How long have you had to wait for something? Well in America, the longest is probably two days as you wait on Amazon Prime (LOL)! But what about how long you’ve ever had to wait on a promise from God? I’ve had some promises answered in a day, other’s in a few years, but this specific one I’ve had to wait on for 16 years! Talk about learning patience.
Sixteen years ago I received a promise from God. I have held on to it so tightly just eagerly awaiting the day for it to be fulfilled.
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One day, when I was five years old, I was doing my chores- carrying a basket of socks to put away in my drawers, just typical 5 year old stuff. As soon as I walked into my room I was stopped in my tracks, and as far as I knew, I proceeded to have a day dream. This particular day dream was one of the most vivid I have ever had. I still remember it clear as day, to this day. In the day dream I was about 2 decades older, and I was walking out of a teepee hut carrying a basket. When I walked out, a swarm of adorable little African children excitedly ran up to me, and each time someone came up, I grabbed something out of my basket and handed to them whatever they needed- anything from bread to socks to blankets, shoes, shirts, whatever you can think of, my basket had it. And the basket never ran out, it was magical, and helped supply the needs of everyone.
The end.
Right after the day dream I proceeded to put away my socks, then went to tell my mom all about it! That night, however, was also unlike the others. I had the most vivid nightmare I have ever experienced. I could see the nightmare with my eyes opened and with them closed. I saw skeletons and scary faces, basically a bad version of Halloween. I even ran downstairs to my parents room when I had been awoken by the nightmare and could still see the skeletons and scary faces, even on my parents! To this day- it was the scariest thing I’ve ever encountered.
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Now that I’m older, and have learned so much more than I knew at five years old, I realize there was more to the story than just what happened in the natural.
You see, what God revealed to me was that was no ordinary day dream- it was a vision he gave me to pursue for my life. A promise he had for me to follow.
And those night mares also weren’t so ordinary either. It was actually spiritual warfare, because the enemy has been trying to steal my promise since the day I received it!
Over the years since then, in a long process of seeking him and trying to figure out why I could never forget this day dream, God has narrowed down the region, and 4 countries, and then one more particularly. Eastern Africa- Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya- with emphasis on Ethiopia.
I have had multiple opportunities to almost go on missions trips to a couple of these places while I was in high school, however, for some reason (which I’m still completely unsure of yet (my guess is that I still had much to learn in order to be more effective and have more to offer)) God continually closed the door for me to get there.
The enemy kept trying to steal my promise, sidetrack me, distract me, discourage me…
Yet, here I am today!
21 years old- 16 years later- I’m standing at the edge of the fulfillment of my promise because in one week I will be setting foot on the grounds ETHIOPIA!!!!! Then in July I’ll be in Rwanda, and then I’ll get to end my World Race in Uganda!!!!!
The amount of excitement I have toward this coming day, and upcoming months is indescribable and uncontainable. Honestly, it’s hard to even wrap my mind around the fact that it’s real! It’s really here! The door is finally ready to be open!!! I have no idea what to expect. I have no idea what I’m going to encounter. I have no idea about anything- except one thing- my God is everything. He is faithful to his promises. He is all powerful. When he acts, NONE can reverse it. He is loving and kind. And he is going to do exceedingly, ABUNDANTLY MORE than all I could even ASK, SEEK, or even IMAGINE!!!
WOW! WHAT A GOD!!!
Please keep me, and my squad in your prayers as we travel and minister. These countries, this continent, is the very reason most of us signed up for this specific route/ trip. This is why most of us are here. Please pray for our safety and preparation. Pray for open ears for us to clearly hear God’s voice and willing spirits to jump when he says jump- to do whatever he asks of us. Please pray for the people we’ll encounter to have open hearts to receive and open minds to understand- for a spirit of wisdom and revelation to fall over the countries to know God. Pray for us to rely on God’s strength in our last three months, and for supernatural moves of the spirit! Prayers that everything we do ultimately brings him glory and builds his kingdom here on earth!
I can’t wait to give updates (hopefully throughout the month- WiFi permitting) but definitely at the end of the month of God’s goodness as I receive the fulfillment of the promise which I’ve been waiting on for 16 years!
It’s all in his timing; it’s all in his hands!
