We were asked to write a blog about how we were called to this mission trip. Here is my story…
I honestly don’t know how young I was when I
“asked Jesus into my heart.” I know it was during timeout in my room,
perhaps because I thought it would get me out. 🙂 One of my earliest
memories is listening to this song by this AWESOME 80’s Christian Rock
band “Degarmo and Key” called “Good God, Devil Bad”. I remember
listening to those words and thinking to myself, “I wish my daddy would
have played this when I was even younger so I would always have known
to follow God”. I had to be no older than six. Imagine a five year old, running around her room, jamming to 80s christian rock. I’m so glad we didn’t own a video camera!
“asked Jesus into my heart.” I know it was during timeout in my room,
perhaps because I thought it would get me out. 🙂 One of my earliestmemories is listening to this song by this AWESOME 80’s Christian Rock
band “Degarmo and Key” called “Good God, Devil Bad”. I remember
listening to those words and thinking to myself, “I wish my daddy would
have played this when I was even younger so I would always have known
to follow God”. I had to be no older than six. Imagine a five year old, running around her room, jamming to 80s christian rock. I’m so glad we didn’t own a video camera!
<———- Check out that hair and this song…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNLjK-LfYEY
When asked what I wanted to do with my life, I
would rattle off many different scenarios: first, a CIA agent, the
really secret kind. Then a power ranger, I was the “rainbow ranger.”
Then an actress, so I could portray many different jobs. A pilot
sounded fun, or maybe a rockstar? I dreamt of adventure, but was one of those kids who was afraid of the monkey bars. You know the one. Yeah, that was me. I changed my mind constantly, but one
thing lasted throughout t
he years. I wanted to see the world. I wanted
to, as I would say, “Preach the gospel on every continent, including
Antarctica, because even penguins need Jesus!” I was partially joking,
obviously, but I’ve always had a heart for the world.
would rattle off many different scenarios: first, a CIA agent, the
really secret kind. Then a power ranger, I was the “rainbow ranger.”
Then an actress, so I could portray many different jobs. A pilot
sounded fun, or maybe a rockstar? I dreamt of adventure, but was one of those kids who was afraid of the monkey bars. You know the one. Yeah, that was me. I changed my mind constantly, but one
thing lasted throughout t
he years. I wanted to see the world. I wantedto, as I would say, “Preach the gospel on every continent, including
Antarctica, because even penguins need Jesus!” I was partially joking,
obviously, but I’ve always had a heart for the world.
I went to Russia for a summer when I was ten,
and was hooked on the idea of living in another country, especially
when I got to talk about JESUS! I haven’t been overseas since, not
because there wasn’t a desire. There were always just so many reasons
to not go. Whether is be money, work, school, it was always just NO NO
NO.
and was hooked on the idea of living in another country, especially
when I got to talk about JESUS! I haven’t been overseas since, not
because there wasn’t a desire. There were always just so many reasons
to not go. Whether is be money, work, school, it was always just NO NO
NO.
I stumbled on the world race when a friend
of mine went with AIM to Swaziland for a year. I wanted to do a
short-term trip that year, so I began researching. The moment I saw the
world race, my heart leaped. THIS was so ME! Knock off a more than half
of the continents on my to-do list in one trip? How could I NOT do
this. Unfortunately, I was eighteen and too young to apply. The idea
would randomly bounce into my head over the next couple of years, but I
had pretty much forgotten about it by the time I could actually apply.
of mine went with AIM to Swaziland for a year. I wanted to do a
short-term trip that year, so I began researching. The moment I saw the
world race, my heart leaped. THIS was so ME! Knock off a more than half
of the continents on my to-do list in one trip? How could I NOT do
this. Unfortunately, I was eighteen and too young to apply. The idea
would randomly bounce into my head over the next couple of years, but I
had pretty much forgotten about it by the time I could actually apply.
A few days after my 21st birthday, while at this conference called “Onething” in Kansas City, the World Race crossed my mind again, and the thought wouldn’t leave. I told God I
would apply and take it from there, secretly hoping I wouldn’t get
accepted so I wouldn’t have to make a decision. Let me explain- I
wanted to go. I did. But I was just in the beginning phases of starting
a business! And working, while going to school left me exhausted. The
idea of adding another thing to my plate was just overwhelming. But I
still applied. And got accepted. I initially declined, thinking that I
needed to stay in Austin for the business and the revival that God is
bringing here. I sent an email to the wonderful girl who interviewed
me, explaining why the timing just wasn’t good. Immediately after I
sent the email, I felt sick. And so sad. I even cried a little. I
realized that so much of the reason behind my decision to not go was
because of fear. Suffice it to say, I had NO peace, until I chose to
go.
would apply and take it from there, secretly hoping I wouldn’t get
accepted so I wouldn’t have to make a decision. Let me explain- I
wanted to go. I did. But I was just in the beginning phases of starting
a business! And working, while going to school left me exhausted. The
idea of adding another thing to my plate was just overwhelming. But I
still applied. And got accepted. I initially declined, thinking that I
needed to stay in Austin for the business and the revival that God is
bringing here. I sent an email to the wonderful girl who interviewed
me, explaining why the timing just wasn’t good. Immediately after I
sent the email, I felt sick. And so sad. I even cried a little. I
realized that so much of the reason behind my decision to not go was
because of fear. Suffice it to say, I had NO peace, until I chose to
go.
Now… well, now… is busy. Sometimes I feel
overwhelmed. Sometimes I’m sad and afraid to think of leaving my
friends. My job. My business. Everything I know. But, the truth of the
matter is, that I can’t live my life in fear. I’m a christian. I have
the maker of heaven and earth holding my hand, directing me where he
wants me to go. And I trust Him… I’m learning to trust Him.
overwhelmed. Sometimes I’m sad and afraid to think of leaving my
friends. My job. My business. Everything I know. But, the truth of the
matter is, that I can’t live my life in fear. I’m a christian. I have
the maker of heaven and earth holding my hand, directing me where he
wants me to go. And I trust Him… I’m learning to trust Him.
I often think of when Peter walked on water to
meet Jesus. As long as his eyes were fixed on Jesus, he was able to
defy the natural limitations of this world. It was when he took his
eyes off of Jesus that he became afraid, lost in the impossibility of
the situation. One of my favorite parts of the story is that Jesus
catches Him, because so often I lose sight of the one who keeps me
safe. I forget to trust. I doubt. And, yet, He is always there, to pull
me out of whatever mess I’ve made. This trip is about reckless
abandonment into that dangerous area known as ‘faith.’
meet Jesus. As long as his eyes were fixed on Jesus, he was able to
defy the natural limitations of this world. It was when he took his
eyes off of Jesus that he became afraid, lost in the impossibility of
the situation. One of my favorite parts of the story is that Jesus
catches Him, because so often I lose sight of the one who keeps me
safe. I forget to trust. I doubt. And, yet, He is always there, to pull
me out of whatever mess I’ve made. This trip is about reckless
abandonment into that dangerous area known as ‘faith.’
During that conference, the Lord showed me a picture of me
running to what looked like the edge of a cliff. Common sense told me
the rules of gravity: in this natural world, you will fall. Everyone
around me was telling me, “Don’t jump. You will fall.” I told them,
“No. I’m falling into the arms of the one who loves me.” And I ran. And
I jumped. And He caught me.
running to what looked like the edge of a cliff. Common sense told me
the rules of gravity: in this natural world, you will fall. Everyone
around me was telling me, “Don’t jump. You will fall.” I told them,
“No. I’m falling into the arms of the one who loves me.” And I ran. And
I jumped. And He caught me.
Here’s to the run...
.
