I stood on the bridge overlooking a canyon, the harness strapped tight around my body, and the giant rope of the swing attached to the front of the harness. The river flows fast over 300 feet below me, the mountains rising above me. What am I doing? Why am I doing this? Should I say no and turn back?
Too late. The man is holding me from behind and telling me to inch forward. I stand on the ledge of the largest rope swing in the world outside Kathmandu, Nepal. This was the moment to either jump or turn around. My heart pound in my chest, fear rising as I faced the canyon I would plummet into. My brain started going through the worst case scenarios, my death being the foremost thought. But then, the man counted to 3 and I told myself that it was safe, that this rope pulling on me was safe, I was safe, and God would hold me up. So I took a deep breath as the man let go and I took a giant leap of faith.
That was February 2015, just a few weeks after I cut all my hair off, a day after I got a tattoo, and then I leapt off that platform and took a risk. Faith in God takes giant leaps of faith and trust, not knowing what lies ahead, but trusting that God will carry me through. And that is what the World Race taught me, to take the leaps of faith and let God do the rest. So here I am, four months after returning to America, and I am yet again about to take a leap of faith. So here is what is next for me:
I AM MOVING TO SAN DIEGO!!!!!
First I will be living with my eldest sister Tanya and her family which includes her husband and five children! I visited there for the last two weeks to see what living with them would be like and to apply for jobs, and I loved it! I felt so at peace and like I was where God wanted me to be. I am excited to spend more time with my sister and nieces and nephews, and I’m so excited to see what God has for me!
Second I will be working for San Diego Center for Children at their Clark Adolescent Residential. I will work with teens who are at risk, taken from bad situations. God is giving me a chance to live out a dream. I have dreamed of working in a place like this since I was in college.
I used to have a dream of opening up a home for teens and children in foster care who have been through trauma and give them a secure, structured, loving home, and teach them that their dreams are achievable and they deserve to be loved. On the World Race God reignited this dream inside of me and I know that someday I will have that home. But for now He has given me an opportunity to shine His light for teens in San Diego who need to be loved and see Him!
After I jumped off the bridge in Nepal I felt the air rushing over me during my 7 second free fall. It was terrifying, exhilarating, stupid, and AWESOME! I felt weightless and alive. The rope caught safely 30 feet above the water and rocks and I swung in giant arches over the incredible breathtaking scenery. I couldn’t help but laugh and smile as I took in the amazing view before me and put my arms out to the side as I swung. I had defied the odds. I had taken a leap of faith, and trusted that I would be kept safe. And I breathed in the Freedom, Peace, and Joy that came with trusting God.
