to pick up and leave. I always kept it in the back of my mind like some distant pipe dream. It was’t until this past summer when a good friend of mine was accepted for the Gap Year tour that I began to draw it into reality. All of that to say that it truly has become a reality and I could not be more thankful!!
That’s me, vaguely, in a nut shell. Stay tuned for the latest in doubt, struggle, triumph, blessing and growth.
Thanks for reading!!
