In 2016 my adventurous, passionate, always chatty 16 year old daughter came to me excitedly explaining how she wanted to go on The World Race Gap Year after she graduated from high school. She was going to travel to all these different countries, sleep in a tent, yada, yada, yada… There she goes again, I thought, always dreaming. I was only half listening because I knew she would change her mind and attend college like everyone else. She would follow my safe plan for her…I just let her talk because it doesn’t hurt to dream.
As time went on, Anna continued to research World Race Gap Year. She continued to talk and I was annoyed. “Anna, God would have to make this SO CLEAR to me in order for you to follow this path. Just stop talking about it!” Of course my fear was at play here.
Anna made me promise that I would be in prayer about it. I half heartedly agreed to pray, but I still knew she wasn’t going. What I didn’t know was that Anna was faithfully praying about this. She said, “Lord, if this is the path you want me to take then
you are going to have to show my parents!” Well…..HE DID! (That is another blog post written by Anna…check it out!)
Once I had heard clearly from God (literally two years later) I knew Anna was going on World Race. Initially when God made this clear to me I just sobbed. I had no doubt about His very clear communication with me, but I still did not want her to be away for 9
months. I did not want her in other countries in which I was not familiar. I reached out to others for prayer and encouragement. The Holy Spirit spoke through these people who gave me all the right words and truth. I began faithfully praying for peace and
joy both in letting Anna go and in her absence. Honestly, I expected to be depressed when Anna left. We are really tight, and she brings so much joy into our home; her absence would definitely be noticeable. The Lord is so FAITHFUL!
How is it that I have had this supernatural peace and joy? Philippians 4: 4-7 says: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Friends, these are not just words on a page!!! This is one
of God’s promises. In miraculous clarity He instructed me to let Anna go and in faithfulness He has fulfilled this promise. Don’t get me wrong, I miss my daughter. I am counting down the days until she comes home, BUT there has been peace and JOY in the waiting. I have learned so much about myself, my journey with Jesus, and how to walk out a life of trusting Him. I have learned the true POWER of prayer. God listens, He speaks, and He is true to His word. I have been humbled and blessed by His presence. My faith
is in a new, beautiful place. God blesses obedience and in it there is fruit. John 15:4- “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”
PVT (Parent Vision Trip) was a time that my husband and I were invited to Guatemala for five days to work alongside Anna. This was one of the greatest weeks of both of our lives. Stepping out of the van and hugging my sweet girl after 7 months apart was
indescribable joy. It reminded me of what it will be like when we enter heaven and see our loved ones. We were surrounded by the beauty of mountains and volcanoes. None of this had my full attention until Anna was back in my presence. Once she was with me, everything became so much more beautiful. During PVT, God was able to show me even more fruit of obedience.
Throughout the week, I was blown away by Anna’s confidence, leadership, and love. I watched her speak fluent Spanish to the local people we were serving. It was not a broken, ‘trying to think of the right word’ type of Spanish. It was a beautiful fluency that allowed her personality to shine through as she spoke with laughter and compassion. I was blessed by her lack of fear. No fear of getting lice or getting sick….nope, she was right down at the level of the children loving them, holding them, teaching them, and embracing them. Watching her lead worship and pray over the entire group with great confidence was another blessing. Finally, her PASSION for sharing and living out the gospel. This was my greatest gift. Anna knows the true love of the Father. She knows
what life on earth is like when you walk with Jesus. She also knows that our eternity depends on it. John 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” She longs for everyone to hear the gospel. She desires
for others to have what she has. I believe that this burning desire in her is why she was called. God loves His people. He wants everyone to follow Him. He wants his disciples (Christians) to be His hands and feet in this broken world. In order to do this,
we must TRUST Him. We must listen for His call and obey. We have to sacrifice and do hard things. We must submit to His plan and not our own. So you see, this was not just Anna’s journey…it was mine too. I long to be His hands and feet. My daughter was
able to lead me and teach me what this looks like. God showed me that He will fill the gaps and voids in my life if I press into Him. I don’t know about you, but I am ready to obey and serve. Jesus, I will continue to listen, surrender, and seek out your
call.
-Amy
