The way I found out about the World Race was 100% God. He knew all along that this was where I was going, but it wasn’t until His timing when he revealed it to me. The sovereignty of the Lord absolutely BLOWS my mind.
Sometimes I stop, think, and try to picture how God works. I think through a situation and try to imagine all the things that had to happen in order to get me to a certain moment. Then very quickly I get completely overwhelmed because my finite mind cannot handle a God who is infinite. So just thank you Lord for being far greater than I, and so good to your children.
So how did I find the World Race?
My last semester of college I was trying to figure out my next step in life. I knew that the Lord had called me into ministry, but I had no idea what path he wanted me to take. So I started looking up Master’s programs in Theology. Studying the Bible sounded extremely interesting to me, and I felt like I needed a deeper understanding in Biblical knowledge before I even started to pursue ministry. I quickly “decided” on a Master’s program at Houston Baptist University that seemed like a good fit. I thought that this was where I was going, and just continued on with my last semester of school until the applications opened up. I prayed constantly that God would help me get in if it was his will for me, and if not, redirect me somewhere else.
During this time, I also heard a message that really impacted me. The message was about how your singleness is a gift. When you are single, you have no other obligations. You don’t have a spouse, kids, etc., so during this time you can literally drop everything and just go focus on the Lord. You can go on mission trips if you want to go. You don’t have anything that is taking away some of your attention. I had never heard a message like this before, but it made so much sense. It was that night that I decided that I really wanted to actually live out the Great Commission and “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!” (Matthew 28:19). Within a month, I heard that same message from two other pastors. Coincidence? I think not.
As graduation drew closer I decided that I would take a semester off before starting school again. I never felt peace about applying, but I still thought it was what God wanted me to do. I mean after all I was pursuing further education to learn more about him. Even without complete peace, I knew the Lord was going to provide for me somehow. I just thought he was going to provide for me by getting me a scholarship or a good paying job.
One Saturday night I was researching some scholarships and realized I had a very slim chance of getting any of them. I thought the Lord was going to provide for me this way! Now it seemed like it wouldn’t happen, so I became completely overwhelmed, and questioned my decision on going to school again. The next morning at church I felt like I should go up for prayer, because I felt so lost. But I had a hard time getting my feet to move. My mom knew I was struggling, and she told me that I should go up for prayer. I told her I didn’t want to, and she made me. Thank you mom.
I told the man that was going to pray for me my situation and he prayed that God would send people my way to help me. He also prayed that God would direct me in the way that he wanted me to go. That day the sermon was also over how your singleness is a gift, and to live this season of your life for God. It was like God was smacking me in the face with this concept!
After church I had to run off to work. On the way there my mom called and told me that she was talking to my pastor about my situation. My pastor said that maybe I should take a whole year off instead of just a semester. I didn’t have a lot of peace, so maybe I should just use this time in my life to go on mission trips and live for God. School is expensive, and you don’t want to do anything too rash, especially if I didn’t have a lot of peace. Also, since I was interested in missions, there is this mission trip called the World Race that goes to 11 countries in 11 months.
As soon as my mom mentioned the World Race, everything became clear. I had instantaneous peace about taking a year off of school and going on this mission trip. My heart started pounding and I knew that this is what I was actually supposed to be doing.
Ever since that crazy day in October 2016, my mind has been set on the World Race. I knew that I wanted some time to work, get healthier, and just walk with God, so I waited for the January 2018 routes to post. The Lord is so good, and I am going on Route 2!
So that’s my story on how God got me to this point! Who knows what I am going to do later on in life. I might go back to school, or I might have a hard time staying still and want to get back out onto the field. Regardless, I am so incredibly excited for this opportunity. I can’t wait to grow deeper in Christ and spread his hope and love around the world with my squad!
Until next time,
A
